How to Save

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College kids are well-known for being broke. It’s true! With all of the loans and bills that your University sends you, it’s almost impossible not to drown in your lack of finances.  If you’re like me, you feel really bad for your parents being under such pressure to provide for you, and you hate to ask for money. So, here are some things that I choose to do to help my parents as much as I can- and keep a little cash for myself (;

1) Coupon– Couponing is a great and easy way to save money. If you go to the grocery store, pick up one of their papers and find the things that you would normally buy. Or, you can always search for them online! Circle them, cut them out, print them out,  and keep them organized for your next visit to the store. Most of the time you can get things in bulk and still pay less than you would for one of the items. If you’re willing to take the extra time to do this, it really will make a difference. Just remember to watch out for expiration dates!

2) Set a Budget for Yourself– At the beginning of the week, allot yourself a certain amount of money that you think you may spend, and stay true to that! If you know you need to shop, go out to eat that week, or buy gas, make sure to keep that in mind. Make it realistic for YOU. Maybe if you know you have a concert that you have to pay for coming up in the month, keep your budget a little lower to save money for that event! By staying on top of how you use your finances, you can learn how to better save!

3) Find a Job– Whether it’s an on campus job or somewhere off campus, having a job can seriously save you and help out a lot. Find someplace that can work with your schedule, because remember, you are a student first and foremost. If you’re not willing to commit to a “real job” maybe think about something like babysitting or pet sitting. Anything counts! By having a job, you can use your money that you’ve earned and separate it into two piles: spend and save. The spend pile is used for your personal spending money, while the save pile can go into your personal account. It will add up and it is so rewarding to receive a pay check that you’ve earned yourself.

If you’ve found other tips that work for you, let me know! I’d love to hear about what works, or what doesn’t! Yes, we are poor college students, but let’s do what we can to help our folks out!

-xoxo, Emily