14 BULLETPROOF Ways To Save Money For College Students

It's good to know the tricks and lifehacks used by real people. Previously, the Typical Student team shared with you 11 HEARTBREAKING Stories About Student Debt Repayment. Luckily, the BuzzFeed Community can share priceless insights on how students can save a few bucks with minimum effort. Check them out!

#1 If you have plenty of clothes, but no hangers, ask a retail store nearby if you can take hangers they don't need. 

michellef61: "Don't buy hangers! I used to work at Old Navy, and they throw away bags full of hangers every night. If you go in about an hour before closing, it doesn't hurt to ask if you can keep the hangers they plan on throwing away."

#2 Become the crockpot chef

gabriellec4ada0f34c: "Get a crockpot and find a few staple meals. I can get a week's worth of tasty and healthy meals from $10-$15 of groceries. Plus, you can set it to cook before classes and have it done when you get back that night!"

#3 Sign up for local services apps to earn extra $$

oliviafaithg: "See if there’s an app for local childcare gigs! I use one, and they only hire college students. It’s a great way to make extra money. "

#4 Don't buy textbooks, borrow them from the library

jinnyr: "Instead of buying textbooks, I would borrow them from the school's library. If I couldn’t check them out for the semester, I would just scan them and have the PDFs on my laptop."

#5 Use Coinstar to save up your spare coins.

lindseys45fcc700e: "I saved up all the spare coins I found and kept them in a piggy bank. Every August before school started, I took them to Coinstar. I'd turn thee coins into an Amazon gift card and paid for textbook rentals that way."

#6  Check if there are college student discounts offered everywhere you go

sofiabrunoo: "A LOT of stores, restaurants, and clothing stores have college discounts. If you’re in a store and you don’t see it, always ask!"

#7 Freeze the home-cooked food your parents are cooking for you

missli: "Have your mom cook a few different meals for you and freeze them. That way, you'll save money and you'll be eating home-cooked food while you're away at school."

#8 Free on-campus events often equal free food

wingenfeld: "University clubs have so many free events! This is especially true at smaller schools. Join an events page on social media or look for flyers on campus to see if there are free dinners, movies, or general social events. It'll break you out of your routine and help you meet new people!"

#9 Try ordering the kid's menu 

lindac45f2dcac3: "When you go out to eat, order from the kid's menu! The portions are smaller, but it is half the price and still filling."

#10 Save money on groceries using retail store apps

oliviafaithg: "Download and use the Target app if you shop there. Scan EVERYTHING in your basket to see if there’s a coupon for it."

#11 Use alternative ways of transportation like public transport (buses), bikes, or walking

emmas43a8f1127: "Walk everywhere instead of driving as much as possible! I didn't have access to my car for the first two years of college, so I saved a ton of money on gas."

#12 Buy/rent textbooks from online stores instead of school's bookstores

mh303: "Don’t get textbooks through the school bookstore. Use Amazon or another website. Or if they’re core classes that everyone has to take, borrow the book from someone who has already taken the course."

#13 A job at a restaurant will get you free meals 

r4d3e34ad1: "If you're good at multitasking between taking classes and working, I suggest getting a job at a restaurant. Boom! Free meals every shift, and you're getting paid on top of that."

#14 Use cash instead of debit card

genesisl4fc0489ad: "I find that I spend a lot less money when I have cash on me instead of paying with my card. I try to keep at least $20-$40 dollars of cash on me so that when I buy something, I use the cash first. This stops me from buying useless things that I don't really need!"