Tips for making the most of your student money

[niente_]

Money always seems scarce when you're a student! I learnt a lot from my first year of uni and know that many THers are off to uni next year So I thought it would be good to share some tips.

My main tip is - Limit the amount of money you take on a night out, and don't take any cards with you. This will stop you drawing out and spending loads of money in your drunken state I always take £20 with me, and i have a nice night on it.

Any other tips? I could still do with some for the coming year

[~CourageousSurvivor~]

I like your idea. Mine is kind of the same.

Set aside a certain amount of money you can spend in the month on 'fun' things and then do not go over it. That way you can still do the things you like but you won't have to spend a lot of money.

Have an emergency fund. This is generally good for all people. Unexpected costs can be a pain. If something comes up and you have to spend more in a given month it could really mess you up. So, if you start setting aside small amount of money a month it could really help. I do this from time to time. I just recently found out I have to pay registration on my car in September and thankfully I have a small back up fun that will make this a little easier to do.

Don't eat out as much. I know that a lot of college students eat on the go but if you can try to bring something from home. This can be harder to do for some but you will be surprised by how much money you are able to save.

[Commiseration]

Coming from a poor student, it's most important to focus on nessecities. Most of my money goes to food, gasoline, and rent. After those there isn't much left at all. So my advice is to find fun things to do that are free. Personally I like taking walks, playing my nintendo that I've had for years, or just watching movies. (All of these are good to invite friends for) I also have my schooling to keep me busy and it's pretty fun. Every once in a while it's good to spend a little money on yourself though, keeps the stress level down. Just can't over do it.

For food tips, don't eat out a lot. Rarely. Buy food in bulk, and cook meals for yourself that will have plenty of leftovers to feed ya for a couple days. Oh, and if someone offers you free food, go for it! haha

When you're an unemployed, next to dirt-poor student like me, you learn to prioritize and find cheap means of entertainment