Everybody in this world loves money and you probably want as much of it as possible. The thing that most college students struggle with is how to save money correctly. There are so many easy ways to save money in this world that some students just completely overlook it. The purpose of this article is to show you how you can start saving your money today even if you don't make a lot of it.
Keep yourself busy the cheap way
The more involved you're with school activities and work, you'll find that you don't have time to spend your money. Even if this sounds boring, make sure that you find hobbies that don't cost a lot. A lot of the times you'll find that most school clubs and activities don't cost anything at all! If you're currently the type that likes to party, eat out, and do everything else under the sun everyday, you're going to have to change your habits before you start saving up all of the cash.
Hobbies equal cash
Sit down for a second and think of the things you love. I guarantee that you can turn any hobby you like into a money making project. If you love to bowl and you're good at it, you could possibly offer bowling lessons to fellow students or others for a fee. In order to save money, you're going to want to make money and if you're making money doing the things you love, it's going to be a win-win situation.
Check out your wallet
Open up your wallet or purse and check it out closely. The cards you're carrying such as an AAA card or a student ID card, you'll find that a lot of places offer discounts with these type of cards. For example, a local movie theater in your neighborhood may offer a student discount on tickets. Even if this discount is two dollars, you're still saving money!
Compare before you shop
Instead of going out and buying that new xbox game, make sure that you've looked at a bunch of other stores before you go out and shop. The Internet is a great tool to check out other stores prices. You'll usually be able to get prices, if it's stock, and you can even buy it and pick it up in the store if you'd like. Not only will you save on gas from going store to store, you're going to save yourself some time and energy.
Saving money isn't that hard. It's going to require some dedication and motivation. If you just set a little aside each month, it will add up quicker than you think. Be sure that you look into money market accounts and CDs. This will give you a bigger return on your money. Remember, it's yourself that chooses your own saving fate.
This is a pity, as it has much to recommend it. You have more peace in your life. The end on the month is simply a date on the calendar, rather than a countdown to the next pay-cherub. Purchases born of necessity can be made comfortably. Employment becomes a career, rather than a means of survival. You can look your boss in the eye, rather than dreading his gaze.
Why? Because you've saved up some money.
Take the cringe-factor out of your life. Erase the dread of the small hours. Put some money in the bank! You may not be able to increase your earnings, but you can decrease your outgoings. This has the same effect as getting a pay-rise; more money for you.
How to save money?
Simple!
Examine what you spend it on.
Then, erase fripperies.
Vices: drinking and smoking are habits that kill you slowly. Save up for your hospital care by giving them up. Your lungs, liver and family will bless you.
Gambling. Gambling is folly. There are only three games the player can use skill to alter the odds even slightly; horse racing, poker and blackjack. These take years of dedicated and expensive research to get good at. And you don't get rich. All the others will beggar you quickly if you play them. The odds are stacked against you, deliberately, by those who own the game.
Luck favors the bold, special need, or those under the protection of the saints. Betting is not brave, it's a compulsion, and no god watches out for gamblers. Examine the feelings that surround your impulse to gamble; you will find they eat away at the energy of your life.
Food. There is food that nourishes, and food that enervates. The former is cheaper: fresh fish, fruit, vegetables, clean water. The latter is more expensive, more garishly packaged, and more poisonous: potato crisps, sweets, fizzy drinks, burgers. Consider that you don't fancy junk food if you are sick; your body knows it takes too much energy to digest, and does not nourish.
Clothes. Do you need to buy fashionable clothes, so you can look like everyone else? If you need to blend in, fine. You can be sure the leaders of fashion don't. They head to charity shops and buy Harris Tweed and old lace for pennies. They get suits made to measure by sweated labor in Thailand. That's how they get that 'unique' look. What's that, you don't like the idea of sweat-shops? Guess what, that's where a lot of fashionable clothes get made anyway. It's called 'outsourcing' and 'offshore'.
Automobiles. Running a car in the UK costs about ?5000 ($9000 USD) a year, all-in. Save, by buying a second-hand auto. Save, by buying a less powerful, more fuel efficient model. Save further by thereby getting lower insurance and road-tax.
Personal foibles: I used to buy a lot of internet magazines. These cost up to ?5 each, or about $10 in USD. I found a lot of information about the internet, was already on the internet, so I stopped buying the magazines. There are very few papers or magazines worth reading. Find the few that inform, rather than titillate, waffle or distract. Visit the local library, it's free. Drop in to a 'Borders' bookshop, and have a free read.
Debt. Don't buy what you can't afford with someone else's money. Credit cards are an expensive way of getting a loan. Try your friends or relatives first. Your local credit union is a good option; better rates, better terms, friendlier faces. Better yet, don't borrow. Live free. Keep away from the loan-sharks. You can manage without that holiday.
Put your saved money in a high interest, 180-day notice account. Put it in a bank different to your current one, in case the latter goes bust. Make a mental note that it's for emergencies only, then contrive to live 'safely'.
Save up enough to last you a year and a day off work, and notice how much calmer and confident you feel!
Both Tom Tessin & Diya Sood are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Tom Tessin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mileage and Fuel, Education and Finances. Tom Tessin runs FINDcollege cards that focuses on students looking for a .. Tom Tessin's top article generates over 673000 views. to your Favourites.
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