How to Start a Tutoring Business in College [2018]

If you’ve read our guide on “25 Best Ways to Make Extra Money in College [2018]” then you’ll notice that tutoring is one of the best ways to make extra cash while in college. Benefits of tutoring include flexibility (make your own availabilities), relatively high wage, teaching experience, great resume builder and much more. Here’s a guide on how to start a tutoring business in college [2018]. The main requirement is that you know the subject extremely well, or you’ve complete the course with an A or higher. Other skills include great communication and attention to detail.

In college, tutoring is popular (and demanding) in most mathematics or finance related fields/ courses:
• Business: Finance, Accounting, and Economics courses
A tip would be to dig into the first year courses of business with heavy math as most students transitioning from high schools will lack the skills and require extra help to achieve a passing grade.
• Mathematics: Physics and Engineer
Engineer and Physics tutors may charge more as it requires more expertise and knowledge.
HOW TO START YOUR TUTORING BUSINESS 2018:

STEP 1: POSTING YOUR AD

1. Post an ad on your local college community forum/ Facebook, Kijiji, or Craigslist- it’s free (try not to pay any money on advertising). Here’s how you can price it: look up for tutoring services similar to what you’re offering, and price it accordingly (lower the price if you’re just starting out to win out on competition). Tutoring services go from $15/hr – $60/hr+ depending on the subject and experience. You can make the 2nd hr cheaper when you start off: this helps you increase your absolute revenue and helps your client learn more of the material while giving them a small discount. For example: 1st hour is $30, and the 2nd hour will be $20. Phrased differently you can put: $30/hr and $50/ 2hr.

The following is a typical example of a tutoring ad, feel free to use it as a template and make adjustments according to your own skills, schedule and topic.
When writing an ad, make sure you include a little bit of SEO (search engine optimization). So, list the specific courses (by course code) of your university that you are teaching, and any other specific relevant keywords or details related (this helps search engines find you).

TUTORING AD TEMPLATE

*************************************************************************************
Hello!

My name is  __Einstein____  and I am in my last year of Mechanical Engineering from ___Hogwarts University___. I am offering my tutoring services in mathematics and physics. I have 3 years of TA experience and I’ve taught mathematics to elementary, junior high school, college and university students for 3 years. I have a 3.9 CGPA and achieved a perfect grade in Engineering 101 (ENG 101), Astrodynamics 505 (AST 505) and many other related courses [Add and describe your achievements here]. I’m super friendly and honest. I can provide older test material, questions and personal notes for the more popular courses.

I can meet you anywhere on ___Hogwarts Campus___, preferably around a Starbucks or a the public library. I am available in the Monday-Friday after 3pm and from 11am- 6pm on the weekends.

My rate is $20/hr for the first hour and $15 onwards. My sessions are usually $35/ 2 hrs. I respond very quickly to messages [Charge your rate accordingly- try and make it attractive, like a special or a sale, alternatively, you could market it like this too: My rate is $20/hr or $35/2 hr]. If you could e-mail or text me a message before our meeting with some of your own material, tests, midterms or exams, that would be great!

Looking forward to hearing from you!

__Einstein___

Here is a full list of courses I tutor, message me if you have a different course code [Omit this part if you only teach one class]:

ENG 101, 702, 909
MATH 100, 200, 300, 500
PHY 100, 200, 300,

*************************************************************************************

STEP 2: COORDINATING AND COMMUNICATING

Once you get your first potential student through e-mail or text (yay! congrats!), be sure to ask what their goals and what they want to get out of your services. It’s usually a helping hand to pass a test, midterm, final exam or with a project.

Typical questions you want to ask/ have an answer to before meeting up with them:
• How proficient are they in the subject?
• Which part do they need help understanding?
• What is their class teaching method? Powerpoint? Textbook heavy?
• Do they have the textbook, notes, test material or mock exams?

Ask them to bring their own textbook and resources. Course material rarely changes, so older version of textbooks are relatively reliable in terms of content. You can ask them to send the material ahead of time if you feel like you need to quickly review it.

Always confirm an appointment a few hours before meeting up with the student (in case of a “no-show”). Just a quick text message with the following: “Hey Jill, It’s __Einstein___, just confirming our tutoring session this afternoon at 3pm” will do the trick.

STEP 3: MEETING UP 

It’s recommended to meet them in a public place/ library and charge per hour. Always be punctual! It’s unprofessional to arrive late. If you do come late for any reason, offer a small time extension for their troubles (customer skills 101). You can think of making the meeting location easily accessible for yourself (this cuts on travel time and costs).

STEP 4: TEACHING

Here’s where all your knowledge and communication skills will count. If you can, prepare ahead of time, review the material and ask the student to send you what they are looking to learn. Tips for teaching include assessing and prioritizing and improving the spots where the student has difficulties. It’s important to be patient and empathetic, try and see the problem from the student’s point of view. Acknowledge that they may not have the same tools and experience as you do. One of the main points to assess is the strength of their base knowledge. For instance, if they are having problems with integral calculus, perhaps refresh the basics of derivatives (go back to the basics). Mastering the basics and building upwards like a pyramid with a strong foundation will help immensely. Of course, this will depend on how much time you have with the student before their test.
Most of the time, you will work on practice problems and will guide a student through your thought process to achieving the correct answer. Try to have the student as active as possible during the walkthrough so they can solve the problem independently in the future.

Some general goals you want to achieve are:

• Make the tutee feel comfortable, encourage them to ask questions
• Ensuring that the student understands and has a strong basic foundation in the subject
• Ensure and foster independent problem solving
• Encourage critical thinking
• Further build on what the student already knows

Every student’s knowledge and learning curve will be different, so teaching styles and approaches will need to be adjusted. Your teaching skills will also gain from a learning curve as you gain experience. Being nervous is normal as a first time tutor, knowing your material well will give you the confidence to make the tutoring session a pleasant one.

Here are some useful links on teaching/ tutoring related strategies:

• Tips for Tutors from Cornell
• Tutoring Tips
• How to Tutor Effectively (using research based approaches)
• What Makes a Successful Tutor 
• Tutoring Techniques 

STEP 5: REVIEW AND FEEDBACK

Once you’ve finished the tutoring session, always end off with a review and provide constructive feedback. Guide your student on what to look forward to next (session) and what they should practice back home. As you finish your tutoring lessons altogether with your student, kindly ask for a review and some feedback for yourself and your teaching style. Encourage them to speak their mind, as it will further help you exponentiate your teaching learning curve and provide useful feedback to boost your service and improve your business. It’s important to stay in contact with the student and wish them well on their test day (this is not only for an honest encouragement but will help your marketing). When all is done, kindly ask them to recommend you to their friends- a good word of mouth goes a long way in business.

“E-learning” has gained traction in the past years and allows you to leverage the benefits of the internet and fuse it with your tutoring. If you’ve got an expertise, gained enough experience, or you’ve got a specific skill you want to teach but don’t want the physical hassle of moving around, there are plenty of online platforms that let you build courses and sell them! Here are a few: Udemy, SkillShare and Teachable.

Tutoring and turning that into your own business is challenging work. But it’s a rewarding feeling to help another individual in need, and even better when you get paid well to do it! You can scale your business later by making courses online or YouTube videos. Good luck on your tutoring business!

Related Huncht Posts:

• Best Tips to Save Money in College [2018]
• 25 Best Ways to Make Extra Money in College [2018]

 

25 Best Ways to Make Extra Money in College [2018]

Let’s face it- budgeting and a part-time job alone ain’t going to cut it for our college lifestyle. Sometimes we just need a little extra income for those new headphones or that dress you saw at the mall last week. Aside from saving (check out this College Savings Guide) and a part-time job, there are plenty of extra ways you can make money in college. We made a list of 25 Best Ways to Make Extra Money in College [2018]. When architecting this list, we made sure to consider ideas that would be flexible, scalable (so you can turn it into a business) and worth your time. Essentially, you can pursue your side hustle on the weekends or whenever your schedule is free.

 

1.Become a tutor

This is the most flexible side hustle- and it can pay very well ($15/hr – $60+/hr depending on the subject and experience), plus it’s very scalable into a business. The skills required are a strong passion and knowledge on the subject and the course, some degree of social skills. Other more technical skills are patience and consistency. We’ve all heard the saying, “if you’re good at something, never do it for free”. If you did very well in a course and understand the subject to an extensive degree, particularly math-related courses, so accounting, finance, engineering and physics: make extra money in college by becoming a tutor.

 

2. Sell Your Class Notes

It pays to be a good student in class; literally. You should be rewarded for waking up to early morning classes and taking (good) notes. Sites like provide you an efficient way of uploading notes to share and be rewarded by your fellow classmates. This won’t make you Jeff Bezos or Bill Gates rich, but something is better than nothing. Plus, maybe it’ll give you some extra motivation for those early morning courses. For hand printed notes, you might need a scanner, so just pick up a used-one or find the wallet-friendly scanner from Amazon. Check out sites like: Stuvia, OneClass, and NexusNotes.

 

3. Build a Website

This idea is a bit more difficult and time consuming, but its flexible (you can work on it whenever you want) and very scalable. You can make money in various ways depending on what sort of website you build. You can sell products online by dropshipping or creating your very own goods. If you’re a good writer, you can blog and set up ads or affiliate marketing to make money. You can pay someone to write all your content on freelancing sites like Fiverr or Upwork, but its recommended that you write your own content when you start out (since it can get expensive to hire writers). To start, use sites like Shopify (for selling products), Wix and WordPress (for blogging) or build your own and use a hosting server like Bluehost. In a sense, starting your own website is like starting your own business, so some degree of business acumen and learning is required. The goal is to bring as much traffic as you can (so you can monetize it), and this is done by either having a/some wonderful products or very useful and intriguing content. It’s indeed going to be a slow start but if your website is successful, it’ll be well worth your time. Plus, this is an amazing line to put down on your resume.

 

4. Sell Used/Unused Items

Do you have any items that you no longer use or need? Selling some of those unused or used items might make you a little extra money. It’s also a great opportunity to move towards a minimalist lifestyle and remove the clutter in your home or apartment. There are several websites that will enable you to list and sell items that you no longer need such as Letgo, Kijiji, Craigslist , and Tradyo. Tips to help your sales over the web would be to take clear pictures (preferably in nicely lit areas) while providing an honest and accurate description. Be firm with the price, and don’t settle for low ballers! Always be sure to be safe when meeting the buyer, bring a friend and meet in a public or crowded place. If you’ve got loads of old items, you can always go old school and set up your own garage sale, that’s definetly something that can be on a bucket list: Have a garage sale- check!

 

5. Sell Stock Photos

If you have a camera or even a smartphone, you can sell your photography online. You don’t have to be photography major to earn money using this method. This is perfect if you already have a photo portfolio or you plan to start out in photography. There are several websites that will allow you to upload and sell your photos as stock images, here are the most popular ones: iStock,  Shutterstock, and BigStockPhoto. Most stock photos are bought and used by businesses for their advertisements and promotional materials. This won’t turn you into an overnight billionaire, but with enough royalties from photos, you can have a decent supplementary income. Check out the apps for Android or IOS at the end of the post.

 

6. Offer Cleaning Service

This idea doesn’t require much except an eye for cleaning and some basic cleaning equipments. You can take up cleaning jobs for homes or apartments, remember to be safe when doing so. As long as you have great attention for detail and some free time, you can easily make money by providing cleaning services. You can find companies that hire contract cleaners on your local job boards, Craigslist or Kijiji. PS: Buy yourself some great pair of cleaning gloves.

 

7. Join Focus/ Study Groups

If you’ve got time to spare, check your local campus or hospitals for focus or study groups. Focus groups usually pay you for answering surveys and doing a few tests. You’re usually paid at the end of the studies, or sometimes mid-way. The easiest and fastest ones to do are the psychology/ question survey studies where they ask you a few questions and assess your answers. The requirements for each study will differ, but as long as you’re healthy, you’ll qualify for the majority of the “easy money” (answering questions) study groups. Make sure you read all the fine prints of the agreements, and don’t be a guinea pig for any sort of new drugs. Take a look at these online surveys/ focus groups to make some extra money: SurveyJunkie, MySurvey, and VIPVoice. There are some high paying surveys online ranging from $30+ per completion to $80+, but most of them are around the $10 mark.

8. Become a Mystery Shopper

If you’ve never heard of mystery shopping, it’s essentially companies that hire a shopper to go and buy a product or visit a store and report their experience and provide feedback. The reason mystery shoppers are hired is because companies want to gather information, ensure that stores are being managed efficiently and that customer experience is top notch. As a mystery shopper, you’re task is to discreetly shop and complete certain checklists while answering certain questions pertaining to a review-like form. For instance, “how many employees greeted you?” or “how many offered help?”. The tasks are usually pretty easy and requires no skills except an easy “pre” test online before being assigned a task, but some attention to detail will help. Once you complete the task, you’ll be rewarded depending on the difficulty and length. If you’re hired to do a task, you’ll typically earn between $10 to $25+ per task. There are several websites that hire mystery shoppers, check out: MarketForce, MysteryShoppingServices, and BestMark. If you join other mystery shopping sites, make sure they are not scams and are approved by MSPA (Mystery Shopper Provider Association). Here’s a quick list of approved companies: MSPA. Mystery shopping won’t make you rich, but done if done consistently, it will definetly be some sizeable cash, especially for a college student.

 

9. Become a background Actor/ Actress

This is perfect if you have a flexible schedule in college. To become a background actor or an “extra” requires a few steps. Firstly, you’re going to need an agency, either non-union or union. Non-union usually pays a bit more, but it depends on what you’re background acting for. To begin, you’re going to need a headshot of yourself. Submit your headshot and an application to acting and talent agencies in addition to including all your talents and skills (they usually have a application you fill out). It helps to have special skills such as playing sports, knowing martial arts or your athletic. The best thing about being a background actor is the pay and the amount of work you need to do. Usually, you’re on set for the whole day (or a specific duration) and most of the time you’re just sitting there (so bring some notes to study or a good book). You can earn anywhere from $75+ to $400+ depending on what you’re acting gig is. It also helps to build a good network while you’re background acting, you can easily get better and higher paying acting gigs and who knows… maybe you’ll be the next Angelina Jolie or Christian Bale. Check out sites like: BackStage, CentralCasting or do a quick search in your local acting community.

 

10. Freelance Writer/Blogger

If you’re a good writer, there are plenty of ways you can make extra money in college. If you’re particularly good at one subject, say fashion, you can easily be a content writer for fashion bloggers and websites. There are plenty of companies that require the services of a writer for their website or blog. An asset would be already having a good writing portfolio, but its not a necessity. In a content writing/ blogging job, your role is to create content, and posts usually range between 500- 2000+ words depending on what your contracted to do. On the flip side, you can average about 5 cents + per word, so that 2000 word post can make you about $100+. You can also negotiate your deadlines and set your own price. You can even charge per hour, ranging from $10/hr to $50/hr+. Popular sites like Upwork and Fiverr will help you find freelance work and get your content writing side hustle up and running.

 

11. House Sitting

House sitting is just taking care of someones property while they are away. It’s quite simple to do, but finding a gig might be harder. Do you know someone who is taking a vacation? House sitting is one of the best ways to earn money without doing anything or without the need for any specialized skill. You’ll be responsible for looking after the landlord’s home and do some mundane tasks such as walking the pets, feeding the pets, some light maintenance and just making sure the property doesn’t fall apart. The only requirement would be a very high degree of integrity. Check your local job boards for house sitting positions (make sure to be safe), look on Kijiji, Craigslist, or HouseSitter, and HouseSitterAmerica.

 

12. Become a VA (Virtual Assistant)

If you have a flexible schedule and like to help others, virtual assistance is perfect for you as a college student. A virtual assistant is someone who can provide a wide range of services for clients or businesses online. It’s like a personal assistant except that the services are done virtually, so you can provide support from the comfort of your own home. If you have excellent customer service, great time management and advanced computer skills working with basic programs like Microsoft Word and Excel, you meet the qualifications for most of the virtual assistant positions. As a virtual assistant, you’ll essentially be an independent contractor. Most of the VA positions require you to tackle tasks such as customer support and other administrative tasks such as data entry. You can provide virtual assistance in a variety of fields, for instance: translation, bookkeeping, or writing. Compensation depends on what you’re doing but can range from $10 to upwards of $50+ depending on what skill your providing virtually. Higher paying skills are usually in fields such as programming, copywriting, project management, and consulting. A great way to start is to pick something you’re already good at and offer your services as a virtual assistant in that field. Popular sites to find virtual assistant gigs are Upwork, Fiverr, VirtualHub and TaskEveryday.

 

13. Offer Online Design Services

If you’ve got some web designing experience or you’re in a UX program, you can make a handsome amount of money by offering your design services to clients or online businesses. Of course, you must be proficient enough in graphic and online design to qualify for your side hustle. The type of work you’ll be designing will range from graphics to advertisements. If you’ve got some good photoshop experience, you can always offer editing services and help create advertisements. Search your local job boards for designing gigs or you can always find freelance designing contracts on Upwork, Fiverr, Kijiji. or Craigslist.

 

14. Create a Youtube Channel

Top YouTubers easily earn $5M-$10M+ a year just on a subscription and ad revenue basis alone. If you’re passionate about a subject and can create engaging visual content, then YouTube might be for you. An investment in a good videocamera and microphone is recommended, although you can just shoot your videos on your smartphone. It may seem like YouTube is saturated, but there are plenty of ideas that will still captivate your audience’s attention. You can make short comedy skits, product reviews, vlogs, tutorials and reaction, or any sort of video as long as you’re creative. There’s no big secret, if you have good content, you’ll eventually have a sizeable subscriber list, but its definetly not easy. It’s not going to happen overnight, but the passive income from a viral video is well worth the time. You can find some good YouTube channel ideas: here.

 

15. Design and Sell Crafts

Handmade crafts are usually worth more than mass-produced items, and they only cost time and creativity to produce. If you’ve got some experience in arts and crafts, post your handmade goods on sites like Etsy and Ebay. You may also choose to set up your own online store if you want to skip the Etsy listing and transaction fees. Shopify is a great platform for selling your own hand-made products. If you’re looking for ideas of what to make to jump start your side hustle, hop onto Etsy or Pinterest and look for the most popular items. Easy and low cost ideas include: custom posters, signs, cards and knitted goods. PS: Presentation matters, make sure your photos are clear and well taken. A nice camera helps but not a necessity, a decent smartphone camera will suffice.

 

16. Design and Sell T-Shirts 

If you’ve got an eye for fashion, set up your very own online (or offline) t-shirt store. You can upload your t-shirt designs on sites like TeeSpring, SpreadShirt, Zazzle, BlueCotton, TeePublic and Shopify. You will earn a handsome profit every time someone purchases your t-shirt. You don’t even have to worry about sourcing the t-shirt from a supplier, it’s usually all taken care of on these sites. Once you upload your design, you can share your store or t-shirt on social media and the sites will pay you your profit at the end of your campaign. This is a great way to make passive income as a college student. You can always buy your own t-shirts from places like Marshals or Gildan and then physically design your own art, but mind the overhead costs of equipment and the money value of your time. Post your unique handcrafted t-shirts on sites like Etsy and Ebay. It’s a great line on your resume, especially if you’re heading into the fashion industry.

 

17. Build an App

If you’re into programming, you’ve got the ability to make the next big app hit! There are several mobile apps these days that started small, but became viral and essential for everyday users overtime – think Uber, Instagram, Snapchat, VSCO, etc. You don’t have to spend billions of dollars and have a dedicated team of programmers. Start small, make an app that can improve or provide solutions to problems.To keep you motivated, build it into something you’re passionate about. If you’re into gaming, develop a game! – remember, Flappy Bird was made by just one person and had reported earnings of $50k+ a day. If you’re into fitness- build an app in health or fitness. Here are some ideas to help get you started.

 

18. Do Transcription Work Online

If you have fast typing skills, then you’ve got the core of what it takes to do transcription work and to make some extra income in college. There’s a high level of demand for transcriptionists across various industries. Most of the work can be completed online, which makes it convenient for college students, since you can work on your own schedule. UpWork is a great platform for transcription freelancers. You can easily earn anywhere between $10/hr – $25+/hr. Even if you have no previous experience with transcription, there are free resources online that will teach you how to do it. Check out StenoSpeed and ListenandWrite: they are free resources you can use to get your part-time transcription job started.

19. Sell an Online Course

Got any special skills? Are you an expert at something? Juggling? Investing? Speaking to pets? Teach people about your passion online and get paid to do it! Check out websites like Udemy, SkillShare and Teachable. These sites help you transfer your skills into an online teaching platform where it will be shared with the world. Simply choose your topic, create a course and connect with your students. Price your course accordingly and you’re done! You won’t need a teaching contract or a specific degree in that field (but certificates and experience do boost your credibility). It’s also free to create a course on Udemy, just be sure that you create exceptional course content. PS: a great camera and microphone will make all the difference.

 

20. Rent out your belongings (especially your car or bike)

Bet you’ve never thought this would make the list. We’re sure you’ve got some items that are sitting and collecting dust at home. You can list those items as rentals on Kijiji or Craigslist. Alternatively, you can use apps like Zilok, FatLama, or Peerrenters. Popular items include tools (drills and ladders go for $10-$15+ a day), electronics (drones, games, Xbox, PS4s, etc.), and small appliances (coffee machines, BBQ grills, etc.). They’re free to download from the app store and you can quickly turn your items into a renting business. If you don’t use your car as often, consider lending it on sites like Turo. After a few quick pictures, the rental service is easy to set up. PS: remember to be safe when meeting and renting out your stuff, go with a friend and meet somewhere public.

 

Starting Small…

At the end of the day, it’s all about starting your own business. Your efforts will directly impact your bottom line, so much of it will be needed. Most people are intimidated by the idea of starting a business, but in this era of technologically filled applications, starting your own business in college is relatively easy- being successful is something else entirely. The best way to start out a business is to find something your passionate about AND that can help others– of course easier said than done.

If it’s your first time as a “business owner”, try starting off small and simple. For example start buy used items for low by negotiating and sell them for higher. An industry that’s profitable for buying low and selling high is within the used tire and rim industry- there’s competition but not enough to create barriers for entry. If you have a good eye for cars, then buying good condition tires and rims and putting them together (increasing its value by synergy) could make you a handsome profit. You could also shop your local thrift stores for vintage-like items, those usually have a higher resell value on Etsy, Ebay and Amazon.

You likely have a talent that people will pay for: if you’re good with computers- open up a repair shop or troubleshooting from your home on the side. Good with make-up? Become a make-up artists on the side. Good with technology? Help elderly individuals understand and use technology on the side. Crafts? Sell your handmade crafts on sites like Etsy or Ebay. Remember that almost any type of service or product that adds value can be turned into a business. Be sure to use social media or websites to promote your services. Succeed or fail, starting a business in college will also look very neat on your resume and the experience alone provides perfect answers for interview questions. More important than anything else, you’ll gain business experience.

Apps That Help You Make Money in 2018

If you’ve got no time to fully dedicate yourself to a business, In addition to the traditional methods of generating extra income stated above, you can also use the following apps to make money.

Swagbucks

You can earn by completing surveys, completing special offers, participating in daily polls, finding swag codes, watching videos, or referring your friends. There are countless tasks that you can complete with this app that will give you the chance to accumulate points which can be later redeemed as gift cards from top retailers like Amazon or Target, or cash to your Paypal.

Ebates

Aside from Swagbucks, this is another popular app that can help you earn money (or rather save). Ebates will pay you to purchase through their site from 1800+ participating retailers. You can also refer your friends and make $50 out of it. This app is available on iPhone and Android devices. You can get payment via check or Paypal. If you are going to buy items anyway, you might as well get some cash out of it!

Surveys on the Go

Survey sites or apps are proving to be a great way to make a quick buck in college. Surveys on the Go is one of the more popular apps available for Android and IOS. To get paid, you’ll be doing different types of surveys. Some surveys have more questions than others and you’ll be rewarded a bit more for those ones. You could complete fast surveys while waiting in line for coffee or waiting for a friend. You can earn as little as 25 cents to as much as $5+ for every survey.

Shopkick

Similar to Ebates, Shopkick will give you ‘kicks’ (or points) when you shop from their partner retailers (they have some different retailers than Ebates). Simply walk into a partnered retailer and scan the items before buying. to receive points for each purchase. The app is available for Android and IOS.

Clashot

Clashot is a relatively new app for Android and IOS. Clashot will pay you when you take original photos of food, cities, art, and other subjects and then sell it to Depositphotos. For Clashot, the average royalty per photo is about 44% of the sale. So if you’ve got some great photos sitting in your phone collecting pixel dust, try putting them up for sale. The bigger your photobank, the bigger your earning potential! Similar apps that allow you to sell photos on Android and IOS are Foap, ShutterStock and Snapwire.

Have you ever earned extra cash with any of these ideas? If you’ve got any other tips, feel free to share them! Sharing is caring!

Related Huncht Posts:

• Best Tips to Save Money in College [2018]

Best Tips to Save Money in College [2018]

College is one of the toughest times in anyone’s life, financially speaking. With our limited budget and mountain load of expenses, the struggle is real. In between tests and projects, the last thing you’d want to stress over is money, so we made you a list of 25 Best Tips to Save Money in College 2018.

Since most students are living on their own, we’re expected to cover all of our basic living expenses – rent, gas, food, and other essentials (learning to adult). The most important thing to keep in mind is consistency. Saving yourself $5 or $10 a day goes a long way. This is a guide on the best ways to save money in college 2018, if you’ve already mastered the art of thriftiness, then you can move on to our guide for side hustling in college.

Saving money is going to require a bit of creativity and willpower, but you’re bank account will thank you.

Here are 25 Best Tips to Save Money in College [2018]:

1. Set a budget. – Thanks Captain Obvious! Yes- this is obvious, but most of us don’t do it even though we should. Before the start of each semester, set yourself a detailed budget plan. List down every expense you are expected to cover during your time in college for that given semester (average out how much it costs you for a night out to the club or bar). Make sure to account for even the smallest expenses such as gas or travel allowance. It’s often the small things that add up without you noticing that dents your bank. Keep your receipts and bank statement so you can determine where all your money is going.
Another way to budget yourself is to go on the cash budget- set a certain amount a week- say $100 and pay everything in cash.
Protip: Be very strict with your budget, and always ask for a “cash discount”. Use free phone apps like: PocketGuard, Unsplurge, Mint.

2. Avoid using your credit card. Credit card debt is one of the top causes of debts and bankruptcies in the US. Credit cards are doubled edged swords, you can build great credit if you make payments on time, but if you’re known to always spend more than you make- credit cards are probably not for you. If you have a credit card, avoid using it for impulsive buys- we don’t realize how easy it is to tap and buy. If you can’t afford, don’t buy it- not even on credit.

3. Watch what you eat. Let’s get straight to it: you’re definetly going to save if you stop stop eating out so much, budget yourself for one or two meals out a week. You don’t notice that $10 meal on the bank account, but it piles up. Plan your meals and stick to the plan. Limit the amount of times you eat out- period, and learn to say no, it’ll be a useful skill later in life. You can also create a meal plan so you know exactly how much you’re spending on each meal. Schedule weekly grocery runs and meal preps.
Here are a few Youtube channels to help you with meal preps: Tasty, The Domestic Geek, and here‘s a great post on meal prep.

4. Skip the summer hype. If you’re serious about saving money in college, rethink about how you spend the summer. It might be fun and enticing to head to some expensive all inclusive vacation but just know it comes with a huge cost! Instead of blowing your bank account on summer festivals, find a summer job or internship. This site can help.
If you simply just can’t say no, plan in advance. All inclusive packages are usually cheaper if you book in advance- but do your research. Check out Airefarewatchdog and Theflightdeal to find cheap flight deals. If you’re living on paycheque to paycheque- probably a good idea to skip on the summer or winter vacation.

5. Opt for used items. Do not buy new textbooks right away! For specific courses, you can always find used textbooks. Simply do a quick search on Craigslist, Kijiji, Thriftbooks, or post in your local college group. If you know someone who has taken the same subject as you, it might be a good way to save money to buy their old/used books. You can also rent books from others- there’s no shame in saving a few bucks. You don’t have to be limited to just textbooks- buying used furniture and accessories (such as lamps) is one of the best ways to save money (plus you can always resell them). A great time to buy, is at the end of every semester.

6. Ride a bike. If you have a bike, your saving a whole lot by using your leg muscles, no need to worry about parking, gas, maintenance and bus fares. Only ride a bike if it’s safe to do so, and remember to buy a good lock and sturdy helmet. Not only will you be saving yourself money, you’re helping the environment, plus your health will thank you. It’s just going to suck in the winter, so make sure you bundle up.

7. Use school resources. Most college campuses have their own library with computers centers which are available to all students. If you don’t own a laptop yet (and had been planning to buy one), skip the idea of a brand new purchase (remember to buy used- just make sure it works and has warranty). If you can find the book at your library, rent it out! There’s no need to buy a new one. Make sure you understand all your college’s student resources, some students pay for fees and never use their benefits. I didn’t realize we had a dental benefit plan until my last year!

8. Apply for Scholarships. There are so many college scholarships out there that go unclaimed every year, most of them just require an application and short essays. Don’t miss out on free money. If you’re relying on scholarships to pay through college, it’s important that you keep a close eye on application dates, so apply early. This will give you adequate time to process your scholarship application and get the approval. For scholarship lists: check this link out. Apply to as many as you can, it’s definitely worth your time.

9. Choose where you live carefully. Location matters. Most college students prefer to live off-campus in fancy houses but if you want to save money, staying in the college dormitory, or a relatively cheap rental multiplex might be your best option. Rent is going to be one of your biggest fixed expenses, so don’t skimp on the research. Be sure to calculate in all factors: travel expenses, monthly overheads (internet and hydro). Finding a place close to school might help you save on your travel expenses as you would no longer have to drive to or commute to campus. You can also share your dorm room with a friend or roommate to split the cost. Just don’t go to cheap and end up in a sketchy area- safety first! Places4students, and Rent is a great place to compare prices. Don’t forget to negotiate on prices!

10. Take advantage of campus amenities. College life is supposed to be fun. But just because you’re trying to save money, doesn’t mean you can’t the most out your college experience. Many campuses have a variety of activities open for students to enjoy – from fitness classes, music festivals, and movie nights! It is also a great opportunity to network and socialize with your fellow college students. If there’s free food- that should be enough to get you to show up. Check your college website to take advantage of free amenities.

11. Invest in your own coffee maker. For most people, coffee is their morning fuel. However, buying coffee on-the-go every single morning can be very expensive over time. That $5+ a day on your latte will cost you $1,825+ a year. Investing in your own coffee or espresso maker will prove to be one of the best investments you can make in your college years. You can split the cost of a new coffee maker with your roommate- or even buy a used one. If you’re not looking to buy a used one, Amazon has plenty of great and cheap coffee makers. Hamilton Beach Coffee Maker is one of the best-selling on Amazon; it’s great quality, reliable and budget-friendly (and looks sweet). Find it: here.
Plus: You can also make your own coffee for those late night assignments in the comfort of your own home.

12. Have at least one ‘no-spend’ day each week. This is a hard one, but it’s going to save you a bunch of money. At the beginning you might find the idea of a ‘no-spend’ day quite challenging, but it’s all about consistency and self-control. It’s just like developing a habit, except this one saves you a bunch of money. Pick a day (you should pick a weekday so you can still “splurge” on the weekend) and don’t spend any money on that day. We suggest picking the day right after grocery and meal prep day. Easier said than done, but it’s worth your effort.

13. Take advantage of student discounts. A lot local restaurants and stores offer student discounts that most people are oblivious to (did you know: Apple offers student discounts?). Most discounts can be enjoyed by simply presenting your student ID, so carry your ID around with you at all times. If you’re unsure, do not be afraid to ask! There’s no shame in saving a few bucks. A dollar a day goes a long way! Check out this list.

14. Cancel premium app or games subscription. If you’re in college, do you really need to be spending top dollar on apps and games? Chances are, you don’t. And if you really do- find someone to share the costs with. Cancel any of your premium app subscriptions so you can save money in college. It’s small, but it’s going to have a significant impact on your budget over time. Nothing wrong with sharing Netflix accounts.

15. Monitor your cell phone usage. If you really want to save, you can monitor your data usage and downgrade to a cheaper plan if you have data excess.Do not go over your data- ever. So make sure your phone Wi-Fi is enabled 24/7, and always ask for Wi-Fi access. There are plenty free websites or tools that can help keep track of your cell phone usage, including your service provider’s app.

16. Shop during sales only. Only- is the keyword, when buying your consumables (toilet paper, detergent, soap); buy them when they are on sale ONLY- and buy in bulk. You might not realize it but if you get 50% off toothpaste, that’s in some sense, an immediate return on your money. So if you see a great sale, don’t be afraid to stock up. Read your local flyers. Be sure to check out: Groupon, eBates, Coupons, and SmartSource, Flipp for discounts.

17. Stop shopping unless you need to. Captain Obvious checking in again. But seriously, if you want to save money in college, stop shopping unless you need to. The convenience of online shopping has made it quite tempting for shoppers to buy in an impulsive manner. But before you click on the checkout button, sleep on it – maybe you really don’t need to spend a few days’ worth of pay on that extra pair of shoes or brand new coat. You likely already have one.

18. Create a needs vs wants list. Here’s how you do #17. List down the items that you would normally buy and categorize them as ‘needs’ or ‘wants’. The next time you are compelled to buy something new, you can refer to that list to help with your decision making. Yes, those pair of shoes would look good on you- but you don’t need them. This might be a simple list but it can be life-changing if you’re willing to be strict.

19. Look for an e-book or scan the library for resources. Still looking for your course books? Before buying a used one, you can even look for e-books (they can be cheaper). Just do a simple post on the campus social group. You can also leverage your student library and check if they have the book then scan the specific chapters you need.

20. Go on the ramen diet. The ramen diet has recently gained popularity in the college communities. It’s fast and convenient, not to mention inexpensive too! If you’re looking into saving money, and don’t feel like meal prepping everyday, this diet is for you. There are several benefits to investing in the ramen diet. Aside from the fact that it’s extremely cheap, you actually do have more than one choice (simply buy different types/brands of ramen noodles). It’s also very easy to prepare so you can save time when making your own “gourmet” ramen meals at home. Most ramen noodles can be prepared by heating them in a microwave or adding hot water. You can pimp it up by getting creative and adding eggs, chicken and seaweed. How much simpler can this get?

21. Take advantage of coupons. Before you go shopping, do a quick search over the web and see if you can find any coupons. Sites such as have plenty of information and deals. There’s usually coupons at your local campus center or at the front of most grocery stores. If you’re a frequent Amazon or online shopper, you can also Install the google chrome extension called Honey, it automatically finds if there’s any discount codes or coupons when you check out (and most online retailers have some). Again, make sure you check out: Groupon, eBates, Coupons, and SmartSource.

22. Pay some of your student loan while in college. If you have student loans, try and make payments towards it while in college. It’s an indirect way of saving (future you will thank you). Any amount of money or savings that you can make while you are in college, make sure you use some of that towards paying off the loans. Even $20 a week will take you far. The longer you wait before you pay off your student loan, the more interest will accrue over time. It’s always good to think ahead!

23. Use only FREE software. Who doesn’t love free stuff? Before you feel compelled to purchase a license for software, check if any of your friends or your roommates have a licensed version of that software first. For every paid software, there are just as many free software that work just as well. If you can’t get a free version of Microsoft Office, use Google Docs. If you’re looking for more specific programs, check out these sites like TechRadar, and Freestudentsoftware.

24. Pay yourself first. This is savings 101. If you tend to overspend, force yourself to save by automating the process. Make an automatic transfer to your savings every month. You can easily set this up at your local branch or online. For instance, on the day your pay cheques are deposited, automatically transfer $25 into your savings account on that day. Combine this with all the tips above and you should easily be saving your way through college, more importantly you’re developing important self-control skills that will pay greater dividends later in life.

25. Graduate on time! Saved the most obvious one for last, so the captain gets the last word. Every semester or year you spend in college entails a cost – a big one! The longer you are in college, the more you have to spend. It’s also a huge indirect drain on your savings since you’ll be accumulating more interests and you’ll lose an “indirect” salary.

Saving money isn’t easy, but it’s well worth the effort. College is a time for learning, not just academically, but more importantly; personally. Read and learn as much as you can! As Benjamin Franklin would say: “ An investment in knowledge pays the best interest”. The habit of saving a little today will pay huge dividends in years to come. Hopefully this list of Best Tips to Save Money in College [2018] gave you some ideas, or at the very least, reminded you on your savings goals.
Next, find a high-yield savings account or open up an investment account to let your earnings work for you- Do diligent research and keep your fees low! Remember that every step, no matter how small, will increase your savings.

PS: Don’t forgot to have fun in college! You can always ball on a budget.

Have you tried any of these tips? If you’ve got any other tips, feel free to share them! Sharing is caring!

Related Huncht Posts:

• 25 Best Ways to Make Extra Money in College [2018]