Being a student is not an easy task. Despite the fact that we have a reputation of being party animals who are carefree and have flexible schedules, most of us are far from that. Take me, for example. I hardly party, I sit in front of the class and can easily be perceived as a nerd and I have a budget to stick to every month. This is the topic that I would like to tackle today.
Being broke is no fun. Being hungry is the pits. But as a student there are ways to cut down costs and still maintain your tight budget without seeming like a boring slob. So I have compiled a list of tips to help students like myself survive and strive.
It is always worth the research and effort to find the best deals in your area. Always go for the cheapest price on most products and try buy as little as possible so as to avoid wastage.
- Make A Packed Lunch Every Morning
A sandwich or two will cost you far less than buying food every day. Sure, with your hectic schedule it may be difficult to free up time to make lunch but it is worth the effort in the long run if you can save money and save yourself from going hungry.
The best way to work around a budget is to actually write down what expenses you may have within a given month and how much you plan to spend. This way you can see where you have overspent and where you have saved so that you can manipulate your budget later.
This is one of the best tips I can give. Cooking for yourself can be rewarding not only because it leaves you with a feeling of accomplishment but also because it can save you a lot of cash in the long run. Make your own recipes, learn something new or just stick with comfort foods such as noodles and baked beans on toast.
If you have a little extra money left over at the end of the month or if you have a job, save your money in a seperate bank account so that you have that little bit extra for holidays or for a prezzie to yourself for being such a good student!
Drinks at clubs are very expensive! You can save money and have fun by having a few friends over for pre-drinks to a good night out. That way you spend less money at the club and still achieve the same effect. You could also try making a punch by adding drinks bought by all your friends but this is not for the faint hearted!
Going to the movies can be a lot of fun but it can also be extremely expensive. In Port Elizabeth a ticket for one including popcorn and a drink can cost up to R80 so a better plan would be to hire a DVD (or pirate a movie... Just don't tell anyone I said that!), make your own popcorn and chill on your nice comfy couch for a good night in.
We all like to have a good time and there is usually an event of some kind going on every weekend but sometimes it is best to just stay in and save cash. Why not try it?
Whenever you can, buy things in bulk. This can be anything from airtime to toiletries. It will save you a lot of cash and keep you stocked up so that you spend less energy and petrol going out to the store to top up. Just make sure you have space for the products before you go crazy on the buying though.
And there you have it! With these tips you can save cash and be happy all at the same time. Happy budgeting!
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