Thursday, June 25, 2015

30 Insanely Easy Ways to Save Money at Pitt


  1. Keep a budget and keep track of what you spend. You’ll be surprised how much taking a minute to think before you buy and realizing how much money you might be wasting can change your habits.
    You're not this rich, so don't act like you are.
  2. Check our free Student Discount Map to find businesses that offer discounts in Pittsburgh. Not sure if there’s a student discount? Just ask! The worst a cashier can say is no.
  3. You know those survey links on the bottom your receipts? Fill them out! You can get coupons or even free food and other prizes for 2 minutes of your time.
  4. There are many ways to save money on textbooks so you should never pay full price. Buy used books, shop around online, and remember to check the library. Read our article “10 Ways to Save on Textbooks” to learn more ways to save.
  5. If you buy your own groceries, plan out your meals ahead of time to avoid buying things that will just end up spoiling. Learn to cook so you can cut back on takeout, invest in a lunchbox to avoid restaurant lunches, and adopt "Meatless Mondays" - meat is usually the most expensive ingredient in a meal.
  6. Ditch bottled water! A bottle a day can cost you over $600 per year, and Pitt has free water bottle fill-up fountains around campus to quench your thirst. 
  7. Do you use coupons? How about Groupons, LivingSocial, or Amazon Local? You can try new things for cheap or buy half price gifts certificates to your favorite restaurants.
  8. Websites like Cardpool sell slightly used gift cards for up to 30% off what they’re worth. Buy them for stores and restaurants you already love and use them yourself. If you buy from Giant Eagle, you can save big on gas.
  9. Attend Pitt Arts events. Not only do you get to see amazing free shows, but these events also usually include a free restaurant meal!
    Since you get a free meal this (probably) won't be necessary.
  10. Sign up for updates from Campus Connect, Pitt Arts, Pitt Program Council, clubs you’re interested in (even if you don’t have time to join), and other community organizations and follow them on social media so you get information about fun free events.
  11. Pick up a copy of the Pitt News every day to stay up to date on events and get valuable coupons. They include a page of Arby’s coupons every month - why wouldn't you want free curly fries?
  12. Don’t limit yourself to free events put on by Pitt. Community organizations like the Carnegie Library and Pittsburgh Cultural Trust offer free concerts, lectures, classes and more.
  13. Attend large events like activity fairs, career fairs, music festivals, parades and orientation events to pick up free swag such as tote bags, water bottles, sunglasses, and shirts.
    You too can have this much swag.
  14. Sign up for rewards cards at your favorite stores to qualify for special sales and earn cash back. The CVS ExtraCare card gives you 2% back on everything you buy and the Qdoba card gives you every fifth meal free.
  15. Want to give a thoughtful last minute gift but short on cash? Make one, regift something you already have, or surprise your friend with a new app.
  16. If you live off campus, saving the planet can save you money! Unplug "vampire devices", turn off lights, take shorter showers, and watch your bills shrink.
  17. Earn money referring your friends with affiliate programs for companies like Amazon and Uber.
  18. Never see a movie without getting a discount. Discounted AMC tickets are sold in the William Pitt Union ticket office and other theatres offer student discounts at the door, sometimes only on certain days. Do the research before you go.
    They got the student discount.
  19. You go to a research university! Sign up for paid research studies to earn easy money. You can find them on flyers posted around campus and on the Volunteer section of Craigslist.
  20. Respect your stuff and the stuff of others. You’re an adult now, so if you break things you have to pay for them!
  21. Check to see if you can get a student discount for subscriptions you already use. If you tell Spotify, Amazon, the New York Times and other companies you’re a student, you can save 50%.
  22. Take advantage of Pitt’s Healthy U program. They offer 10 week classes in dance, fitness, yoga, zumba, pilates, swimming, and more for only $15-$30, as well as free one-time classes throughout the year.
  23. Take advantage of free public transportation with your Pitt ID and know how to use it. Use Google Maps Transit for help. If you do get stuck, at least take Uber instead of Yellowcab. Pittsburgh taxis are ridiculous.
    Have fun exploring London Pittsburgh.
  24. Do well in your classes and don’t be afraid to get help if you need it. Failing a class will cost you when you have to retake it, and raising a B to an A can result in a higher-paying job once you graduate.
  25. Don’t pay for tutors. Free academic help is available through the Academic Resource Center, Math Assistance Center, and Writing Center.
  26. Thrift shop. Macklemore made it cool. Many thrift shops, especially the new Pitt student-run store Thriftsburgh, sell the same clothes you would buy at normal stores. You save money and help the environment, plus many shops use their profits to help others.
    One man's trash, that's another man's come-up.
  27. Repurpose items instead of throwing them away. Check Pinterest for cool ideas on how to make something out of nothing.
  28. Don’t start any new costly addictions and kick the ones you have. Alcohol, cigarettes, and even coffee can really add up.
  29. Don’t do something crazy that can end up costing you fines. This includes torrenting and getting parking tickets as well as more serious crimes.
  30. Join the Pitt Pennysavers to learn more! If you’re too busy to attend our events, you can still follow us on social media and sign up for our email lists for updates and more tips like these.
    We're cool, you're cool, let's be cool together.
Do you have any other tips to share? Write them in the comments below!

This post was written by Angelica Walker, 2015 VP of the Pitt Pennysavers.

2 comments: