Trying to stretch that dollar in the dorms? Living on your own isn’t easy or cheap, but here are some helpful tips that will lessen the strain on your checking account:
Food: You can only force down those ramen noodles for so long, and let’s face it, they’re not the most nutritious thing you can eat. Check out the local farmer’s market to find great deals on fruits and veggies. At the grocery store, buy the generic brands and be sure to clip those coupons.
Coffee: Limit your Starbucks runs to once a week. Start brewing your own pot of coffee or bum a complimentary cup of joe from one of the campus offices.
Entertainment: Going out every night will drain your budget quickly. Instead of hitting up the club, opt for something cheaper. Host a pizza-and-movie night at your dorm or see what your college student activity center has planned for the weekend.
Furniture: Get it used. Go on Craig’s List, browse classified ads or hit garage and estate sales. Look for gently-used furniture and don’t be afraid to make a lower offer on the listed price.
Cable: These days, you don’t need cable when you have the internet. Watch your favorite shows on Hulu or get a Netflix subscription. If you have an Xbox, Playstation or Wii, you can stream videos with your Netflix account.
Gas: Living on campus already keeps your gas expenses down, but if you’re going out for the night, carpool with some of your friends. And make sure your ride is getting the best gas mileage possible by: keeping the engine tuned, properly inflating the tires and going the speed limit.
Phone: There are plenty of cheap or free communication services that can help you stay connected with your buds. Try the following products or services to save some green: Lingo, Magic Jack, Skype or Speakeasy.
Also Read:
Save Money in College by Buying Used Products
How to Find Affordable College Textbooks
Student Discount Programs by National Brands
posted on July 6th, 2010
by Jessie, Staff Writer
Tags: budget, dorms
Posted in Campus Life, How-To Guides | 8 Comments »
May 13th, 2011 at 10:46 am
[...] How to Save Money in the Dorms [...]
September 29th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
yup my kids all have this unit when they are off on vacation as well. So that when they are away in other countries we call the local magic jack number and they nor i dont have to pay for long distance charges :0 that simple.
September 14th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
It may not be a bad idea to have a medical alert device in your dorm, especially if you drink a lot
August 29th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
The magic jack really is a great alternative to any phone service – certainly give it a try before getting any type of service at your dorm!
August 26th, 2010 at 7:10 pm
What the girls in my hall and I did to save money was we would do a hallway pot luck a few nights a week, it was great because we got good food and didn’t have to pay 20 bucks to eat out!
August 5th, 2010 at 11:50 am
[...] How to Save Money in the Dorms [...]
July 26th, 2010 at 1:02 am
[...] How to Save money in the Dorms [...]
July 6th, 2010 at 1:11 am
[...] Source: Jessie [...]