Money Saving Tips: From Kraft Dinner to Medical Trials

By Ryan McKegney, RedFlagDeals.com

The university and college experience is about expanding your personal horizons and finding out exactly what you are capable of. For example, how many hours in a row can you stay awake? How much Kraft Dinner can you eat before you can eat no more? Unfortunately, the post secondary experience isn’t cheap and if you want to experience it fully, you’ll need to have some disposable income. Here are some tips that will help you save money from the readers of Canada’s online bargain hunting community, RedFlagDeals.com:

Saving Money on Food and Drink(s)

• Lots of restaurants and travel agencies offer student discounts to students who have either the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) or the Student Price Card (SPC). You can buy either card for less than $20 and many schools actually include the card as a part of your student fees. Sometimes you can save up to 50% off bus, train or plane tickets with the ISIC card.
• Eating out is expensive, so cook when you can. If you buy groceries when they are on sale at the grocery store (check your local flyers), you can save even more. If you visit grocery stores late at night, you will often find prepared food, produce, and bakery items marked down significantly because they have to make room for the fresh stuff. (Check the expiry dates!)
• If you have to drink, you can save a lot of money by drinking at home before you go. Just remember to drink responsibly and don’t drink and drive. (Remember to return your empties for cash too.)

Saving Money on Tuition and Fees

• If your school allows it and you have a rewards credit card, pay your tuition with your credit card. You can get a ton of reward points (AirMiles, etc.) or you can even get money back if you have a cash back credit card (usually around 1%). This only works if you can pay off the credit card right away of course.
• Opt-out of the optional club and charity fees you don’t support. The Concrete Canoe Club sounds interesting, but they’ll probably be OK without your $1.50. Most schools will let you opt-out of the health and dental plans if you have coverage through your parents or job. You could save several hundred dollars this way.
• Check for available bursaries and scholarships. Your school likely has a lot of bursaries and scholarships that you don’t know about and might qualify for. If your parents work for a large company, you may be able to get a scholarship through them as well. Your part-time job may also offer bursaries.

Next we have some tips on saving money on textbooks...