If you are in college, or planning to start college soon, you know the cost of tuition alone is plenty to worry about. Even with the best scholarships, many students, from all income classes, have some stress and worry trying to pay everything. However, there are a few tips and tricks to help you minimize stress and save money on many aspects of your college life. You can make college much more affordable with just a few simple steps!

 One way to potentially decrease the cost of your college education is to share off campus rent with a roommate. Living in the college dorms can be expensive, between the convenience of living on campus and the required meal plan you may end up supplementing for added variety and quality, you will probably spend more living in a dorm than living off campus. If you decide to share rent with a roommate, you will cut your off campus living expenses dramatically. While you might not be as close to your college if you do not live in a dorm, there are usually many people willing to rent out rooms within biking distance, walking distance, or along a bus route. You may also be able to find a location that is conveniently located close to your school and stores. Living in a rented space may also be more comfortable and have fewer restrictions than living in the dorms.

 Books are another very expensive aspect of college life. Students often spend hundreds of dollars a semester on textbooks. You can easily save money by purchasing used textbooks. You may be able to get many of your books for very dramatic discounts online or in bookstores offering used textbooks. Of course, if you keep your own textbooks in good condition, you can sell them at the end of the semester and use the money for next semester’s books.

 For many college students, everyday things can become hard to save money on. When shopping for necessities, such as food, take notice of the stores with the best prices. Normally, small food stores are going to be more expensive than larger supermarkets. Just keep your eyes open for great sales, but don’t skimp when it comes to keeping your body healthy.

 Dating can be another expensive aspect of college life. With so many new people to meet, you’re sure to go on a few dates between studying. Movies and nice restaurants can really empty your wallet if you’re going out every week. Many campuses offer a wide variety of social activities that are free or require a minimal cover charge. If a movie is important to you or your date, try to attend the matinee shows, which are typically discounted by several dollars. If you make a connection with the other person, you will have fun just taking a walk or having a picnic in a park. Do not feel pressured to spend money to impress people. Chances are, they are just as worried about their student finances as you are.

 College is probably one of the most expensive investments you will make for your future. With a little extra effort, you can at least minimize the day to day stress of making ends meet and possibly have a few extra dollars in your pocket to treat yourself once in a while.

 Having trouble stretching your monthly food budget?  Are you tired of eating boring “cheap” food?  Many of your friends, family, and neighbors probably are, too.  Grouping together with a few other people can save you a considerable amount of money on your weekly or monthly shopping.  When you consolidate your efforts you can make lists of store sales and split the driving or buy memberships to more than one club store and maximize your savings on bulk items.
 
Bulk items
 
Many things are less expensive per item when you buy several at a time.  If you don’t have the room or desire to store and eat 20 pounds of potatoes before they go bad, you aren’t really saving money.  But if you and a friend or two split the cost of a bag of potatoes, you can likely consume 5-10 pounds before they go bad.  Club stores often pack spices, condiments, soups, cereals, etc. in packs of 2 or more.  If you and a friend or two can decide on which items you both need and will use, you can save a considerable amount over buying one or two items on your own at the grocery store.
 
Grocery sales
 
One grocery store may be having a great sale on meat and dry goods while the other one across town is having a great sale on produce.  Send your friend with your produce list and take his meat list.  When you both get home, separate out the items you purchased for each other and exchange any money needed.  Don’t forget to share (and use) your coupons!
 
Splitting the shopping among friends can save you on the cost of the items themselves as well as on the cost of gas getting all over town to the best deals.

Coupons can be a great way to trim your food budget if you keep the following in mind:

Something you use

Make sure the coupon you are using is something you would normally buy.  You aren’t really saving any money if you’re buying cracker jacks at $0.50 off if you don’t normally eat cracker jacks.  In that case you’re actually spending a couple dollars more than you normally would.

Is the coupon saving you money

Sure it looks good that you are saving $0.50 on fancy tissue, but if the brand you normally buy is $0.75 less than the coupon brand, you are actually spending more than you normally would.  Not a savings.  Also be careful of the name brand that is actually sized smaller than the generic brand you’d normally buy.

Hand them to the cashier

Don’t forget to actually give the coupon to the cashier.  I know that sounds pretty basic, but you would not believe how many times I’ve walked out of the store and realized when I’m putting the groceries away that I still have my coupon in my pocket.  At least by following the two previously mentioned criteria, I haven’t lost any money, I just didn’t save any.  Hopefully, my coupon will still be good next time.

Put the “savings” away

One thing I do is put the amount I saved into a jar and forget about it.  When it gets to be $100 or so, I take it out and put it in a savings account because your food budget should be based on full price items.  Of course, if you’re trying to trim your budget just to make ends meet, you may not have the ability to actually save the difference.  Every bit you can save will be helpful if you lose your job, take a pay cut, have an unpaid sick day, or have an unbudgeted expense come up.

Whether you are using coupons to tighten your budget or as a way to set a little money aside, if you follow the above guidelines, you should come out ahead.

My grocery shopping trips were so easy when I wasn’t trying to follow a budget for them.  I’d just grab whatever looked good off the shelf.  Recently I started looking at my grocery spending and started wondering how the heck I managed to spend so much on food in a month.  I’ve started following the guidelines I’ve listed below and seen a considerable reduction in my monthly grocery bills.

Make a list

Sure, you’ve read over and over in all kinds of articles that making a list will save you money and lessen your impulse buys.  Well, it’s true.  And you get the added bonus of actually making it home with everything you need instead of having to go back to the store for the one thing you really needed and forgot to grab.  That second trip to the store usually includes grabbing a couple more impulse things.  At least it usually does for me.  You may have a stronger will power than I do.  Regardless, a list can and will help you cut out unnecessary spending and assure you get everything you need all in one trip.

Compare prices

When you’re at the store, really look and compare prices of the items you are buying.  Don’t look at the row of cereal boxes and grab the one with the lowest shelf tag.  Often, the higher priced cereals are in much smaller boxes so that you are paying less per box, but more per ounce.  All stores list on their shelf tag the price in big letters and then under that in smaller print, it will show the price per ounce or each.  This is where you need to compare your prices.  Sometimes buying in bulk is a better deal because you get a lower price per ounce, but be sure that you are going to be able to eat 4 pounds of cereal before it goes stale.

Compare stores

I’m not going to mention specific stores since I’m not here for free advertisement.  I shop at 4 different stores in my general area (A, B, C, D).  I have found that store A has a better meat section.  Store A’s butcher seems to be better so that even if Store B might be having a better sale on meat, by the time I trim all the inedible parts off, I’m spending more than if I bought the same type meat at Store A.  Store B, however, tends to have better quality produce and usually for a lower price.  Store C always has the best price on dry goods, canned goods, non-perishable, and frozen items.  Occasionally, Stores A, B, and D will have really good sales that beat Store C, but they are very rare.  Which leaves me with Store D.  This store is my most unreliable shopping experience.  I only shop here when they are having a really good sale AND they happen to be near some place I’m already going.

Living affordably doesn’t mean you have to eat at home all of the time.  Treating yourself to a night out is important for morale.  You can be the judge of how often that happens.  If you are trying to tighten your budget, look at how many times you eat out now.  If you are eating out more than once per week, you will be able to save considerably by cutting your restaurant trips to once a week or even less.

First, some tips for “dining out” at home.  I know part of the reason I like to eat out is to splurge on a nice meal I wouldn’t normally make.  This usually includes a steak, baked potato, vegetable, salad, and maybe dessert.  You can make that same meal at home for a fraction of the cost.  Just browse through recipe sites to find a good sauce or cooking directions for your steak, set the table with a tablecloth, candles, and maybe even some fresh flowers.  You have an “evening out” ambiance at a much lower cost.

The other part of why I eat out is because I don’t want to do the preparation and cleanup.  It’s nice to relax and have someone else be in charge of everything.  For those times, there are several things I do to save money on the final tab.  Please keep in mind that your server is likely struggling financially, too.  Scrimping on the tip is NOT an appropriate way to save on your restaurant tab.

Drink Water

I know, it’s boring to drink water, but if you are taking a family of 4 out to dinner, drinking water instead of soda can save you $7-$10.  That’s a pretty big savings.  Skip drinks 4 times and you’ve saved enough for another night out.

Skip the Alcohol

While it’s nice to sip a glass of wine, beer, margarita, or other cocktail, nicely paired with your meal, you are likely going to be paying $4-$6 a drink.  Much better to stop at the store on the way home and savor your beverage of choice on your couch.  You also eliminate your risk of a costly drinking and driving ticket.

Splitting meals

When I eat out with my partner, we often split meals.  Restaurant portions are often much larger portions than one person should consume in one sitting anyway.  Some of our favorite restaurants put the meal on 2 plates with both plates getting almost full portions of the sides.

Pre-box half

When your food arrives at your table, ask your server for a box and immediately box up half for lunch or dinner the next day.  Not only will you double your meal count for your dollar, you will be saving yourself from those extra calories the restaurants pack on the plate.

Dining between meal times

Another way to stretch your restaurant dollar is to eat out between meal times making your meal out count for 2 meals.  Combined with splitting the meal or boxing half, you could get up to 4 meals for the price of one.  On the weekends, we will occasionally eat a late breakfast and then split a meal in a restaurant around 3 or 4 in the afternoon and have a small snack closer to bedtime if we get hungry again.

Dining Specials

Keep an eye out for dining specials such as kids eating free or cheap.  Many restaurants have a kids night where kids meals are either free with a paying adult or a dollar or two.  Local papers often have coupons in them for local restaurants.  Use a buy one get one free coupon combined with splitting or pre-boxing and you almost have food for a week!  Many restaurants also have happy hour specials where entrees, appetizers, and/or drinks are much more affordable.  A little research in these areas can save you a lot of money.