We all know that college years are supposed to be the best year of our lives; ask any graduate, and I assure you that they’ll agree. However, they will also agree with me when I say that college is expensive. Between housing, tuition, food, and, of course, partying, the bills can stack up quickly. As if working towards a degree wasn’t enough, us college and grad students can get easily overwhelmed by these numbers. However, there are ways to make it more manageable.

That’s where I come in. I’m here to teach you all the ways you can save money, and perhaps even make some on your own, WITHOUT sacrificing your full college experience. Throughout my years as a student, these are some of the things that I have done to make the pre-semester billing statement a lot easier for my young adult self to deal with.

So, without further adieu, here are some of my BEST and EASIEST ways to saving money as a college student.

1. Buying at Thrift Stores

Not only is this a much more sustainable alternative to fast fashion, but it’s one of the cheapest ways to get nice clothes. Although some may find the concept of wearing other people’s used clothes disgusting, thrifting really isn’t all that bad. All you really need to do to make the process a little less gross is to sanitize your hands regularly while thrifting, and (this should go without saying) wash the clothes as soon as you get back.

My way to thrift cute clothes was to find a Goodwill by the richest neighborhood nearby. You’d be surprised how easily rich people get tired of their nice things.

2. Don’t Shop at the Campus Store

I know it may be enticing with all of its cute tailgating gear and cool accessories, but do NOT buy any of your college gear from the campus store! This might be particularly difficult if you’re a freshman, but I promise that the sweater with your school’s mascot on it is actually very ugly, and you probably won’t wear it after the first semester.

The campus store in every, and I mean every university is overpriced. I say this with my full chest. Do not buy any of your school supplies there, either, because I’m sure that there is a dollar store nearby where you can buy all your supplies at the same price that your campus store would’ve charged you for a single notebook.

This tip also goes hand-in-hand with our first tip, thrifting, as you can easily find super cheap college merch at the thrift store closest to your campus. You can also find some really cool vintage-style things by looking up your university’s name on Ebay (this was how I got all of my game-day shirts!).

3. Apply for a Student Credit Card

This is a great way to save some money while you’re spending, especially if you’re also making your own money. A lot of young adults tend to think that credit cards (and, more specifically, credit card bills) are evil. This could not be further from the truth!

A lot of student credit cards have 12-18 months of 0% APR, which makes bills a lot easier to handle. A lot of them also have a pretty good amount of cash back on all types of purchases, which provides you with rewards that will actually earn you money while you spend it.

Of course, it’s important to know how to manage your own credit card, since it’s a pretty big responsibility. Keep your spending under 25-30% of your monthly credit limit, and ALWAYS pay your bills on time, especially in the 0% APR period. This will help ensure that when the 0% time limit is up, you’ll still have a low percentage, just in case. By paying your bills on time, your credit score will increase slowly, but surely, which will make it a lot easier to take out loans.

Most colleges have banks on-campus, so try to check out what unique options your college offers, if any. If not, do your research! Read up on what student credit cards different banks offer, and keep in mind which benefits are most important to you. For example, cash back has always been very important to me, so one of my favorites is the Discover it® Student Cash Back Card.

4. Live with a Roommate

I know, it sucks. But it’s much easier to pay for a living space when someone else is splitting the bills with you.

Living with a roommate, or if possible, multiple roommates, makes rent much more manageable, making it possible for you to keep some money for yourself on the side. Sure, they can be messy, loud, and in many cases, intolerable, but if you fine yourself someone respectable and draw up a rooming agreement with them, it’ll save you from a huge dent in your budget.

5. Find Student Discounts on Everyday Items

There are so many different stores that offer discounts for college students. Apple, Target, and so many other big brands also give you huge discounts when you make an account with your student ID. Many places will also give you free stuff when you purchase with a student account.

When making purchases, make sure to either look for places near your campus, many of which might have a sign outside saying that showing your student ID will get you a gift or discount, or check on stores’ websites. Most of them will ask you to make an account with your student ID or email, but it’s super quick and super easy.

My favorite way to find student discounts is with the UNiDAYS app. This app allows you to follow all of your favorite brands after signing up through your university’s website. Registering only takes about two minutes, and it’s completely free! Based on your interests, the app will also recommend you certain deals that you might like. Most anything you’re looking for, you can find on UNiDAYS. I even found some incredible deals on food my for cat, and vacation stay discounts up to 75% off!

6. Don’t Pay for Textbooks

Never. Ever. EVER. Pay for your textbooks. I cannot stress this enough.

Buying or even renting your class textbooks can cost you hundreds of dollars. This is one of the biggest money mistakes you can make as a college student. It’s so easy to get caught up in pre-semester splurging, and textbook buying is (besides tuition and rent, of course) the #1 drain to your bank account, and, nine times out of ten, your professor won’t even use the textbook!

Don’t worry, though. Even for the class syllabi that do require the use of a textbook, it’s easy to access them, completely free of charge. If you have any upperclassmen friends that took the same class as yours, and were unfortunate enough to fall into the trap that is textbook-buying, ask them if you can borrow it from them for the semester. If not, there’s still no need to stress! There are plenty of free textbook sites online where you can find free PDF version of the book. This might take some research, though, as some websites might require a paid membership, and others might not have the book you’re looking for.

I usually use the Internet Archive Website to access free books, as it allows you to “borrow” books online, in which the website gives you full access to the online version of that book for the next hour. Although the website does offer real discounted books, I find that the “borrow” option is perfect for classes where chapter-by-chapter readings are assigned before lectures. If this website doesn’t work, I’ll usually refer to Pinterest to find different websites that may have a textbook that I’m looking for.

7. Attend Freshman Orientation Events

This tip works, whether you’re a freshman or not.

Every semester, as all the new students would come on campus, many schools will hold Freshman Orientation events for them to socialize and grow school spirit. However, many of these events will also have their doors open to welcome anyone in, whether they are freshmen or not.

If you’re as cynical as me, the school-spirit propaganda rallies will get a little obnoxious. However, I’m just as cynical as I am thrifty, so you know I love my free stuff, and these events are almost always filled to the brim with free stuff.

These events will often have booths for their sports teams and sponsors, both of which love to give out free t-shirts, water bottles, plastic cups, pens, and much more useful gadgets with their logos on them. A lot of this stuff can be pretty useful to the average college student, too! Stacking up on stuff like shirts and water bottles will save you from binge-buying supplies before the beginning of every semester.

8. Buy Used Electronics

Going hand-in-hand with thrifting, buying used electronics is another way to save money while saving the planet. It’s not only sustainable, but also entirely necessary for the average college student. As much as traditional pen and paper loves to get the job done, our world is now a technology-consumed place. This trend does not stop once university starts!

As a college student, it is imperative to have your own computer with which you can take notes, send emails, write and submit papers, and contact professors. As expensive as these computers may be, though, it’s easy to find cheaper options on used electronic websites. Many of these computers are in surprisingly good condition, too, as a lot of websites make profit of off reselling computers in new condition. I bought my computer, a 15″ MacBook, from TreeCard Refurbished Tech. This eco-friendly site buys and sells used electronics, sometimes at half the price! You can also get additional discounts on this site by downloading and using the Treecard app, an app that plants one tree for every 10,000 steps you walk, giving you points for rewards along the way. TreeCard is a great way to stay fit, motivate you to stay sustainable, and save a good amount of money on your purchases.

9. Test out of Classes

This option is nothing short of a blessing for college students. Sitting in on lectures and testing out of classes can save you a fortune. I know it did for me!

Since I already spoke Spanish fluently from being raised in a Puerto Rican household, my best option was to test out of Spanish Language classes, since I didn’t even have to review the class materials. If you have this advantage, I highly recommend doing the same, but if not, you still have the option of testing out with the help of studying.

I always recommend using Duolingo to learn a semester’s worth of a language and testing out of a beginner’s language course, but if not, you can always sit in on the lectures for a class that interests you. This is where our free textbook websites come in, as you can use those to study. It’s also a good idea to ask your friends in the class for a copy of their syllabus. Testing out means more credits, more credits means graduating early, graduating early means no more paying expensive tuition bills!

10. Study, Study, Study!

The first nine tips are just some of the ways I was able to save some extra money so it would be easier to pay my college expenses off. However, my main priority was getting my money’s worth, and it should be the same for you. College is an investment, and with better education comes better job opportunities later on.

By studying for your classes and passing your finals, you will be able to graduate on time. But, don’t be scared to go at your own pace. No one knows you better than yourself, so you can and should be the one to determine what classes you take, how you study, and when you will graduate. Everyone is different, so if getting a worthwhile education and being ready for a career means that it’ll take more than four years to graduate, take all the time you need! Take gap years or semesters off, work on yourself, and PRIORITIZE YOU. You are not there for your university, your university is there for you.

Take classes that will benefit you and that you can push yourself to study for. Enjoy college as much as you can, and learn how to find the joy in learning. On your graduation date, while you’re walking across the stage, you want to feel ready. You want to feel like all the stress and hours or work you put in to your education were worth it. Don’t pay for an education that won’t make your life and career better!

Study for your classes, get good grades (or, at least good enough. C’s get Degrees!) and when that tuition bill comes around, remember that you’re investing in a happier, more wealthy adult version of you.

I hope you guys enjoyed my 10 tips on how to save money as a college student. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or just have something to share, leave a comment below! If you’re interested in finding more tips on how to get by as a student, subscribe to my blog! Thank you for reading my article, and welcome to the Minds for the Soul family!