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While there may be a few college students who don't need to worry about money, However, it is our experience that most college students do struggle financially and need to learn how to save money in college. Getting a job can certainly help students financially, but it that isn't the answer for everybody. Students with an intense academic load may not be able to work, or they may only be able to work a limited number of hours. Other students may be willing and able to work, but unable to find employment. Fortunately, there are many ways to save money in college. In fact, if you are willing to live frugally enough, you will be amazed at how low your expenses can actually be. Here are some great tips to save money in college.

Learn to Cook

One of the best ways to save money is to learn to cook and prepare your own meal. If you are living on fast food or ordering in take out, you could be spending up to 20 dollars a day to feed yourself. If you learn to cook, you can feed yourself at a fraction of that cost. Of course, if you are truly kitchen phobic, you can still save money. Stock your dorm fridge with cheese, cold cuts, fruit, yogurt, and other items. Pack your freezer with frozen fruit and frozen dinners for convenience. Then, keep crackers, microwave popcorn, bread, and canned soups in your cupboards. This way you can eat without cooking, but also save a bit of money.

Stay Home

Pretty much everything you do while you are out is more expensive than if you did the very same thing while you were home. Here are a few examples of how staying home will help you save money in college:

• Having a beer, cocktail, or glass of wine at home costs a fraction of what it would at the club
• A night out at the movies with a date could cost over 50 dollars. Movies on Netflix and ordering in a pizza is around ten dollars
• Going out to eat with friends can cost more than 20 dollars. Pooling your money and cooking an awesome meal can cost less than 5 dollars per person.

Use Your Student ID

Many businesses offer discounts to college students who are willing to show their college I.D. Cards. Unfortunately, many of these businesses do not advertise this fact. So, if you want to learn how to save money as a college student, you will have to ask. If you do ask, you may be pleasantly surprised, many chain restaurants, movie theaters, and restaurant chains have student discount programs.

Look For Scholarships

For some reason, many college students stop looking for scholarship money after they begin their freshmen year. This is a shame, because if you know how to save money for college, by earning scholarships, you can free up a lot of money for living expenses. It doesn't matter if you are a college freshman or graduate student, there are scholarship funds available to you.