Five ways for Nicholls students to save money

College can be a lot of fun, but that doesn’t neglect the fact that it’s financially draining. Textbook prices seem to be increasing every semester, food isn’t getting any cheaper, and living with a college budget is getting harder. If you’re having trouble making ends meet, here are a few tips to save a couple bucks.

1. Pick up the Nicholls Worth on a weekly basis

Not only should you already be picking up the Nicholls Worth to stay informed with what’s happening on campus, but you, also, have the chance of finding a coupon for a local restaurant. Who doesn’t love coupons? The coupon will eventually come in handy when you decide to eat out.

2. Take advantage of all the school-sponsored events that offer free food

Hey, when you’re on a budget you can’t be picky. School-sponsored events might not feed you for a week but you’ll have one less meal to worry about for the day. It may not be a full course meal, but free waffles are pretty good too. Aside from getting free food, you’ll be spending times with your friends so it’s a win-win situation.

3. Always ask for a student discount

Many students aren’t aware that many businesses offer discounts for students who show their student ID at the time of purchase. Saving 10% on your purchases can really add up. Imagine how much money you would save throughout a semester. Although you may not eat out very often, it wouldn’t hurt to save a couple dollars for when you do eat out.

4. Be smart when you buy your textbooks

First of all, make sure you’ll actually use the textbook throughout the semester. If you won’t, you’ll save yourself hundreds of dollars. If you will need them, there are many places that sell their books cheaper than the original price.

At the start and end of any semester, you’ll see students selling their textbooks significantly cheaper than if you were to buy them at the bookstore. There’s a Facebook page, specifically for Nicholls students, where you can find many used and new textbooks for a cheap price. Forget buying the book, research where you can rent a book for the cheapest price. This is useful when even a used book can be very expensive. If you have the chance, borrow a textbook from a friend who already took the course.

5. Carry around snacks

If you know you’ll be spending a lot of time on campus and you don’t have money to splurge on snacks, carry around snacks from home. It might feel like a hassle at first, but it sure beats being hungry. Go the extra mile and make yourself a sandwich. A sandwich will be much more satisfying than eating a bag of chips for lunch.