You there. Sitting on your standard-issue college housing sofa, softly cradling a cup of instant ramen in your hand, yeah you. I get it. It's only been one week back to college and it's already felt like two months, money's tight and you're a little (that's a real understatement) stressed. You already spent all your hard-earned summer cash on overpriced, Instagrammable smoothie bowls and you're finally realizing that you truly cannot afford another "Treat Yo Self" moment.

Trust me, friends, as a recent college graduate I've been to that rodeo. But, before I give you some money-saving tips and tricks (which we all know we could use from time to time) let's start off with all coming to the agreement that college is EXPENSIVE AS HECK. Between tuition, housing, supplies, transportation, and basic living expenses, there really may not be much of anything left over afterward. But, that does not mean there aren't ways around that. Not everything fun and fabulous in life has to cost you a ton or even any money. With a little time, creativity, and curiosity, you'll be living broke and fabulous in no time.

So finish up that Styrofoam cup and let's get cracking! Here are my nine tips to saving a little $$$ while in college.

The Dining Hall: 

 Most campuses have at least one dining option where it's all-you-can-eat style. While I'm not suggesting you try and make the most of your meal plan by eating as much as you possibly can, I do suggest getting creative with what is available to you. See a few bowls of fruit? Grab a couple bananas to go, either for snacking or making smoothies if you have a blender. Snag a few cookies from the dessert table to share with your floormates during your next movie night. Depending on what your dining hall offers, you have a ton of options to grab some extra snacks or ingredients for later.

Ask about student discounts: 

Many stores and food establishments located around or nearby college campuses offer student or college discounts with proof of a college ID. Some places have signs advertising the discount in their window, or by the cash register, but a lot of times you'll have to know by word of mouth. While the discount won't be steep, 10-15% here and there can really add up, especially if you're grabbing coffee or breakfast from your favorite cafe every day. You might as well ask, the worst they can say is no!

Split with a friend:

This seems like a no brainer, but you can easily cut costs by splitting things with a friend or two. Uber ride home? Find a couple pals before heading home. Not that hungry? Share an entree and an appetizer with a friend. At the movies? Both go in on a large popcorn versus two smalls. Even non-food items like textbooks can be shared two ways (as long as you don't mind handing off a book between classes.)

Campus events: 

Keep updated about upcoming campus activities and events. Most likely you're already paying an "activity fee" to your college that funds these types of events, so you might as well enjoy them! Contrary to popular belief, they're not all lame. Most likely they're planned by other student groups on campus and they cater to the masses. Therefore, there's free swag and food WAITING to be taken.

Ask around / Buy & sell groups:

Before you jump the gun and pop over to Amazon to buy something you want or need, be it clothing, textbooks, appliances, etc. see if your school has any Facebook groups or similar sites/pages for buying and selling items on campus. Someone you know just might be getting rid of that blue Keurig you've been eyeing since last semester. Or you can even make some side cash getting rid of that sweater you definitely keep "meaning to wear."

Host your own get-togethers: 

Going to your favorite sushi place or happy hour every other day is going to make a major dent in your wallet. Take turns with your friends or floormates hosting a night in. You could bake cookies and sip wine (if you're of age) or hold a movie night and someone else brings the popcorn. Invite others to haul over a blanket and pillow or two, and encourage everyone to bring a snack or drink to share. This can be a money-saving alternative to always going out for fun.

Sign up for rewards: 

Coupons aren't just for old ladies anymore. Look up the websites of your favorite stores and restaurants, even on a local level, sometimes they have the best deals. At some places, if you sign up for their email list or download their app you can get exclusive coupons, notifications of promotions, or even a sweet birthday coupon. Who knows? That next burrito could be on them!

The Library: 

Free* access to books, movies and more? Who knew! Campus libraries these days are becoming much more than stacks of books from the 80s. Depending on your college, your library may give you access to awesome resources such as computers with the latest photo and movie editing software, printers, magazines, and even textbooks (yes those things you pay even more money for!) Some campus libraries also give you access to other exclusive content websites that have everything from digital resources to online libraries of hard to find movies.
*Free after a solid payment of many dollars in tuition

Join clubs: 

Find something you are passionate or curious about and see if there's a club for that. Not only will you make incredible friends and learn new things, but you may even be able to participate in some amazing events for free. Clubs on campus usually get some sort of funding through the college and in turn, your club may just be able to score you some free tickets to your favorite author speaking or some great theatre tickets.

I hope these few tips inspire you to be creative and thoughtful about your money and resources. There are so many opportunities to save some cash here and there if you're willing to look for them. Happy saving!



(Photo by The Creative Exchange )