This post is in partnership with SiriusXM.
I KNOW you will love these hacks to get more for less during the college years! These genius ways to stretch your dollars will help your student get the very most out of their university experience! When your child learns to save where and how they can, they’ll be excited when they have extra money left in their budget for other additional items which they wouldn’t normally be able to have. Check out my favorite ten ways to save money and upgrade their college life!!
10 Hacks to Get More for Less During College
1.) The SiriusXM Student Plan Music becomes SUCH an important part of the college experience, from creating memories lasting a lifetime to offering sanity during endless study sessions. YOU GUYS! Did you know that SiriusXM has a Student Plan? When I heard about this, I knew I HAD to share it with you! Your child can listen on their smart phone, Bluetooth speaker, smart tv and their laptop. (And they don’t have to be in the car to listen, which is awesome!) The best part is that the SiriusXM Student Plan is only $4 per month! You definitely should sign your student up for this! It costs less for an entire month than some people spend for a single latte! So, you’re getting a LOT of added value for your dollar. It’s basically less than a dollar week, so it’s super affordable and extremely convenient!
The nice thing about SiriusXM is that it has hundreds of music channels TOTALLY ad-free. But you also get the biggest names in sports talk radio and more. Just think, when you’re not there for your child after a long, stressful day of finals, the music you bought for them will be. Sign your student up today!!
2.) Group Big Box Membership We all know that you can buy in bulk and get more for less at big box stores! Instead of footing the bill all alone for your student or having them pay for it by themselves, suggest they split a membership with their friend group. The more friends they split the membership with annually, the less they (or YOU!) pay.
3.) Community Coffeemaker We get it. Coffeehouse coffee is ENTICING during long weeks of finals and late-night study sessions! Unfortunately, it costs a ton of money which can be better spent elsewhere. Have your student go in with their roommates on a quality coffeemaker and make coffee at home. With yummy stir-in options like flavored creamers, whipped cream, or even a square of dark chocolate, they’ll trade in their venti for home-brewed, healthier, flavorful coffee for less in no time.
4.) Ditch Cash Instead of driving around with change in the console of the car or in a jar they’re not doing anything with, try helping your student avoid cash all together! Have them use a debit card instead of cash when possible. By doing this, it naturally keeps the change in their bank account after every transaction. Over time, cents add up! Now that’s good sense!
5.) Rent or Buy Used Books Purchasing expensive college textbooks has been the bane of any university experience for decades! However, there are so many alternatives these days! There are plenty of used book resources, both online and local, for your student to choose from now. Also, did you know that books can be rented, too? Both options are better alternatives to purchasing books which will only be studied from for a semester!
6.)Capitalize on the Campus Gym Many colleges have gyms on campus which are included in the cost of attendance. Instead of shelling out extra cash for a pricy gym down the street, have your student take advantage of what is free and already available to them! They can get healthier and save the extra money to spend (or save!) elsewhere.
7.) Peer at Periodicals Instead of expensive magazine subscriptions, have your student save money and check out the periodicals section at the campus library, instead! The library has subscriptions to TONS of magazines and other publications so you can read as many as you like…for FREE!
8.)Grab and Go Snacks If your student has a meal plan on campus, have them grab a snack for later as they leave the dining hall during breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Since you’ve already paid for the plan, it will save them from having to buy quite as many extra snacks for their dorm room, cutting down on their overall food budget.
9.)Campus ATM Access When cash withdrawals are necessary, save money by having your student bank with a local bank which has ATMs on campus. This will avoid usage fees and add up over time!
10.)Social Media Discount Offers Have your student follow their favorite local businesses on social media in their college town. Often, the businesses will share exclusive discounts and deals which will save your student money! Many times, they can ONLY be found on their social media feed, so it’s good to check for recent deals before they go!
I can’t wait for you to try these ten hacks! They will save both you and your student in college a lot money over the years. Getting the most out of their college experience is priceless and finding ways to stretch your dollars is something I’m so passionate about! Which hacks have you tried to save money? I’d love to hear about it! Share what you’ve tried and let me know when you’ve subscribed to the SiriusXM Student Plan!!
