home / Tips & Tricks / #
Make That Student Aid Stretch the Whole Month
Student life = saving cents. Our Isabelle’s been there! Discover her tricks for making that financial aid last the whole month.
#Planning #Inspiration #Guides and Tips #Student
Being a student is usually a very special and very fun life stage. Exams, gallons of coffee, making lifelong buddies, and late night campus shenanigans oh, those were the days! Hi there, Im Isabelle, Digital Communicator here at Personal Planner. Its been a while now, but for three years I lived the high spirited, albeit slightly cash crunched, student life.
Most of studenthood is about clinging to every dollar, and that wallet can sometimes feel pretty slim. Three years = 36 months = quite a few moments of "oops." But hey, its also a time to master those financial life hacks and figure out the art of penny pinching.
So, heres my cheat sheet on how to make that student aid go the extra mile!
Keep Your Eyes on Those Bucks
Know Your Spending
First off, track those dollars! Dive deep into your expenses. You might think you know, but theres always that sneaky little something youre forgetting. Analyze those habits, and try to discover any hidden money pits.Need a budget template? Grab a free one right here!
A great way to track your spending habits is using our Budget Planner 2 themed page. Jot down every expense and by month-end, youll know where every buck went and how to plan better for next month.
Back in my day, I realized I was spending almost $30 on my fave snack every month! Who wouldve thought? Since that day, me and that snack, we went on a break.
Plan that Budget
Once youve sleuthed through your spending, lets talk budgeting. Use our Budget Planner 1 themed page to map out your month. Jot down those ins and outs.Its also a fab time to snip those unnecessary costs. Swap out that cafe latte for a homemade brew, or swap the bus ride for a bike cruise. Scribble it all down on a notebook (snag one here!), think it through, and voilà! By month end, youll notice the difference.
Check out our budget themed pages while customizing your planner, organizer, or Mixbook. Create your new BFF today!
For your organizer, weve also got all the budget themed pages as refillable sheets.
7 Nifty Tricks to Stretch Your Student Aid
- Student Discounts Rock Loads of cafés, diners, and events throw student discounts. Dont miss them - keep that student ID ready!
- Pack Your Lunch Find delicious and wallet friendly recipes and cook in batches. Daily lunches out are your wallets worst enemies! Use our handy Meal Planner themed page to plan the weeks menu.
- Plan, Plan, Plan Making that student aid last is all about planning ahead. Saves time, money, and last minute oh nos! Set time in your planner for weekly strategy sessions. Pro tip: Personalize your planner with fun custom stickers reminding you to plan, meal prep, or check budget.
- Secondhand = First Choice Good for the planet and good for your pocket. Scour thrift shops or social media groups for sweet deals.
- Need or Want? Whenever shopping, ask yourself this. Do I need this? Or just kinda want it? Reflect and resist those impulse buys.
- Check Fixed Expenses Those monthly subscriptions and memberships? They add up! List them, review them, and cut where you can.
- Secondhand Textbooks Quick student lesson: textbooks = pricey. The silver lining? A buzzing secondhand market. Check your unis bookstore or social groups. Borrowing from the library is great, but be quick to snag the book you need!
Lastly, no student life is complete without a planner to, well, plan! Wish I had the Student Planner during my study days. It comes packed with student friendly features and ample space for all your notes.
Wishing you scholars all the very best! Relish these moments; theyre truly one-of-a-kind.
//Isabelle
For more budgeting inspiration and tricks, check out this article on mastering your budget!
Our blog: Tips & Tricks
Plan with me - October 2024
Trick or treat? Or can we just pick pimping our planner instead? For sure! Join us in planning October!