Retailers are happy to tell you all of the things you’ll need to buy to get ready for college, but you can bet that they’re going to hold back on you when it comes to saving your hard earned cash on all those necessities. Fortunately, money saving strategies for back-to-school college students really do exist and we’ve found 80 creative ideas for you. Read on to learn about money saving tips for college students that have nothing to do with stockpiling Ramen.
General
Take inventory
Before running out and buying everything on your list for college, take a look around and make sure you don’t have them already.
Check out the pawn shop
Most college campuses have a pawn shop or two close by and you can bet that your fellow students have sold a few items you could use. Pick them up for way less than you’d pay retail.
Go straight to the manufacturer
Get special pricing from manufacturers like Dell or Apple on back-to-school purchases.
Ask for student discounts
Stores often have student discounts — don’t forget to ask for them.
Make a list
Prepare a focused plan of attack with a list of things you’ll need, rather than just hitting the store and picking up what looks good.
Don’t buy in a rush
Rushing to buy everything will almost certainly mean you’ll overbuy or pay too much out of desperation, so be sure you have enough time to carefully consider your purchases.
Sign up for Upromise
The Upromise program links your debit or credit card and gives you cash back for spending online and with certain retailers and restaurants. You can put your cash in a 529, online savings account, or get a check to pay for tuition today. You can also link friends and family members to your account to save even more.
Question what’s on the list
If you’ve gotten a supply list from your school or professors, take a critical look and consider what you’ll really need.
Ask for hand-me-downs
Ask family and friends if they have useful items they don’t need anymore, like a couch or even a laptop.
Sign up for store newsletters early
Sign up for newsletters before back-to-school season, and you’ll be on the list for coupons when the time is right.
Comparison shop online
Use online comparison shop websites to find out what items cost in several different stores — and then shop the one with the best deal.
Get sale alerts
Sign up for email or Twitter alerts from retailers to find out when they’ve got good items on sale.
Do some mystery shopping
Find out if any mystery shopping agencies need shops done at back-to-school retailers, and you just might get paid to buy school supplies.
Don’t forget coupon codes
If you’re buying online, check for coupon codes before finishing your purchase.
Ship to your dorm
Instead of paying for items to be moved, packed in checked baggage, or just having to haul them to college, order online and set delivery right after you arrive.
Learn how to DIY
Save money by doing it yourself — fixing furniture you can take to college, repurposing clothing items, and more.
Get price adjustments
Find out about store price adjustment policies — you may be able to get them to honor sale prices for items previously purchased.
Comparison shop with your cell phone
Use shopping apps on your phone to make sure you’re at the store with the best price for your item.
Be careful with your credit card
If you’re not going to pay your credit card bill immediately, don’t use it for back-to-school purchases — finance charges will wipe out most of what you’ll save on sales.
Buy off campus
Supplies will almost always be more expensive at your school bookstore and near campus, so check out stores on the other side of town.
Put off purchases
Only buy what you really need to use right away. Everything else can be purchased later.
Use reward programs
If you’re shopping online, use reward programs like Ebates, which often have back-to-school bonuses.
Find out what your college has for free
Before buying a laptop, scanner, or other expensive items for school, find out if your college has a borrowing program for them.
Don’t forget about freebies
Your public or college library likely has lots of books that you’ll need, and friends or family may have supplies, like furniture, that you could use for school.
Pay with cash
Use cash instead of a credit card to better stick to your budget.
Buy quality items
The cheapest option isn’t always the best choice. You can get more years out of a good quality backpack than one you need to replace each semester.
No comments:
Post a Comment