1. Pay your bills online with free bill pay.
Most banks now offer free bill pay so if yours does then you save on a stamp.
2.Use those compact flurorescent bulbs.
They DO save on energy and provide better lighting too!
3.Use a digital camera.
This may sound strange (especially if you do not already own a digital camera) but it saves money. When you use your digital camera you can delete any shots you do not like and print only the ones you like. With traditional film you have to develop the entire roll before you know whether you have any good photos.
4. Scan your receipt.
Sometimes things are scanned twice on your receipt when you checkout a the grocery store. Many places will give you the item for free if you catch the error before leaving the store.
5.Pay more than the minimum.
This will save you in interest fees later on.
6.Use coupons.
This does not mean that you have to grab every coupon in sight and immediately buy those items. But look for coupons for items you buy on a regular basis and use them. If you are loyal to a brand and it is expensive then the coupons really help. And there is no shame in using coupons…you would be amazed at how many people use them.
7. Bag it!
Make lunch at home and take it work or school with you. Use a plastic drink bottle and bring your drink to have with that sandwich and that slice of cake (baked from scratch).
8.Make a list.
Keep a running list on the refrigerator and update it as soon as you notice something running low. Take the list with you when you go shopping (coupons attached!) and buy ONLY what is on the list. This is very difficult at first but gets easier with time.
9.Use online savings accounts.
An Orange account from ING.com gives you more than 4% interest. All you have to do is link your checking account to their online account and transfer money.
Paypal also offers a great rate…..currently 5% and you can also get a paypal debit card to help you track your spending.
10.Defensive driving.
Take the defensive driving course (available online for about $40) to get a better deal on your car insurance. It really works.
Even though this post is older than dirt, its one of the main reasons I found and continue to read your blog. Like yourself, I’m also one of those struggling college students. Well, a struggling former college student looking to get back in school and SAVE MONEY.
Just remember that slowly but surely wins the debt race. Thanks for stopping by Meg.
The lunch-to-go really saves me a lot of money. Besides the fact that is home-made and tastier! As for the flurorescent bulbs, at first I thought it was a blurry, but now I see the difference both in quality and on the bill. Thanks for the nice pieces of advice, I’ve marked them.