How to budget and bargain without breaking the bank
Caitlin Trude | Contributing Writer
You’re back on that college grind, and you’re stoked – but you’re broke. Take heed of the following tips to make the budgeting process hurt less.
Tracking Device
Recording every purchase you make can shed light on your spending tendencies. Whether you splurged on a midnight milkshake run or iTunes singles, you can better identify what areas you can spend less on or cut off entirely.-Some smartphone money-tracking apps are free, such as iSpending and Pocket Expense. No smartphone? No problem. Use a small pocketbook to track all your expenses on the go.
Check for ID
Discounts aren’t just for seniors or military vets; you might be surprised by what’s out there if you have your college ID on you. Aero Theatre, Ford Ampitheatre, the LACMA and most museums provide student discounts. For students looking to study abroad keep an eye out for sites, like Student Universe, which offer some discounts on international flights, rail tickets, hostels and more.
Reduce, Reuse, Freecycle
For those paying monthly utilities bills, you know not to use excessive amounts of water and electricity. DO reuse the old, forgotten furniture sitting in your attic at home for your apartment – after all, it’s free. To the students still looking for furniture, turn to Craigslist, thrift stores and garage sales for that recliner you so badly need – or look to Freecycle, a network where people give away free stuff to other people living in nearby areas.
Trash to Treasure
Really think about some of the getup sitting in your closet and the last time you wore that neon sweater. Consider selling them to consignment stores, Crossroads or Buffalo Exchange. Then scour the rest of your room for items with little sentimental value to you– but with value for potential buyers. It’s a long shot, but don’t discredit some of the “junk” lying around your home. Consider hauling it over to Azusa Pawn.
Buy in Bulk
Rather than buying small amounts of paper towels or Top Ramen weekly, shop at Costco and split the cost with roommates. For items each roommate will use, it makes more sense to buy larger quantities at cheaper individual costs than having to go to the store repeatedly for the same items.
Bargain for Books
There are some classes where the “required” textbooks aren’t even required. But if you do end up needing the textbook, you have other options than just the bookstore – look into Amazon (or other comparable sites), renting, sharing or kicking it in the library. Some books are available for free online (Project Gutenberg), otherwise check out Chegg, Half.com, Booksfree or do your own Google search.
While some may resort to taking toilet paper from the public restrooms and reselling old textbooks at black market prices to the freshmen, there remain less shady ways to stay out of the red.