Written by Emma Morris. Graphic by Emma Morris.
We all know it: being a student in Savannah can get expensive. Grocery costs, school supplies, rent — it all adds up. Here is a short guide of tips and tricks to help you spend less money this year and save more!
School Supplies:
Most SCAD students are all too familiar with buying supplies for an upcoming class, whether it be textbooks or art supplies. There’s no reason to go out and buy all brand new stuff when you can likely get the same product for cheap (or for free).
If you’re looking for supplies for a studio class, I recommend going to every SCAD student’s favorite art store, Starlandia. Starlandia has a plethora of new and used art supplies for a good deal. If they don’t have what you need, go to Blick or Ex Libris second. Blick even has a 10% student discount. Ex Libris tends to get pricey, so be careful with what you spend there. If you have access to a car, Hobby Lobby is a good option for craft and art supplies that won’t break the bank.
Textbooks:
When it comes to textbooks, avoid buying them full price right away. First, just search for the name of the book with the author’s name. You’ll be surprised how many places have an online version for free (and legally)! Internet Archive is a good resource for online books, and rarely do they not have a copy of something I need. If you’re still struggling to find a copy, add “PDF” to your search.
If you’re searching for the cheapest physical copy, go to DealOZ. It will compare the prices of different sites and places to get your desired book. Unless it’s a last resort, don’t pay full price for that textbook!
Eating Out:
Personally, my kryptonite is going out to eat or even getting a coffee. It might not seem like much when you’re getting a $5 coffee, but if you do that every day, your bank account will suffer. Limit eating out and buying treats to once or twice a week, and your wallet will thank you!
If you are in the mood to get a bite to eat, there are plenty of places around Savannah that offer some cheap bites, such as Screamin’ Mimi’s (pizza), Sly’s (sliders) and Maté Factor (coffee, tea and pastries).
Grocery Tips:
Taking a trip to the grocery store can be costly, but it doesn’t have to be! There are a couple of ways you can make the most out of your groceries and spend less:
- Buying in Bulk: Buying in bulk, although sometimes impractical, will save you a good chunk of change in the long run. Some good items to buy in bulk are paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, snack foods and canned goods. This will cost you less, and it will last you longer, so the next time you go to the store there’s one less thing you need to buy.
- Dry and Canned Goods: Buying dry and canned goods that won’t go bad quickly is a good way to make your food last longer. Buying things such as pasta, rice, beans, canned vegetables and sauces will last a while, especially if you’re buying in bulk. This isn’t to persuade you against buying fresh produce, but instead to limit it to the necessities and buy dry goods as much as possible.
- Dairy Products: I always find that my milk goes bad quicker than I anticipate, so a way to counteract this is to buy lactose-free milk or even plant or nut-based milk. Regular milk lasts about 1–2 weeks, but lactose-free milk can last up to 2 months. Now, you’re less likely to end up with half a gallon of spoiled milk.
- Freezing Your Food: Ice cream and TV dinners aren’t the only things you can put in your freezer. Poultry, beef and pork can last for up to 6 months in the freezer. Don’t want your bread to get moldy? Freezer. Bought too much butter? Freezer. Don’t underestimate the power of your freezer!
Although being a student is expensive, there are things you can do about it. Put things in your freezer! Ask about student discounts everywhere you go! And just get creative!
