Quick and Easy Ways to Save Money

in College Life and Education

Are you looking for a few tips on finding some extra money in your budget?

  • Walk to do local errands and to go to campus (if you’re within walking distance). [Approx. savings: $36/month ($3/gallon for 3 gallons)]
  • Carpool to get to campus if you’re a commuter student. [Approx. savings: $60/month ($3/gallon for 5 gallons)]
  • Share a parking pass if you commute with some one [Approx. savings: $40/semester]
  • Do your own oil changes. [Approx. savings: $160/year]
  • Stay on your parent’s car insurance policy. [Approx. savings: $100/month]
  • Compare car insurance policy. [Approx. savings $50/month]
  • Don’t be a smoker. [Approx. savings $70/month]
  • Consider trading clothes with friends. You may have out grown or out shrunk your clothes. See if you can swap with stylish friends. [Approx. savings $75/month]
  • Make a grocery list and stick with it. [Approx. savings: $80/month]
  • Use a crock pot for your meals and spread it out. Chili, lasagna, stews, and more can be made in a crock-pot and they last several meals. It takes very little effort, usually just putting the ingredients into the pot and cooking. We usually make enough of something to last 3 meals. [Approx. savings $100/month]
  • What are some things that you can save you money?
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    Free eBook Links Edition | Financial Independence in Your 20s | Studenomics
    May 17, 2009 at 1:05 pm

    { 4 comments… read them below or add one }

    1 Studenomics May 16, 2009 at 11:34 pm

    I always enjoy straight to the point lists. Parents car insurance is pretty much a must these days. I’m not a smoker but I have given that advice and let’s just say it doesn’t go over too well. My friends usually yell at me and say “obviously I would quit if I could.” All I will add is that when I quit smoking I never looked back once. Granted I only smoked for 2 years throughout high school but the money spent and the damage done to my cardio really made it an easy choice.

    Reply

    2 Green Panda May 17, 2009 at 2:18 pm

    My brother saved almost $100/month being on my mom’s car insurance.

    Smoking can be a very expensive habit. I didn’t realized how much until I was in a check out with the cartons in the back. I’m glad you’re not smoking.

    Reply

    3 Philip Brewer May 17, 2009 at 1:41 pm

    I’ve almost come to the opposite conclusion on shopping lists, at least for the main ingredient. (Having a shopping list that makes sure you have all the staples on hand is just a good idea.)

    What I’ve started doing is going to the grocery store before deciding what to make. I look in the produce section and the meat section to see what looks fresh and what’s on sale. If I see anything that looks good and that’s cheap, I’m always confident that I can use it to fix something yummy. Around here, stores always have unadvertised specials. I’ve also gotten some roasts really cheap because the meat was approaching its sell-by date. (If I’m going to cook it the same day anyway, I’m perfectly happy buying meat on its sell-by date.)

    I guess the advice about sticking to your list is supposed to limit your impulse buys–you don’t put candy and soda on your list and then you don’t buy any. But that’s not where I go awry in grocery shopping.

    Reply

    4 Green Panda May 17, 2009 at 2:22 pm

    Great and interesting points Philip on how your do your grocery shopping! Keeping an open mind and getting food on sale can be a delicious and frugal combination.

    We usually have 1 or 2 big monthly buy(s) and we use a list to make sure we get what we need. It’s cut down on duplicate buys. For milk or bread, we usually grab it on our way home from work.

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