Tag Archives: saving money

April 17, 2012

Saving money on carry-on luggage fees

With the end of the school year just around the corner, it’s like you’ve booked a flight home or possibly a summer vacation. Last week, another one of the last low-cost airlines decided to change how they charge for carry-on luggage. http://articles.boston.com/2012-04-03/travel/31282210_1_baggage-fees-carry-on-luggage-overhead-bins Now they’ll charge for use of the overhead bin.

So how does that work then? Yep, unless your luggage fits in front of your feet it’s likely you’ll have to pay for it. Hopefully other airlines won’t follow suit too soon.

So what tips are there for students to save money when flying? WiseBread has a great article on it. The tip we like the most is “Hold It! Don’t Fold It”

The article states “Stacked clothes always leave peaks and valleys in a bag, and those areas waste valuable space. Rolled clothes wrinkle less, compress better, distribute volume more evenly, and ultimately use space more efficiently.”

For more tips, visit the full article at http://www.wisebread.com/how-to-avoid-new-carry-on-luggage-charges

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/toasty/2619866851/

March 28, 2012

College Tips: Stocking Your Kitchen

There’s something about always having a fully stocked kitchen in college that makes your life easier. I remember during undergrad, every trip home I would always try to stock up on food from my parents. From the staples like beans, rice, ramen and bread, to frozen meats, veggies, and more. Stocking up helped me eat healthier and avoid the late night splurges to spend money at the local 24 hour eatery.

From saving money on spur of the moment spending to cooking up some late night munchies for friends, stocking up is a good idea both health wise and financially. Now if you’re short on space, you’ll want to check out this post on FamilyHandyMan.com on how to pimp your kitchen cabinet. A few super easy tips that if you’re living with roommates can help keep everything super organized until you move out or graduation.

For a more fun post, check out this video on how to stock your refridgerator.

Note: Content may offend some people, NSFW video depending on where you work ;)
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/62904109@N00/388659531/

March 3, 2008

More Money Saving Tips for College Students

Lunch Money
photo courtesy emdot

Zen Habits published a list of money saving tips, many of which apply great for college students. From the list, we must say we most disagree with #3, yet love #6.

3) Stay home. Going out makes you more likely to spend unnecessarily. You eat at restaurants, go to the mall, stop at the gas station for snacks. It’s hard to avoid spending when you’re on the road. Instead, stay home, and find free entertainment. It’s also a great way to bond with your family.

Disagree!

You’re in college and these 4 (or 5 years) are going to be some of the most memorable years of your life. Go out as much as you can, make new friends, meet new people, see new surroundings. Don’t stay boxed up in your dorm room studying 24/7. If your major does require you to study 24/7, do it in different places.

Some suggestions for places to study:

  • coffee shops
  • the library
  • a different floor on the library
  • the student center
  • your friend’s place
  • around nature
  • at the beach
  • in a park
  • the list goes on…

But with that said, you probably shouldn’t go partying and eating out every day.  It won’t do wonders for your health and sooner or later your wallet will start to feel the squeeze.  The last thing you want to do is build up bad credit before graduation.

6) Cook at home. I know, it seems more difficult than eating out. But it doesn’t have to be hard. Throw together a quick stir-fry with frozen veggies and either boneless chicken or (my favorite) tofu with soy sauce or tamari. Make home-made pizza with a ready-made crust, some sauce, cheese and veggies. Put some spices on something and throw it in the oven while you cook some brown rice. Not only is this much cheaper than eating out, but it’s healthier.

Agree!

It’s so easy to cook at home, yet continually it seems so difficult for so many! Going out and getting a hamburger here, a latte there, a slice of pizza later on… it all adds up quickly and before you know it, it feels like somebody stole all of your money because you have nothing to show for it.  Eating out will kill any budget you have. Make it a goal to go grocery shopping with your roommates every week.

Our tip to college students on when to shop:

The best time to do it is evenings on weekdays, especially when you’re stressed out or need a little break from studying. Evenings on weekdays = less people & less standing in line.  This way, it helps you get over the mid-week hump too knowing that you’ll have some great munchies to snack on during your Thursday and Friday classes.