Are you looking to save more money as a student? So is my son! He’s moving into his dorm at GVSU in just under two weeks. We’re both nervous and excited at this new phase of life. I’m hoping that I have passed down my frugal ways, and I hope he gets a kick in the ass about picking up after himself. While we were told that students wouldn’t have roommates due to COVID, it seems that is no longer the case, so he will have to ensure he does his fair share of the housework. I’m excited to see how much he learns and grows over the next four years, and I am so proud of him for following his path! Before I ramble on too long, here are some of the key steps that you should take which will set you on the right path. Hopefully.

Choose The Right Dining Options 

First, you need to ensure that you are choosing the right dining options as a student. If you must rely on takeout because your cooking skills aren’t yet up to scratch, make sure that you look for an option that is budget friendly. This will usually mean a company that isn’t a widely known brand. You just need to check the reviews to ensure that they are selling great food at a fantastic price. 

If you are buying food from stores, make sure that you check out the reviews that are available from different sellers. Don’t just rely on the same shop every time because there could be a better price elsewhere. 

Get Your Side Hustle On 

To save more money, you need to ensure that you are earning more. You can do this with the right side hustle. A great side hustle, will provide you the extra cushion of cash you need to guarantee that you can live comfortably as a new student. One side hustle worth exploring would be crypto. There are lots of cryptocurrencies worth considering. For instance, you can look at Bitcoin vs Bitcoin cash. The latter is far more affordable on a limited income and a good place to start if you are just diving into the world of cryptocurrency. I own a few different types of crypto, includi8ng Bitcoin and yes, also Dogecoin.

Public Transport Is Your Friend 

It’s tempting to invest in a car as a student. After all you probably want the full level of freedom and there are even green friendly choices now available. But even if you get a green car, it’s still going to cost an absolute fortune over the years that you are in college. This is an additional expense that you don’t want and it’s easy to avoid. You can use public transport instead. Most cities are set up so students can access everywhere they need to go using main public transport links. 

Vouchers And Coupons

It’s also worth exploring the vouchers and coupons that could benefit you as a student. These are often available at the start of the year and continue to benefit you through your later years as a student. You can even find sites online that are dedicated to coupons and vouchers for different businesses. Sometimes people even give the codes that they have accumulated from online and offline vouchers away to others so that more people can benefit from great savings. 

Going Second Hand

Finally, when you get the first list of things that you need as a student, you’ll no doubt recognise how expensive everything is going to be. Before you even sit down in your first class, you can spend an absolute fortune. Is there a way to avoid this? Absolutely, you should think about buying things second hand. This should go beyond second hand books. You can buy your tech second hand too and that’s a smart choice, particularly when you consider how much it will depreciate over a short period. It’s not just a massive expense, it’s a waste.