10 Ways to Save Money as a Student

Let's be honest: saving money, particularly as a student, is difficult. It is no secret, however, that having your monthly allotment in green digits rather than red ones can lead to less stress, fewer financial issues, and, of course, better budgeting. So, without further ado, let's see whether you can employ one of our money-saving student suggestions listed below!

1. Experiment with Financial Management

There is a widespread belief that nothing beats putting theory into practise. Even if you are not a university student studying Business and Economics, you should think about doing something basic in the world of finance - establishing a budget!

Simply grab a pen and paper, or open an Excel file, and jot down your monthly expenses. After that, assess your earnings and you'll have a clear image of your monthly financial situation. Do you notice any areas where you could save more money? Do you believe you'll be able to save €100 from now on? That's perfect, that's one method to deal with a budget deficit!

2. Make the Most of Your Status as a Student

Being a student is a legal status, in case you hadn't considered it. It proves not just that you are presently attending university, but also that you are eligible for a variety of discounts and preferences aimed at keeping your budget in check.

Keep this in mind and see if you can request any special conditions that are only applied to students. For example, your local bus company may offer you a 20% discount on your next bus journey home!

3. Make use of free online services to save money.

Technology is critical in today's environment for maintaining a normal living. It is also a must for students who have a lot of project work and other university activities. Is it, however, genuinely worth it to always use expensive services rather than anything free?

Consider the programme you use every day, such as Microsoft Office. Did you know that Office 365, a completely free online version that includes the most recent versions of Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, is available? Or that Netflix, Spotify, and a slew of other entertainment services offers free trials that you can take advantage of?

4. Put your cooking skills to the test

It's quite acceptable to have a serious love affair with food. "Food is love, food is life," as many people say. It is, nevertheless, sad to waste a substantial percentage of your hard-earned cash on delectable food that you can prepare yourself.

Do you enjoy chocolate? Great, go to the local grocery and pick up some cookies, a container of chocolate, and your favourite cream or syrup. Next, check if you can make a chocolate cake with just these three inexpensive ingredients. Best case scenario: you discover that you've been wasting a lot of money at university cafes on pieces of cake that aren't even as good as yours!

5. Rethink Your Sporting Activity

Even if your university has a modern gym with a variety of sports activities, there is always a simple problem: access is frequently prohibitively expensive. You may end up paying more money for your favourite sport than your rental if you sign up for a monthly membership. You're a fitness freak!

As a temporary remedy, you can engage in a completely new sport that does not require any special terrain or equipment, or even better, a trip to the gym. Some decent sports, such as basketball, football, or table tennis, or something unique that you can practise at home, such as yoga, can help. Relax and save money at the same time!

6. Before you go shopping, think twice.

Everyone nowadays wants to know what's new in the worlds of fashion and technology. As a student, you may be afflicted by the "shop a lot" and "save rather not" syndromes, which can have a negative impact on your pocketbook, wallet, and savings.

To avoid this, try to keep track of upcoming sales and exclusive deals, especially during the transition from one season to the next. Make a list of desired things and remember the old adage that "patience is a virtue" - they might appear at a reasonable price during Easter, Christmas, or a national holiday!Furthermore, the online world and events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday can also do you good.

7. A mobile phone plan. Hello?

You most likely included your phone bill when determining your financial status at the start of the post. However, unlike any other fees you may be facing, this one may be drastically lowered.

Even if you are the most talkative student on the planet, who is always in touch with pals, you may save money on a cell plan. How? Are you using Messenger, Skype, Viber, or WhatsApp? Mark some places you frequent and see if you can rely on a fast and secure Wi-Fi network — that's all you need to know!

If you still prefer to have basic mobile coverage, than you can go for a plan with more Internet data rather than calls or messages and avoid signing a contract.

8. Be receptive to freebies

Surprisingly or not, modern industry is well aware of the student's limited financial resources. That's why you'll find a variety of things being given away for free practically all of the time at your university!

Avoid missing out on these opportunities, as there may be healthier alternatives to Red Bull and Monster Energy that you prefer. In some situations, you may also be required to participate in a fun game or activity in order to be eligible for a larger prize! Of course, keep an eye out for gift cards and vouchers that can be presented in addition to the merchandise.

9. Share With Your Friends

Have you ever considered sharing almost everything with your friends? It is almost like being in a relationship – but one which could be saving you money!

For the best results, you can experiment with your fellow students or roommates and figure out thoughtful ideas on how to save from your budget. How about the price for reasonable cable TV and Internet for a single contract split in three? Or a non-personalized membership that everyone can benefit from? So many possibilities!

10. A Penny a Day

Finally, there is no better way to conclude this article than with an old-fashioned way to save money. Think of it as a challenge – all you have to do is start with one penny, then put aside two the next day, continue with three the day after and there you have it!

If you manage to keep up this trend for a whole year, or 365 days, you would be able to save over €650! Now, that’s a lot of pennies right there!

10 Ways to Save Money as a Student