It is often difficult at times to try to find ways to save money while you’re still in college. You might be working a job currently, but once you have money in your pocket, you probably feel the urge to spend it on something. Sometimes it’s difficult to know when you should spend the money on something you need or something you want. These money-saving tips might help you find more ways to save money!

1. Always have a monthly budget
It is important to try to stick to a monthly budget so that you’re spending your money the right way. For example, let’s say you have a monthly budget of $200 which covers the things you should need like groceries to get you through each month. However, the thing about creating a monthly budget is that you can’t spend any amount of money over your set budget. This may be kind of tricky for many college students because sometimes we tend to get a little carried away with our spending habits by buying things we don’t really need. Sticking to a budget every month will not only help you limit your spending habits, but it will also help you learn that you don’t need to spend money on useless things.

2. Try to attend activities on campus sometimes instead of going out
West Liberty University normally has a variety of different student events going on every week but sometimes not all students take advantage of the opportunity to attend these events. Some activities include movies, intramural sports and Paint n Sits just to name a few. Since the university offers a variety of activities for students then there is most likely going to be at least one activity that students will enjoy attending. When I first started college, I never took the time or opportunity to attend these activities, but now that I’m a senior, I regret not trying to attend on campus events. Attending campus activities instead of going out to places off-campus to do other activities will not only give you an opportunity to save money but may also help you meet new people. The next time you think about wanting to go off-campus to find a way to entertain yourself, you might want to consider attending an activity that is offered on campus instead because it’s a fun alternative to an activity that requires spending.

3. Use your meal plan
If you’re currently living on campus, chances are you most likely have a meal plan. It is always a good idea to use your meal plan often because then you won’t be spending extra money that you have on extra food. With a variety of different places to purchase food on campus, there is quite a lot to choose from when it comes to choosing what you should eat. WOW Café offers students a wide variety of different foods including chicken wings, salads, wraps, sandwiches, burgers, quesadillas, sandwiches and they also offer a few breakfast options every morning too. Jazzman’s Bakery offers students a variety of different coffee beverages to choose from such as muffins and breakfast sandwiches. Sandella’s offers students a few choices such as rice bowls, paninis, quesadillas and grilled pizzas. Bear Necessities Convenience Store offers students a variety of prepackaged meals to purchase. Marketplace Cafeteria is another popular dining option for many students here on campus. They offer a variety of different foods served to students cafeteria-style. If you have a meal plan, make sure to use it as often as you can when you’re hungry and want something to eat.

4. Try shopping at places like thrift stores instead of department stores
It is often difficult to find places that sell affordable clothing and most people want to go out to spend their money on new clothes at a department store. Spending money on the latest fashions and keeping up with the latest trends tends to make you want to spend more money. However, you could be buying your clothes at somewhere like a thrift store instead. When you shop at a thrift store such as St. Vincent De Paul or the Salvation Army, their prices are fairly reasonable. For example, let’s say you’re wanting to buy a few sweaters but you don’t want to spend more than $5 that day. If you go to a department store, you probably can’t afford to buy one sweater, but if you shop at a thrift store you’re more likely to find a few options within your budget. The good thing about thrift stores is that they have a wide selection of gently used clothing to choose from for you to purchase. They also sell things like books and CDs too so if you haven’t ever been to a thrift store before and you don’t enjoy spending a lot of money, you might want to consider visiting one the next time you want to go out shopping.

For more ideas on how to save money while in college, visit the College Scholarships website where they provide many other ideas on how to save money.