Money is one of the most valuable objects in a college student’s life. We are always trying to save and get the most out of our money. I’m going to share with you tips on what to save on and what to splurge on in Splurge vs. Save: College Edition.

Save

Toiletries: My whole life I have been using toiletries from the drugstore. They work just as well as, or even sometimes better than high-end products. So when you’re in college, save on things like shampoo, body wash and hair products. They practically have the same ingredients as luxury toiletries and none of your friends will notice the difference.

Textbooks: Saving money on your textbooks is a worldwide known fact. Never ever go to the bookstore on campus. One of my favorite websites to use for renting textbooks is Chegg. You save hundreds of dollars by renting textbooks and at the end of the semester, you simply return them. Easy!

Interior Decor: The things you use to decorate your dorm basically become nonexistent in your life after you move out. Going to places such as Target or Home Goods will save you money on interior decor. Those two places have such cute things for a bargain. Also investing your time in DIY projects for decor is a smart move.

Jewelry: Obviously many people have nice jewelry when they come into college. When you’re attending college and want to purchase some new jewelry, take the affordable route. Most of the time the jewelry will be worn out so chances are you might lose it. I made a huge mistake of wearing nice earrings out, and sadly lost them.

Day-to-Day Clothes: Of course it is fine to spend some money here and there on a cute happy hour outfit. But day-to-day clothes shouldn’t be too expensive. I would never be caught wearing the clothes I owned during freshman year. So when you save on clothes, it makes it easier to give them away and add new trends to your closest.

Splurge

Experiences: You want to have fun in college so splurge on a night out or a concert. The memories that you make during those times are priceless. It’s better to have a blast on a night out with friends than regretting an unnecessary purchase.

Food: I know not everyone splurges on food, but it’s an area that it’s OK to. Food is a necessity so if you’re buying Whataburger or Madison Social’s fat fingers, it’s justifiable to spend your money. If you and your friends want to go out to a nice restaurant one night, totally splurge! My freshman year I did get an unlimited meal plan and although it wasn’t the best food, it was extremely convenient.

Sneakers: These will be worn practically every day that you have class. Pick out a pair that can easily match many outfits. My favorite are the Nike Flyknits. When you invest in a nice pair of sneakers, they will most likely last you a while, too.

Jacket: Being from South Florida, I did not know what I was getting myself into when leaving for Florida State University. Winter does exist here in Tallahassee, so splurge on a nice jacket. This jacket will pretty much be worn everyday of winter. The classic jacket to buy is a North Face. Mine is still in perfect condition from freshman year.

Technology: This is a necessity in a college student’s life. Without a laptop, you can't work on assignments or turn them in. If you buy a laptop before your freshman year, I recommend an Apple because they will last a long time. Same goes with a phone or iPad, splurge on them.