Most college students and recent grads are struggling with money. We are constantly being told to save money for the future, but we barely have enough money to live right now. Life is really expensive, especially when you have student loans, but whether you are saving up for a vacation next summer or you’re simply trying to afford to pay all of your bills, these tips will help you start saving money right now without having to sacrifice everything you love in your life
1. Work More to Earn More
One of the most important steps to saving money is making sure you have money to save. See if you can pick up a few extra hours at work. If a coworker needs someone to cover their shift, offer to work for them. Any extra hours will help; you can save the money you earned by working more. Don’t over-work yourself though; make sure you still get enough sleep!
If you want to work more, but your job can’t give you any extra hours, you might want to pick up another job! If you love kids, see if any relatives or neighbors need a babysitter. If babysitting isn’t your thing, most part-time jobs only require 2-3 days a week, often on the weekends! Hint: Almost every retail store hires seasonal employees for the holidays and the summer, but make sure you apply early. (They might even keep you on as a regular part-time employee if you work hard enough!)
By saving all of the money you make at your second job, you’ll already have a good chunk of money in your savings account!
(And if you’re looking for ways to make a quick buck, we’ve got thousands of great paid positions here and all on WayUp!)
2. Test Products and Online Surveys
Testing products and completing online surveys might be some of the easiest, least time-consuming ways that I’ve ever made money. There are research and testing companies all over the country; just make sure to look into every opportunity. Certain places only do focus groups, wanting to hear your opinion on a specific topic. Others specialize in product testing or taste testing, which is super easy! I’ve gotten paid to test a new foundation and mascara for a couple of months and give my feedback. I’ve also gotten paid to compare mints for two hours; it was so simple and quick! (I left for the day with extremely fresh breath and a nice check!) Some testing companies are Focus Pointe Global, Consumer Product Testing Company in Fairfield, NJ and Partners in Research in Totowa, NJ.
Online surveys can also help you make some money! Many websites that do online surveys tend to pay in the form of gift cards rather than cash. Instead of mindlessly scrolling through Twitter or shopping online with the money that you should be saving, take a survey to earn rewards. There are plenty of websites to take surveys on, such as Global Test Market, e-Rewards, as well as Focus Pointe Global. It might take some time to actually earn a reward, but it is definitely worth it!
3. Direct Deposit to Savings
The hands-down most effective way to save money is by automatically putting part of your paycheck into your savings account. If your job offers direct deposit, they most likely have a feature that allows you to split where your paycheck goes. You might choose to put a percentage of your paycheck into your savings account, or you might pick a set dollar amount. Whether you put away 15% or $50 of each paycheck, you will be saving money without even realizing it.
Look at it this way: If you save $50 from each paycheck and you get paid twice a month, that’s an extra $100 dollars a month that you automatically save! You’ll end up reaching your goal a lot faster by simply putting the money away.
4. Brew Your Own Coffee and Don’t Eat Out
If you always have a crazy schedule like most college students, then there is a pretty good chance that you constantly need coffee or some other caffeinated beverage. Unless you’re already saving money by brewing your own coffee at home, you’re probably spending at least $3-6 on every drink you get. Instead of going out and buying your coffee make your own at home instead. Starbucks sells instant hot and iced coffee mixes, which unlike other brands, actually taste amazing! Add in your favorite creamer and you have Starbucks coffee for a fraction of the price! You’re basically a barista now.
Even if you’re not a coffee person, you can still save even more money if you avoid eating out. By saving restaurants for birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays, the occasion will feel so much more special. Making your own food at home is so much cheaper than eating out. Plus, who doesn’t love a good home-cooked meal for a change?
5. Download Money-Tracking Apps
In case you’ve never explored the App Store before, there are millions of apps for anything you could ever want to do on a smartphone. By downloading an app to help you track your money, you’ll be way less likely to overspend.
Everyone has different preferences for functionality and design, so find the one that best suits you. Fudget is the simplest money-tracking app because of its clean list interface. Mvelopes is a digital envelope budgeting app, a spin-off of the classic cash-in-envelope budgeting system. Mint is definitely the winner among most college students, so definitely check it out! You can monitor your spending habits to see where you need work, as well as create personalized budget plans.
Saving money doesn’t have to be impossible. These 5 tips will help you reach your money-saving goals, but don’t worry, you won’t have to drop everything fun in your life.
