SuperSweetLife

Chef from South Park was right, “There is a time and a place for everything, and it’s called college.” There are great advantages to being a student, but they also come with some setbacks. Aside from the perpetual hangover, the lack of funds is often a downer. To help all those poor, unfortunate student souls out there, I’ve made up a list of my favorite methods of saving and making money. This list can be applied to just about anyone actually:

1. Student discounts

There are of course the student discounts at the movies, museums, etc. (although I am finding these exist less these days). Then there is the pity discount. This applies mostly to banks and credit card companies that want to charge you for late fees and insufficient funds. All it take is a phone call claiming in your most pathetic sounding voice, “I’m a student. I can barely afford groceries, let alone your $35 late fee.. Arggh!” Ok, leave out the pirate noises, but this usually does the trick. If it doesn’t work the first time, just keep calling back until you get someone to help your broke ass.

2. Gym memberships

Not all gyms offer student discounts. Or maybe they do and just don’t publicize it. I am a member of the YMCA and until recently, was paying full price for my monthly rate. Then I overheard a woman talking about a financial assistance program. She was able to get membership for all four members of her family for one third of what I was paying for just myself! Naturally, I applied for it and although I didn’t get as sweet a deal as her, I did end up shaving $12 off my monthly rate. Hey, I’ll take what I can get.

3. Sell your stuff!

Utilize Craigslist and Ebay whenever possible. In the darkest of my financial times, selling my belongings on these websites has really saved me. I’m not saying sell everything you own, but if you happen to have some extra things lying around, like some clothes, cds, books, furniture, whatever…get paid for them!

Craigslist also has a very valuable section called “free stuff.” Sometimes when I have run out of my own things to sell, I peruse through this section for anything valuable that people might be giving away. It’s a great way to get something for nothing, and then actually re-list it on the same site for a profit. Brilliant, I know.

4. Get the most bang for your buck

Let’s face it, no one likes working. I’ve tried to avoid it as much as possible over the years, but once I became a graduate student and was forced to live on financial aid, (which isn’t exactly living) I had to pick up some kind of part time job. I knew that whatever job I would get would have to pay me as much as possible for the little amount of time I had to devote to it. I also needed a job that would work around my crazy class schedule. Working as a nanny has successfully filled those two requirements. I am able to name my own hourly rate and decide my own hours. Once you learn to value your own time, others will too.

5. Shop second-hand

I used to think buying used clothing was gross. Then I realized a lot of the things I really liked on my friends were bought second hand, and that you could find some really great eclectic pieces at thrift stores. Personally, I have not had much luck with Goodwill, but stores like Buffalo Exchange or Crossroads Trading Co. tend to carry fashion from this decade. My two most recent purchases were a shirt from Weston Wear that retailed at over $100, (I got it for about $20) and a Banana Republic cashmere top for $22. Like stealin’ candy from a baby. The best part about these stores is that you can trade in your old clothes for either cash or store credit to buy something else. It’s recycling for the fashion-conscious.

6. Clip your coupons

I know it sounds nerdy, but coupons are awesome. Most people, students especially, do not bother with coupons because of pure laziness. They are missing out! I think I realized the true value of coupons when I worked at a grocery store in high school. All the soccer moms used to come in with piles of coupons and end up saving up to $100 dollars off their order. It was then that I realized, coupons are where it’s at.

Subscribe to your Sunday newspaper for all your clipping needs. The Entertainment Book also offers tons and tons of savings in coupons. It’s well worth it’s weight in gold. For about $35, you receive hundreds of dollars worth of savings at various restaurants, movie theaters, and pretty much any form of entertainment you can think of. My mother swears by this book. It’s pretty much her second Bible.

7. Get your craft on!

If you find yourself cringing at the thought of the holiday season, and wondering how on earth you will afford everyone’s gifts, try taking up a hobby, like knitting or jewelery making. Most craft and beading stores offer classes for beginners and typically run $30-45 per class. With one or two classes under your belt, you will have enough skill to put together a basic product. Continue to practice making this product and you’ve got yourself a few good presents for those who appreciate hand-made gifts.

8. Visit a beauty school

If you are someone who really values a good haircut, (like me) this may not be the best option for you. For those who are not as picky, I recommend getting your hair done at a beauty school. Haircuts given by students are often half of what you will pay in a salon, if not cheaper. I’ve gotten my hair cut once by a student and it was actually a decent cut. The only downfall is that the cuts are pretty basic. If you want something more edgy I suggest searching Craigslist for stylists offering their services. Several times I have come across professional stylists looking for hair models. These cuts are almost always free and you end up with a pretty rad head of hair!