Being a student won’t completely bankrupt you, but it’s still expensive as balls. However, there are countless ways to start squeezing the crap out of every penny and live the life of a financially fit student!

1. Textbooks: the beginning of a promising school year comes with the need for some shiny new textbooks for our shiny new classes. A great way to start out your year of student savings is to look for used or discounted textbooks as soon as possible. Simply open up your web browser and see what people are selling on Kijiji. As well, people often post their used textbooks for sale on Facebook. Heck, I’ve even gotten lucky at Value Village — finding books that is.

Of course, as you already know, use common sense when purchasing secondhand items through online classified sites. Protect yourself and your hard-earned cash.

2. Points cards: after you’ve worked so hard to find those used textbooks, you’ll be hungry. So why not head over to your favourite grocer and — if you haven’t already done so — sign up for their awesome points card, or whatever it is they offer. Businesses in the grocery retail industry are always hungry for profits, and there’s a lot of grocery stores that offer many incentives for you to purchase their particular brand. So why not take advantage and start racking up points that you’ll be able to use at a later date to get free food?

Something else worth mentioning is credit cards with additional point accumulation. There are lots of credit cards out there that offer additional point collection incentives and often don’t have an annual fee. Be warned though, if you’re not one who likes to stay on top of your finances, don’t hastily sign up for 14 different credit cards. The usual annual interest rate on any major student credit card is around 20 per cent.

3. Technology: let those microchips do the work for you. Look for apps or websites that help categorize deals in one place, making it easier for you to save money. Saskatoonspecials.ca is a great app and web page that informs users of daily food and drink specials at restaurants all over the city. While dining out regularly isn’t going to save you cash, you do deserve a refreshing pint with friends after that ancient Egyptian archaeology midterm.

4. Coupons: use coupons! Ask for a University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union Survival Calendar from the USSU Information Centre, located in Upper Place Riel, or grab one in the Bowl during Welcome Week. These books are loaded with awesome coupons ranging from discounts on groceries to cheap pizza. While you’re at it, grab coupons wherever else you see them, whether they’re for discounts on groceries or cut-outs in flyers.

5. Eat ramen: ramen noodles are cheap and quick, plain and simple. If you want to save money, eat ramen.

6. Learn a new skill and do it yourself: whether it be fixing, building, crafting, brewing or cooking, if you’re good at something, do it yourself! There’s often money to be saved by doing things yourself that you’d otherwise pay someone else to do for you. If you’re really adventurous, learn a new skill and take on a challenge. You’ll save money, feel satisfied and learn something new all at the same time.

7. Other tips: prepare a monthly budget to help keep your spending on track. This way, you’ll be less likely to run out of money mid-month. Additionally, don’t buy stuff you don’t really need if your wallet’s telling you that you shouldn’t. Lastly, always keep an open mind about any other ways to save money, whether it involves buying secondhand, fighting for a better price on something or borrowing from someone else.

These are only a few things to consider in order to save you money as a student. If you utilize these suggestions and combine them with your own clever ways to save, you’ll be that student whose bank account survives through a university education.

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Bodan Worobetz

Graphic: Lesia Karalash / Graphics Editor