The Scholarship System

Paying for college begins here

  • Home
  • Learn With Us
    • All Resources
    • Free Scholarship Training
    • Scholarship Course
    • Debt-Free Degree Lab
    • Youtube Channel
    • The Scholarship System Book
  • Free Facebook Group
  • Success Stories
  • Blog
    • Scholarships & Financial Aid
    • Paying for College
    • Student Loans
    • Saving Money in College
    • Admissions
    • Tips for Parents
    • Student Success
  • About
    • Meet the Founder
    • Meet the Team
    • #RebelFamily Mindset
    • FAQ
  • Contact
    • Stay Informed
Home » 75 Easy Ways to Save Money in College

75 Easy Ways to Save Money in College

Saving Money in College

Updated on June 10th, 2022

We all know that college can be expensive. That’s what makes locating appropriate scholarships so important (if you haven’t started applying for scholarships yet or want some simple tips on how to find the best scholarships to apply to, join our free webinar to get the ball rolling). But, even if you do well in landing funds that don’t require a debt repayment plan upon graduation, that doesn’t always mean all of your expenses are met (or that you want to spend all that money if you don’t need to!) It’s still important to save money in college.

Once the FAFSA has been completed, grants have been awarded, and the scholarship applications are on their way, it is important to ensure your college student is also making smart money choices to keep their expenses down. So, if you aren’t sure how to broach the subject of living frugally with your child or you want to have a series of tips to pass down, we’ve got your back.

If your student needs a degree to launch their career, scholarships can make school more affordable. If you and your student want to learn more about finding scholarships, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! Head over to http://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to reserve your spot today.

Here are 75 easy ways you can share with your child so they can learn how to save money in college.

Note: There are some affiliate links below, but these are all products I highly recommend. I won’t put anything on this page that I haven’t verified and/or personally used.

Before College

If your student is still in high school, here are some money-saving options to take advantage of NOW!

  1. Have them sign up for Advanced Placement courses to prepare for AP exams
  2. Check into CLEP exams for college credit
  3. Dual enroll in college courses while in high school

Tuition, Textbooks, and Reference Resources

  1. Attend a community college for the first two years for lower tuition options
  2. Look into international colleges and universities that may be lower cost
  3. Rent textbooks instead of buying
  4. When textbooks must be purchased, buy used instead of new
  5. Look for prior editions of textbooks (many times, the information is the same, just rearranged)
  6. Use the college library
  7. Use the public library

college books

Room and Board

  1. Live at home instead of on campus
  2. Select the cheapest (safe) apartment or dorm room option available or if you really want to get creative, try house hacking (buying a rental property).
  3. Get a roommate
  4. Monitor utility use (turn lights off when leaving a room, don’t leave the water running when brushing teeth, etc.)
  5. Consider on-campus dining plans
  6. Limit eating out. Try $5 Meal Plan to save money when cooking at home
  7. Buy non-perishable groceries in bulk for cost savings
  8. Meal prep in bulk
  9. Choose drip coffee over specialty drinks
  10. Use rebate apps like Ibotta to get cashback on things you normally buy (like bread, eggs, you name it.)
  11. Sign up for the Walmart Savings Catcher to scan your receipts and receive cashback.
  12. Clip Coupons

Transportation

  1. Go carless and use public transit instead
  2. Look into student transit discounts
  3. Walk or bike instead
  4. Carpool!
  5. Consider taking the bus or train instead of flying home for breaks (ask about student discounts too)
  6. Skip traditional spring break trips for a staycation or volunteer experience that includes transportation, room, and board. Still, need to find housing? Try an affordable alternative like AirBnB where people rent out their homes at a major discount compared to hotels! I use this all the time – both in the U.S. and internationally!

college savings

Entertainment and Communication

  1. Have a movie night in instead of going to theaters
  2. Choose Netflix or Hulu over cable
  3. Attend free social events through the college
  4. Get a prepaid cell phone plan
  5. Stay within your cell phone plan limits to avoid overage fees
  6. Use college Wi-Fi to send emails to friends and family instead of your data plan
  7. Use Amazon Prime for Students (entertainment AND free shipping!)
  8. Avoid buying alcoholic beverages when out (restaurant markups are HUGE)
  9. Ask every restaurant, movie theater, mini-golf course, etc. if they offer student discounts
  10. See if your local library or parks department offers free entertainment (think music or movies in the park, book clubs, etc.)

College is expensive, even if your child does well in the scholarship arena. Learn how to save money in college with our list of 75 easy ways to save.

Gifts and Holidays

  1. Make homemade gifts
  2. Do a Secret Santa instead of shopping for everyone
  3. Bake a cake instead of buying one
  4. Potluck instead of going out
  5. Ask for practical items as birthday and Christmas gifts to save money

saving money for college

Clothing

  1. Shop gently used clothing stores
  2. Hang clothes to dry instead of using a dryer
  3. Make your own laundry detergent and fabric softener
  4. Shop clearance
  5. Buy classic, quality clothing instead of following trends
  6. Do a clothing trade with friends instead of shopping

Banking and Finance

  1. Find free checking account options
  2. Take the free checks offered with new accounts
  3. Track spending to avoid overdraft fees
  4. Avoid credit cards with annual fees or other charges
  5. Pay credit card balances in full
  6. Pay bills on time to avoid late fees and penalty interest rates
  7. Start a change jar

Electronics and Other Shopping

  1. Look for student discounts when buying a computer
  2. Check for discounts on software too
  3. Buy a computer that meets your needs and not one with unnecessary bells and whistles
  4. Stick with a basic printer over flashy models, especially if you are only printing documents
  5. Get antivirus software to protect your computer and smartphone
  6. Don’t upgrade your cell phone if your current one still works, even if you are eligible for an upgrade
  7. For states with sales tax, check for any tax-free shopping weeks
  8. Comparison shop whenever possible, especially through online retailers with free shipping and local stores
  9. Live near a residential area? Check out yard sales
  10. Go to swap meets
  11. Try Freecycle and the free section of Craigslist

money for college

Health, Fitness, and Grooming

  1. See if there is a local free clinic available for basic medical needs
  2. Use on-campus exercise facilities, if available
  3. Choose low-cost workout options, like running in the local area, over joining a pricey gym
  4. If you have to join a gym, ask about student discounts
  5. Choose hairstyles that grow out well to avoid excessive upkeep
  6. Check into local beauty schools for discounted haircuts and other services or try Groupon for discounted services
  7. Skip nail salons for at-home manicures (invite friends over, and it can be entertainment too!)
  8. Look into low-cost shave clubs for cheaper razors

As you can see, there are a lot of ways your college student can save money in college while they obtain their degree. In fact, there are likely many more that didn’t end up on the list!

Do you have a money-saving tip that can help a struggling student make ends meet? Please add it in the comments below!

If your student needs a degree to launch their career, scholarships can make school more affordable. If you and your student want to learn more about finding scholarships, sign up for our free college scholarship webinar! Head over to http://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar to reserve your spot today.

Learn how I won $126k in external scholarships by registering for my webinar.
  • Facebook104
  • Twitter
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr


16 Comments

« The Final Stretch: How to Improve Grades Last Minute
25 Scholarships to Apply to By the End of Spring Break »

Comments

  1. Nick L. says

    March 13, 2017 at 12:50 pm

    This list is amazing! About half of these I never even thought of. It’s incredible how many things we just take for granted and don’t even realize all these hidden fees and expenses. Great research! Thank you Jocelyn!

    Reply
    • Jocelyn Paonita says

      March 14, 2017 at 11:26 am

      Great! Glad you enjoyed the list! Hope some of these can help.

      Reply
  2. Nick L. says

    March 14, 2017 at 4:04 am

    1. Get a part-time job within walking distance of the campus.
    2. Don’t get a credit card. Get a check card from your local credit union.
    3. Fill a water bottle with public water instead of buying bottled water.
    4. Get an off brand cell phone plan rather than popular national brands.
    5. Instead of spending money on dates, do free things like walks, site seeing, and campus events.
    6. Work at the campus ministry in exchange for free dinner.
    Reply
    • Jocelyn Paonita says

      March 14, 2017 at 11:27 am

      Love these! I especially love the water bottle idea. I always have mine with me to refill. Great ideas!

      Reply
    • alex horne says

      September 28, 2017 at 7:28 pm

      or do all of these and enjoy life

      Reply
  3. Natalie says

    October 16, 2017 at 3:02 pm

    Use a brita filter that you can fill at home and keep in the fridge for cold clean water!

    Reply
    • Jocelyn Paonita says

      October 16, 2017 at 3:32 pm

      That’s a fantastic suggestion! I love my Brita filter.

      Reply
  4. Save on Transfers says

    April 29, 2019 at 6:08 am

    I like all the tips. It will really help students to save money and healthier. The college has lots of spending and as a student, we need to reduce kinds of stuff that aren’t important in your studies. Like dates, we’re can’t spend so much and make it romantic while walking around the campus.

    Reply
  5. steve martin says

    July 9, 2019 at 6:24 am

    Awesome list!
    I follow most of the tips you have shared. Over all great ideas!

    Reply
  6. Eric says

    September 9, 2019 at 8:46 pm

    Great list of ways to save. With the rising cost of higher education it is more important than ever to get through school with as little debt as possible.

    More people entering college really need to consider going to a community college the first few years. The savings can make a big difference at graduation.

    Reply
  7. Doyle says

    November 19, 2019 at 4:35 am

    I share your opinion for the large part, I believe that some factors are worth
    having a more comprehensive look to understand what is going on.

    Reply
  8. Junko Bernat says

    November 20, 2019 at 2:28 pm

    I saw your publications previously, however this one I think about the very best.

    Reply
  9. Corey Kobel says

    November 22, 2019 at 7:09 am

    I understand what you are trying to indicate and your stage
    does make sense but that I can’t say I totally agree with
    you. You see, there might be some issues in regards to the problems you’ve mentioned.
    Nevertheless, I love the time you spent in describing your opinion. I
    am interested in this subject and will certainly dig deeper into the matter, although it is
    going to require me to devote some time searching for current data and reading scholar articles.

    Reply
  10. Lorraine Saleem says

    October 31, 2021 at 12:49 pm

    Choose apartment style dorm room, saves with meal plan .

    Going Shopping with your roommate to split the
    grocery bill.

    I shop at Costco as I have two daughters attending the same college, bulk shopping helps for me.

    Reply
  11. Matt says

    February 5, 2022 at 12:15 pm

    Walmart Savings Catcher was a great program but has been discontinued (#21).

    Reply
  12. Brajesh Sharma says

    April 18, 2022 at 6:40 am

    Great insight on savings. My favorite was always second-hand books, public transport & saving on clothes.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search The Scholarship System

About The Scholarship System

The Scholarship System is all about strategies to help students and their families pay for college. We’ve created a step-by-step process to teach ANY STUDENT how to secure college funding, saving families more than $6.8 Million so far.

Rather than being buried in debt, your child can get their college PAID FOR! Ready to take the next step? Click the button below to join our next FREE webinar and learn more.

Register for FREE Webinar

Join us on Facebook

Subscribe to our newsletter

Join our FREE community and receive helpful tips and tricks in your email once per week.
Subscribe via email
Popular Posts

How to Write Winning Scholarship Essays

How to Write an Amazing Scholarship Resume

75 Easy Ways to Save Money in College

  • Home
  • Affiliate Disclaimer
  • Disclaimer & Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2022 · The Scholarship System LLC · Built by RockFort Media · Disclaimer & Privacy Policy

  • 104
  • 104