So, you get into a good college, drive all the way out there, and unpack and start classes. You are having some fun, making some friends, or are just “Zoom”ing your way through. Regardless the one thing you notice is that money from your summer job hasn’t been taking you as far as you thought it would. Relax, just because your bank account currently pitiful, it does not mean you are out of luck when it comes to living pretty comfortably. 

Here is the deal when it comes to making the little money you have, go far. You have got to set budgets and be thrifty. I personally prefer to do budgets separately based on my different needs and wants (because realistically while you can live without some money set aside for fun, you will be splurging from time to time.)

1. Rent/Housing

• If this is an expense you take on yourself, then it will be a big chunk of money. I would highly recommend putting in those summer hours to help during the academic year.

• Amounts range from $500-$1500 depending on the city you are in.

• If you are comfortable living in a worse section of the city, you can save a lot. Sometimes the extra money is worth it to be in a better area though, so weigh the pros and cons.



2.  Food and Beverages 

• This will be the second biggest expense and will also fluctuate based on the area’s cost of living. Generally, meal plans are a trap. They may be convenient, but if you are willing to eat in town or eat-in, you can often live cheaper. 

• Why? Often, you will be eating out with friends anyway and will find yourself not wanting to leave that dorm or apartment when you have some trusty ramen by your side.

• If you have a kitchen, then you can spend as little as $60 a week. Channel your inner Gordon Ramsey! Without a kitchen, realistically, you will be spending at least $120 a week eating at a dining hall or restaurants combined with your microwavable snacks.

• When you go shopping, I would recommend the big box stores. They have the best prices. Also never shop on an empty stomach, trust me. Try to keep the meals you eat-in under $4, and the ones you eat-out under $10, this is a good way to budget. 

• Beverages: You are in college, stick to what is on the bottom shelf and keep it under $20 a week.

3.  Transportation

• This will highly depend on where you go to school, but a good rule of thumb is the more you walk the more you save. This includes both money and the freshman 15. 

• Try to plan your day around your route. If you have only a small wait in between classes, try to find a quiet place to get some extra studying in or grab a close meal. This will help eliminate the back-and-forth trips.

4.  Books

• WAIT UNTIL SYLLABUS DAY TO BUY ANYTHING! – Professors might give you a copy for free, recommend a previous and cheaper version or even not require you to buy a certain piece of text at all.

• Check online databases and websites for the textbooks. Also try writing in the name of the book for those outside copyright restrictions and then type .pdf and see what you find. 



5.  Dorm necessities

• Keep decorations cheap! Movie and album posters can be found discounted on eBay, and shop for deals on flags or tapestries.

• Get creative! Collages of assorted old photos, beverage cases, and magazines are more common than you would think.   Use these as inspiration.

6.  The Side Hustle

• While that summer job you should have worked will definitely help pay the bills, working 20 hours a week is feasible even with a heavy class load. Be efficient with your time, and find gaps in your schedule that you can take advantage of.

• Ideas

• Working as a cashier or in retail is good for hours, but the wages are often not that great. 

• The restaurant business can be solid. Working as a waiter or waitress gets you good tips. If you can swing a gig as a bartender or security, they can pay very well. 

• If you have a car, then DoorDash, GrubHub, Uber, and Lyft all are easy to do for extra cash. 

• Last but not least, explore work-study, it can be effortless and will help from week to week.

Finally, try your best to not go out ALL the time with friends. Keep it to once or twice a week. It’s not easy, but your wallet will thank you. If you do all of this and stay away from binging online shopping then you will be in a great place to live comfortably on a broke college student’s budget!