When you’re an international student, finding freebies wherever you can is essential. Knowing where you can save money will prove to be a great boon to your independent life. So, check out the list below for some things you may not have known are free for university students!
Gym
Colleges have amazing gym facilities for their athletes, any student with an ID can use them. If you check your bill, you are probably paying a facilities fee to use the campus gym. Therefore, think of saving money on a gym membership and go there. With close proximity to dorms and state-of-the-art equipment, you can stay in shape without spending a dime. Most university sports complexes even offer fitness classes from kickboxing to yoga, which is always great news: you won’t be tied to the same old treadmill routine.
Laundry
No matter how long you put it off, you will have to do a load of laundry every now and again. Many universities offer free laundry to students living on campus and it is much easier to undertake this chore there than lugging your mountain of dirty clothes to a laundromat and at about $3 per load (if you’re lucky). This way you will save at least a few hundred dollars during your time in college.
Food
Keep your eye out for posters advertising campus events with free food. Colleges understand that students are on a budget, which means that many events serve at least complimentary coffee and munchies. Club-sponsored events and dorm meetings are good bets for everything from pizza to ice cream. Staying engaged on campus can bring you more than just new friends, it can also mean free meals!
Coffee
If you have a Starbucks on campus, head there to study for free drinks. Just order a “for here” cup of tea or coffee and you get free refills the whole time you’re there. This is a great way to get your caffeine fix for minimal money while getting work done without the distractions of your dorm room.
Extra Cash
Whether you offer tutoring, music lessons, or even group lessons, knowing how to make money on the side is always a good thing. You can also do a free unclaimed money search for lost money at your local bank or credit union to get some extra cash in a crunch.
End of Semester Cast-offs
It may seem weird, but at the end of the semester, take a look at the big items that people throw out. Everything from gently-used textbooks to electronics gets tossed out just because people do not want to move them back home at the end of the year. You can use the things yourself or even sell them for a profit. You can also ask your friends and neighbours for an extra help.
Now that you know about the freebies listed above, you are well on your way to saving money in college.
Special thanks to Eileen O’Shanassy for providing us with this article. Eileen is a freelance writer and blogger based out of Flagstaff, AZ. She writes on a variety of topics and loves to research and write. She enjoys baking, biking, and kayaking, and you can find her on Twitter @eileenoshanassy.
