5 Tips for How to Save Money While Shopping

         

Being a broke college student can be hard sometimes, especially when you like to shop. But if you shop smart, then you can still enjoy buying the things you love without breaking the bank. Here are 7 tips about how to shop smart:

1. Use Your Student Discounts: If you like to shop at places like TopShop or on Amazon, then as a student you get a discount. TopShop gives you a 10% discount off and Amazon gives you a 6-month free trial to Amazon Prime, which will be half off after your trial expires. To see a list of other student discounts, click this link: http://www.giftcardgranny.com/blog/student-discounts/ . If you attend the University of Louisville check out this link for more discounts in the Louisville area: http://louisville.edu/hr/gptw/discounts/entertainmentdiscounts
   
2.   Use Membership Cards: Whether it be your Kroger card for groceries or your Ulta card for makeup, most stores offer membership cards that give you rewards for shopping there. These rewards can include anything from money off your next fill up or even little gifts for your birthday. If you shop at a store regularly and don’t know if that store offers a rewards card just ask an associate, they can help you set up an account.
   
3. Explore Thrift Shops In Your Area: If you’re obsessed with shopping for clothes like me, then you know that buying new clothes all the time can get expensive. But, there is an alternative that isn’t as bad as Macklemore made it out to be, your local thrift shops. Consignment shops hold unique and interesting pieces for a much cheaper price than in department stores.
   
4. Go “Shopping” In Your Relatives’ Closets: If you have any older siblings, parents, or grandparents that have clothes your size or a similar fashion taste, then see if you can raid their closet. You can find great things that are actually vintage and that have some sentimental value.
   
5. Cut Back: If you use all of these suggestions and you are still spending too much money, then you may need to cut back on your spending. It may be no fun, but when you cut back to mostly necessities, you will save so much money.

I hope these tips help you save money and still enjoy your shopping experiences. If you have any other tips or you would like to comment on, then please post them below. Check back next week for tips on how to deal with stress while in school.