Lessons from a College Student: Getting by with Less

“Times are tough.”  

Tell me about it.  Especially when you’ve sold your life away...er, just kidding, you’ve invested in your education by going to college like most 20 somethings nowadays.  Not only is tuition expensive, with textbook prices through the roof, but when you commute like me, gas prices add to your bill and before you know it, your week’s paycheck is spent before it’s even in your hands.

But aren’t these supposed to be the best times of our lives?  What about the fun?  There’s no way that anyone could expect us to be all work and no play, but how do we have fun and spend minimal money at the same time?  Luckily there are a few loopholes in the system and a few ways to get your fun for close to free.

1. Restaurant.com

This is my new favorite date-making website.  My mom pointed me to it...it’s an idea similar to Groupon or LivingSocial (sign up for free and be offered deals on local hotspots and restaurants in your area).  Enter your zip code, and a list of participating restaurants pops up with the deals they offer to the right-hand side.  I was surprised, at first glance, to find a lot of my Braintree favorites (Campanale’s, Viola’s, Easy Pie) participating with great deals ($100 gift card for $40 at Easy Pie...sounds like good pizza party material to me). 

If you subscribe to their e-mails, too, they sometimes offer a promotional code that can knock your prices WAY down (as low as $2 apiece in some cases).  A few warnings though: most of the times these coupons have a spending minimum, and they often include a gratuity.  So if you’re willing to shell out just a bit of money for a nice meal at a favorite restaurant, this is a good deal for you.  Also, a lot of times these are dine-in only coupons.  But hey, if I can buy myself 4 coupons for $8, that’s four date nights I just invested in.  Sounds good to me.

2. Be a coupon clipper

Tired of going out?  Why not stay in?  Maybe those coupon-addicts on TV have the right idea – because discount popcorn, discount candy, and a redbox movie sound like another date night to me.  Stop & Shop’s (my supermarket of choice) coupons are released on Fridays.  Don’t be afraid to clip coupons.  I saved over $100 with coupons for back-to-college shopping this year, too.  Buy your shampoo and keep that extra money for something more fun.  Coupons are completely worth it on all those things you use every day- just don’t be conned into buying something JUST because you have a coupon.  Nobody needs 500 boxes of mac & cheese, trust me. 

3. Be in the know

Does your college offer free museum passes?  What’s being offered at the local library?  Are the farmer’s markets, festivals, or free concerts in your area?  Three words:  Boston. Dot. Com.  It’ll tell you anything and everything going in your area.  The Randolph theatre often offers discounted movie tickets before 6 p.m. and Starbucks monthly has a sort of “happy hour” that includes a buy-one-get-one on specialty drinks. 

Coffee Break Cafe, in the month of March, offers daily deals and specials to celebrate it’s anniversary of being in business.  Many gyms allow members to bring a friend for free and maybe even offer introductory days for cheap.  If you get a Stop and Shop card, using it can get you points that can get you savings on gas at select stations.  There are deals everywhere if you look hard.  Keep yourself in the know; prowl Boston.com, dig into the resources offered by the town, keep up to date on town calendars and advertisements.

Be smart, shoppers, show-goers and homebodies alike.  I promise, your wallet, your friends, and maybe even your parents (who help you out with the balance of your bills, thanks Mom and Dad) will thank you!