Balling on a Budget: Great Ways to Spend Less Money

Living on a budget is not an easy task, especially as students.

Many times, we want to overspend or treat ourselves when it’s not necessary. With the right guidance, spending less money isn’t that difficult. Join me as I share my best tips and tricks for budgeting in college!

Find A Part-Time Job You Enjoy

My first piece of advice is to find a job you can work 10-20 hours a week that doesn’t take all your time or energy. Auburn always has on-campus jobs available for students that can be found on auemployment.com. Finding something you enjoy or find interesting is a great way to make some extra cash and get involved on campus. There are also other options like one of the many local coffee shops Auburn has or the boutiques downtown. A part-time job is, in my opinion, the best first step towards saving money.

Grocery Shopping

One of the things I struggled with most when I first arrived in Auburn was having money for groceries and food. It may not seem like it in the checkout line but buying food you can cook throughout the week is much cheaper than buying separate meals every day. I personally shop at Aldi because they have amazing food for amazing prices. They have endless produce and healthier options for frozen meals and snacks. I always invite my friends to go with me and make it a little more fun, since grocery shopping has never been my favorite activity.

Prioritize Needs Over Wants

It’s easy to get carried away the first couple of years you live alone. Many of us will overspend on little things that we want but don’t need. For example, getting tons of Auburn merch instead of books for your classes when you go to the bookstore. Being able to differentiate your needs and wants can tremendously reduce spending and ensure you will stick to your budget. My advice would be to prioritize food over all else and then go to the other needs like toiletries and sometimes clothes. You can always lean on your parents to decide the difference.

Treat Yourself

While it is important to prioritize needs over wants, a treat every now and then won’t hurt. In fact, it will be very beneficial in the long run. Knowing that you can treat yourself will take away the feeling of always wanting to spend money on little things. Not allowing yourself some leeway will cause you to purge and overspend a lot in one day or one outing. Get a coffee before class once a week or get a sweet treat after dinner sometimes. This has always proven successful for me, as long as you don’t treat yourself every day.

Student Discounts

This tip is one that often gets overlooked or forgotten about. More places than you think offer student discounts, so why not take advantage of it while you can? While they may not always be much, student discounts are made specifically for students who are trying to budget and have a lot on their plate. So next time you order some clothes online or go to a bookstore, check for a student discount before buying.

Budgeting in college is not easy, but by following these guidelines you can save money without sacrificing many things. If you pay attention to your spending and don’t overindulge, you will be sure to stick to your new budget!

Be Well, Auburn.