Nine Savings Tips for Students

As you grow older, you've probably begun to realize how quickly costs add up. If you're a student looking to stretch your paycheck—especially if your parents have put you in charge of your own personal money management—the benefits of saving money are likely pretty clear. From phone apps and digital music to fast food lunches and movie date nights, there are many demands on your money. Take advantage of these nine savings tips for students to help keep your costs down and your savings growing.

1. Take Advantage of Online Rebates and Rebate Apps

From online shopping to in-store grocery shopping, there are a plethora of websites and apps that offer money back on your purchases. All you have to do is either shop through the site or scan your receipt after you shop. Check out Swagbucks, Ebates, SavingStar, and MyPoints online. Apps that give you money back on food, drinks, toiletries, and more include Checkout51 and Ibotta.

2. Score Cheap Movie Tickets

Many movie theaters now offer some type of membership whereby you can pay a monthly fee that gets you free movie tickets, discounts on refreshments, and a waiver of the online ticket fee. Your local theater may also offer matinee pricing for movies shown before a certain time and/or discount days when all movies are discounted. Alternatively, you can wait until the movie is available for rent from Redbox or comes to Netflix or cable.

3. Check Out Your Local Library

Many libraries offer more than just book loans these days—you can get access to music, movies, television shows and more, just by showing your library card. Some even offer digital book downloads and audiobooks.

4. Join Amazon Prime

While there is a yearly fee, an Amazon Prime membership gets you access to free two-day shipping for most purchases on Amazon. The membership also gets you free access to shows and movies and a free Kindle book monthly. Amazon even offers a Student Membership, which starts you out with a free six-month trial.

5. Use Your Student ID

Don't be afraid to show your student ID anywhere and everywhere and ask whether the place offers student discounts. This includes museums, clothing stores, restaurants, bookstores and so much more.

6. Save on Software

Whether for classwork or hobbies such as website design, video creation, and photo editing—you need software. Save as much as half off on the most popular software programs on Journeyed.com, a site that offers huge discounts to students and educators.

7. Make a List

One of the best tips for personal money management is to make a plan and write it down. Whether it's a grocery shopping list or a list of necessities for the month, create a list and stick to it. Don't let spur-of-the-moment purchases eat away at your savings.

8. Open a Bank Account

While a piggy bank may have taught you the benefits of saving money as a kid, as you grow older and start making money, you'll need a better place to sock away your earnings. Renasant Bank offers a selection of checking and savings accounts for a variety of spending and saving goals.

9. Plan for the Future

You're never too young to start thinking about your future, and the sooner you start saving for retirement, the more you'll have when that time actually comes. So, even though you may not even know yet what your career will be, it's not too early to start planning for the end of it.

Written by: