It's no secret that being a college student requires some craftiness to survive on a shoestring budget - but it's an important step in learning financial responsibility and independence. For many, this means saying goodbye to the “fun” things in life, like Breaking Bad Sunday nights or going out to dinner with the crew – but it doesn't have to, thanks to these five great tips on how to save money outside the classroom:
Cut the cable cord - and never miss your favorite show
Let's face it: thanks to the proliferation of great dramas and comedies across dozens of networks, it's hard to resist the temptation to get cable at college. Problem is, a cable subscription can run upwards of $100 a month: or by comparison, 190 packs of Ramen or 30 jars of peanut butter every 30 days.
But that's why there are services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant: for less than $30 a month, students can have access to thousands of different series, from current hits like New Girl and The Americans, to classic series like Cheers and LOST right at their fingertips, available on just about every media device one could imagine.
Become a Groupon Master
Whether its a date or a dinner out with friends, finding a way to blow off steam on the weekends is essential to surviving the stresses of college life. But like everything else in college, going out can get expensive: and that's where services like Groupon come in handy, delivering instant discounts to restaurants and local events right to your mailbox. Sure, every offer isn't going to be for you, but there are bound to be a number of valuable coupons sent along during the semester, an effortless way for everyone to save when spending a night out on the town.
Need Furniture? Grab a Coupon
Dorm furniture is a finicky thing: every college has rules on what can and can't be in a dorm room. Unfortunately, most accepted furniture and lighting fixtures are more expensive than typical products, or the cheapest options are of significantly lesser quality than one would want. But with a Bed, Bath and Beyond promo code or something from our dedicated college accessories coupon section, furnishing a college dorm room or apartment doesn't have to be a wallet-crushing expense.
Kick back with the hottest games for cheap
A great way to kick back after doing a bunch of homework or relaxing on a Sunday afternoon is playing a video game: but at $60 a pop, keeping the hottest titles in a console can be very expensive. That's where services like GameFly and GameRang step in: for the price of $10-25 a month, students can have the latest titles at their door the day of release, with the option to hold onto them as long as they like.
PC gamers don't have to miss out, either: from frequent Steam sales to Green Man Gaming pre-order deals, buying games is still an option for students on a budget, even for AAA titles like Bioshock Infinite or Saint's Row IV.
Don't slack on the style (or savings)
Some might think staying stylish in college isn't really an option: but thanks to the internet, it's a lot easier (and cheaper than one might think). From online-exclusive sales at just about every clothing retailer and designer label one could imagine to our vast database of clothing coupons, getting fresh threads isn't a bank-breaking endeavor anymore.
