By: Matthew Pak
Saving money for college can be challenging at times, but as a college student, there are many perks that are often never taken advantage of. These perks can range from freebies at various restaurants to large discounts on clothing, tech, and other items that are necessary for classes.
Many college students often struggle with the realities of living alone for the first time. Among these challenges, meals become one of the priorities. Many students decide to get a dining plan with the college dining hall or choose to cook at home. Regardless, there are many perks that should be taken advantage of.
Local spots near campus often offer a discount to students if presented with a valid student ID. Additionally, many national chains offer student promotions that drop free food into accounts created using a school email. Chipotle, for example, offers 1,000 free points when an account is created using a student ID, along with periodic drops of free entrees, guac, or chips. The best perk of them all is the 20% additional points on all orders, giving students more food out of each dollar.
Many clothing and retail outlets also offer student discounts. Brands like Nike, Levi’s, and ASOS often offer 10-20% student discounts with a valid student ID, allowing students to fill their wardrobe without breaking the bank.
The student ID has the most influence on technology with major brands like Apple and Microsoft. They often offer $100+ off on many of their laptops and PCs as well as discounted subscriptions to Office365 and iCloud. Dell even offers a 50% knockdown on a couple of laptops. Additionally, Amazon Prime offers six months free and a discounted rate of 50% after the fact. This means free shipping on all packages, as well as full access to the Prime Video catalog, perfect for a movie night among friends. Spotify also offers a 50% discount on Premium, allowing for downloads, skips, and selection of all the most popular songs and playlists. Uber and DoorDash offer a subscription of Uber One at 50% off, allowing for fewer fees when Ubering around, getting food delivered, and placing orders.
Travel and transportation discounts can also be valuable. While not always as widely advertised, students can often find deals on flights, train tickets, and public transit passes. Some airlines and booking platforms offer student-specific rates, especially for international travel. With foresight and planning, these discounts can make trips home or study-abroad travel more affordable.
Most of all, it’s important to look for campus-specific perks. Many colleges partner with local businesses to offer exclusive deals, and student IDs can unlock free access to gyms, museums, events, and software. Universities often provide free or discounted resources ranging from printing to professional development tools.
At college, student IDs and emails can be used to take advantage of many perks, saving money that can instead go towards tuition or housing.
Graphic by Philip Berkwit
