This post: 14 Clever Ways to Avoid the Broke Student College Life / Post Updated 8/2021
The cost of tuition, room and board, books, a meal plan – just the basics needed to survive in college are crazy expensive.
Pile on all the extra necessities and it can leave college students without a penny in their pocket. The good news is, there are plenty of ways college students can save money and even earn a few extra bucks on the side.
Here are 14 clever ways to avoid the broke student college life.
1. Get An Online Job
Most college kids venture into the working world at some point during their four years on campus. But, did you know the online job market offers opportunities galore?
If you love to write and you’re proficient at editing your own work you can be a freelance writer. Sites such as ProBlogger, TextBroker, Upwork and Freelance Writing Jobs are always looking for and willing to pay for writers of all skill levels.
Other sites such as Golden Voice English, VIP KID, and Wyzant are platforms that offer students an opportunity to tutor online, typically teaching students abroad how to speak English. In many cases, no specialized experience is required other than an understanding of the English language.
For more ideas on how you can avoid the broke student college life and earn extra money online visit: 13 Legit Online Jobs for College Students.
2. Get Paid to Watch Movie Previews
You may have heard about InboxDollars but did you know you can make money simply by watching movie previews, celebrity videos, and other videos? InboxDollars actually pays you to do something you love – watch videos! Plus, right now they’re offering a $5 bonus just for signing up. (You’ll have to watch all the videos in a particular playlist to be rewarded, but playlists typically don’t last more than half an hour.)
3. Take Advantage of Student Discounts
Your college ID card is your golden ticket to avoid the broke student college life. In fact, you can save on everything from food and travel to clothing and electronics. Discounts typically range from 10% – 15% however, in some case, you can shave off as much as 50% on purchases.
Whether you’re heading out to buy groceries or shipping a package home, always make it a point to ask if they offer a student discount. For a handy reference guide, check out this site: 68 College Discounts You Need to Know.
4. Save a Few Bucks by Tracking Your Spending
One of the smartest ways to avoid the broke college student life is to track your spending. Expense tracking apps like You Need a Budget, Wally and Clarity Money are great for busy college students who dread the idea of creating a spending spreadsheet. Each one offers fuss-free budgeting tools to streamline and track spending which can help save a lot of money in the long run. For more apps that will help get your finances in order visit: Best Budgeting Apps for Students.
5. Eat Out Less
As tempting as it is, nothing will drain your wallet faster than frequent late-night food runs to restaurants. If you’re a freshman living in a dorm, stick with the campus meal plan to save money and buy a few healthy groceries so you can whip up snacks in your dorm.
For apartment dwellers who don’t have a meal plan, challenge yourself to learn how to cook. Keep a few easy, healthy recipes on hand that you can make in a jiffy (even when you’re dog tired after a long day of classes), or consider rounding up a group of friends and take turns cooking meals for the group. For tons of easy recipes check out: 100 5-Ingredient Recipes to Make in a Pinch.
6. Sign Up for Ebates
Earn cash back nearly every time you purchase something with Ebates. For instance, Ebates will give 10% cashback just for shopping at Walmart. New users can even snag a $10 Walmart card just for giving the site a try.
7. Save on Monthly Credit Card Fees
A swipe here, a swipe there – using your credit card is not only easy, it’s all too tempting. Get smart about when and how often you swipe and which credit card you use.
The best student credit cards offer low fees, reasonable annual percentage rates and perks specifically geared toward college students. Here’s some of the best student credit card options: The Best Credit Cards for College Students
8. Keep Your Cell Phone Expenses in Check
Any way you slice it, phones are expensive. Not only do the phones themselves cost a bundle, but the monthly plans aren’t cheap and oftentimes apps can add up quickly as well.
Whether you’re using your phone to stream movies or to simply text a handful of times a day, it’s important to do your research to avoid paying any more for a phone plan than necessary. For the best student plans visit The Best Cell Phone Plans for College Students.
9. Take Full Advantage of Rebate Apps
When you’re a broke college student rummaging for a few extra dollars, every penny counts. Rebate programs such as Ibotta, which allows users to earn cashback simply by taking a photo of their receipt, and Shopkick which allows users to earn rewards, (or “kicks” as they call them), by scanning products and using coupons are both handy apps to earn cashback. Plus, Ibotta offers a $10 bonus after uploading your first receipt. If you’re a frequent Walmart shopper be sure to download the Walmart Saving Catcher app. The app searches for lower prices from competitors and, if a lower price is found, Walmart makes up the difference.
10. Buy Used When Possible and Sell on Letgo
Everything from clothes and furniture to housewares and bicycles can easily be bought used which can help college students save a bundle. Craigs List, Facebook Marketplace or Offer Up are great places to look if you’re on the hunt for an item. Got something to sell? Be sure to check out the Letgo app – it’s 100% free to use and it’s easy. Just snap a picture of the item you want to sell and upload in less than 30 seconds. It’s that easy!
11. By the Store Brand
We all have our favorite brands. Whether it’s our favorite peanut butter, coffee creamer or cereal, the name-brand items always seem to taste a little better. But, when you’re a college student living on a tight budget and trying to save money, remember those name brands always come at a higher price. To cut costs by as much as 40%, buy generic brands when possible. For more tips, check out this article: The Best Generic Brands to Save Money.
12. Rent or Buy Used Textbooks
The cost of textbooks is one expense that often comes as a surprise to many college students. With the average college student spending $1,200 per year on textbooks it’s one area where there’s a ton of potential to save big.
Students can save a bundle by renting books or buying gently used books. In many cases, it’s easier than tracking down a new book at the book store only to end up paying top dollar. For a great guide on where to get books for cheap visit: 12 Sites to Rent or Buy Books.
13. Take Advantage of Student Travel Websites
One of the best ways college students can save money is by taking advantage of student travel websites.
Airbnb is a great site students need to check out as well Rome2rio which is basically a one-stop-shop for students looking for a way (virtually any way) to get to their destination. In fact, when you type in a destination on their site, Rome2rio will show a myriad of different routes to get there from ferries and trains to trolleys and rental cars.
14. Apply for Scholarships
There’s a broad misconception that students can only apply for scholarships when they’re in high school before entering college. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Students can continue to apply for scholarships all the way through grad school.
Your best bet is to check in with the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid at your college and ask if they have an online scholarship portal to check out available scholarships. If they don’t, carve out time to talk with a representative in the office who can help determine if there are any viable scholarships you can apply for.
Also, always keep your eyes open for local scholarships as well as scholarships offered by big-name companies like Google, Chevron, Coca-Cola and CVS Pharmacy. There’s plenty of money out there to be found if you’re vigilant. For more scholarship information download my FREE E-Book Scoring Scholarships: 10+ Tips to Score Scholarships and Win Free Money for College.