The semester has been going by so fast and it is really getting close to final exams.  

Throughout the semester, I have been trying to get used to being back on campus after being at home since the pandemic started. Coming back to Missouri State was a huge decision to make, and more followed since then. As a student, you are deciding where your money goes, and in most cases that is towards tuition, food, and outside activities. I utilize parts of the money that I save to pay my tuition and to buy the weekly necessities like toilet paper. Learning or figuring out how to save money as a student is a challenge because you are balancing other things in your life. Throughout the semester I have re-taught myself how to save money, find good deals, and just avoid unnecessary purchases. I like to have fun outside of classes and be able to purchase things when I need them, so money is a key factor in my life.  

I want to share the top things that I do to save money through finding good deals and avoiding unnecessary purchases so that you can utilize this information and become more financially comfortable.  

Saving Money 

Avoid Unnecessary Purchases 

One of the things that always gets to me when I shop is seeing new things or finding great deals for items that I do not really need. I try to keep my mindset on what I need, not what I want because I would like to have lots of things. However, wanting unnecessary things can be a problem for my bank account. I tend to change my mindset when I am shopping for fun so that there are boundaries. Once those boundaries are created then you can see a return in your account, just like I did. 

Shopping Boundaries  

In order to avoid buying the things you don’t need, it’s important to set boundaries that can stop you from making those purchases. I like to have a set budget or create a list of what I need so that I don’t get off track. After you purchase what you need, that money that was saved after making those purchases can go towards things you want or future activities. I like going out with my friend and exploring the parts of Springfield that I’ve never seen before.  

Finding Good Deals  

Paying full price for things is simply fine, but when I can find a good deal, I tend to take advantage of online extensions and student offers. Missouri State has a coupon book with great deals inside it that you can pick up at Meyer Library and you can sometimes catch some deals on the bulletin board area in Plaster Student Union. Some websites do offer student discounts if you are a university student so that you can avoid paying full prices. I also use online extensions that have coupons and deals that you would not be able to find online just to make shopping easier. 

Takeaways  

Being an adult and being a student can be really hard because not only are you trying to further your education, but you are also trying to do things on your own without going broke. I have been using the methods that I have shared for a while, fortunately they have saved me big and small amounts of money. Information like this can last you for a lifetime and help you out when you need it the most, so I encourage you to see if this information can help you or the people in your life. To help you out even more, take a look at Missouri State’s resources to help you manage your costs of being a student.  

~Alexandria  

(Bio: I’m the middle child of seven kids in my immediate family. I’m currently a senior business major at Missouri State University.)