21 money-saving tricks and tips for students

If you’re able to be excused to be buried in your books, now is the time to take a minute to consider how you’re managing your money. Do you have an established budget? Do you have a budget? the going?

University can be expensive, and there is no end to the opportunities to spend your hard-earned earnings or take out student loans. With a few minor changes today, you can help yourself save a lot of savings over time.

Budgeting

Making a monthly budget is the initial step towards keeping track of your finances. It gives you a broad perspective of your budget, so that you are able to make educated expenditure and savings decisions. It can reduce the amount of debt you have when you graduate, because believe me, you wouldn’t wish to enter the professional world with $30K of debt.

1. MAKE A BUDGET

Create a spreadsheet and compare your expenses and income the following year. Are you making the right decision (income higher than expenses)? Great! Be sure to save your money each month.

If you’re struggling to make ends meet (expenses greater than income), you’ll want to think about ways to reduce your expenditure or increase what you’re earning each month.

Access the UBC’s Financial Planning page to get useful Budgeting resources such as a basic worksheet as well as a budget planner. You can also use a simple cost calculator online that available to download.

2. Track your spending

Note down every purchase you make or use a budgeting app such as Mint, Wally, Mvelopes or Goodbudget.by link https://www.chiangraitimes.com/learning/5-money-saving-financial-tips-for-students/ website Just keeping track of your spending will allow you to spot patterns, and make you more aware of where your money is going and assist you in determining the need for changes.

3. DIFFERENTIATE “NEEDS” vs “WANTS’

Although it appears to be something that is simple and you’d be pleasantly surprised by our ability to justify the rationale behind certain purchases. Saving money by buying only what you need gives you more freedom in budgeting in the long run.

4. STICK TO YOUR BUDGET

The process of creating a budget is the most straightforward part. Then, you have to take it to action. Be aware that a budget can’t be a permanently fixed thing. It is intended to be dynamic. Also, you should update it as things are changing.

School

University can be expensive and costs can get expensive especially in the months of the months of November and December, when tuition is due and you’ll need to purchase the textbooks required for class. By making the right choices as well as putting in extra work, you can reduce the effect of these major cost on your pocket.

5. Get your hands on some free cash!

While we all know that money doesn’t grow on trees (#SAD! ), there are many options to get it for free.

Consider applying for scholarships, awards or bursaries. A lot of scholarships don’t receive numerous applications, which is why it’s worth the effort and taking the risk.

6. Be mindful of how you pay for school fees.

Don’t pay for charges for tuition or housing with the credit card you use, because there’s a 1.75 percent charge is added on for the entire amount. In the case of a tuition bill of $3000, there’s the loss of $30.

Pay using a different method, for payment, such as a transfer to a bank or a cheque. Check out the Paying Tuition section to learn about payment options.

7. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MEAL PLAN DOLLARS

If you’re in residence and have some kind of meal plan, the ideal option is to use your meal plan’s meal money for dining at the on-site dining halls. This way you’ll receive a discount of 25% on all purchases.

Also, you can enjoy an 5% discount when you use your flex dollar at UBC Food Services locations.

8. SAVE MONEY on TEXTBOOKS

Purchase books used from students who have sold them on Craigslist, Kijiji, or Facebook groups like UBC Used Textbooks.

It is worth noting that the UBC Bookstore even has a rental program that is available for some books. Also, don’t forget to browse Amazon for deals.

9. SELL YOUR TEXTBOOKS

When you’re done with the textbook, return it and donate it back to UBC Bookstore or Discount Textbooks or try to find another student who would benefit from it.

Food/Grocery

Apart from rent, your largest monthly expense will be food. While having a meal out almost every night is the most convenient way to go, it’s also the costliest. Adopting a DIY approach to food preparation is a smart method to save money and work on your cooking abilities.

10. COOK HOME – COOK

Limiting the number of times you dine out every month can save you huge amounts of money. Make big meals, and store the rest of the food in Tupperware containers. You can take the leftovers to school, and then heat them up to save money for meals.

There are many microwaves throughout campus, so truly there’s no reason to be disqualified. Take a look at this map for a reliable starting point for finding the microwave nearest to you.

11. BUY IN BULK

In bulk purchases, you can gain the maximum value of each purchase. Do grocery runs with families and friends, and then purchase family packs. Sort food items into plastic bags , and then put any leftovers in the freezer for later.

12. Plan your meals

When you’ve planned your meals for the next week, you will know the specific ingredients you’ll need to buy. Prepare a shopping plan and shop strategically. Only purchase what you’ll need. This also decreases the waste of food and drinks at the conclusion of the week.

13. MAKE YOUR OWN COFFEE

If you purchase a cup of coffee a day for three dollars for a cup you could cost you $600 in the course of the school year. It’s that simple, $600.

Instead, buy large quantities of coffee beans and make it yourself. Get a travel mug to take it on campus to keep the coffee warm.

14. COUPONS, COUPONS, COUPONS

Take advantage of as many coupons as you can, and use coupons to lower your grocery cost.

Shopping

In this consumer culture our society is quite tempting to desire – in the Arcade Fire’s words, “everything” now. Staying away from the temptation to spend extravagantly is the most effective way to save money.

Of course it’s impossible to avoid purchasing certain items. If you’re going to spendmoney, you should take steps to cut down on the amount you’re dishing out.

15. REFUSE BUDGETS IMPULSE

This merits repeating: differentiate between the things you’ll need and the things you want. If you’re planning to purchase a “want take a look at the budget first and determine how much you can spend.

Don’t buy immediately without considering the implications.

16. SHOP IN DISCOUNT STORES

A visit to the dollar shop should be your first stop to shop for household goods, school supplies, etc. Thrift stores are great for used clothing and Vancouver’s got quite a number of them.

If you’re looking to start, go to The Salvation Army in Kits, F As In Frank on Main Street, Community Thrift and Vintage in Gastown or at the Wildlife Thrift Store on Granville Street.

17. BUY GENERIC PRODUCTS, AVOID NAME BRANDS

This is self-explanatory. Whatever it is: food, medicine toiletries, household or other items, opt for the more affordable generic version instead of the brand names that are top of the line.

When you shop at the grocery store, buy products from the company you know and trust. The amount you save can add up over time.

18. ASK SUBMITTING DISCOUNTS FOR STUDENTS

Many stores offer discounts for students, they do not always get advertised. Don’t be afraid of asking questions at a staff member of the store. Be prepared with your student card. Inquire and (sometimes) you’ll get.

Entertainment

Social activities and extracurricular life are essential for making your university experience enjoyable. The difficult part is figuring out how to be a good sport without breaking the cost of the.

19. Select social activities that won’t SELL MONEY

Explore the trails, cycle and sightseeing, or just take walks in the parks. Activities that benefit from Vancouver’s nature-friendly surroundings are ideal. Here’s a list 25 things you can do for free in Vancouver.

20. SAVE MONEY ON UBC CAMPUS ATTRACTIONS

If you’re a UBC student, you will enjoy access for free or at a significant discount in admission fees to a wide range of UBC institutions, such as UBC Aquatic Centre, the UBC Aquatic Centre, the ARC and the Birdcoop Fitness Centres, the Museum of Anthropology, the Nitobe Memorial Garden, and the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery.

21. Join A CLUB

The UBC clubs are a great way to become involved and to meet fellow students. There are hundreds of club options at UBC and they’re constantly organizing social events.

Go to the AMS website for a full list of clubs that are available.

Don’t be afraid of reaching out for help

Oft, students do not reach out to those who can assist them until it’s to late and they’re already in financial trouble. Avoid doing this. If you’re financially strapped contact those near to you for assistance. Let your family know. Have your parents or grandparents ask to give you money or to take out the loan.

It is also possible to contact Your Enrolment Services Advisor for advice on what to do. ES Advisors can help you prepare a financial plan and sound plan for alleviating your financial woes.