One word that is most commonly associated with college is money. College requires payment to cover the costs of almost every aspect of a student’s time on campus, from the room and board, textbooks, and meal plans to the miscellaneous expenses you find yourself having throughout the year. Stevens is known for its high expenses, just like most private universities; however, there are a few tips that can help students cut corners and lower the spending costs throughout their years at Stevens. Here are just a few.
Do not buy new textbooks
Though this may be unavoidable in some cases, it is no secret that many people will tell students to avoid purchasing brand new books for classes every semester. Finding upperclassmen who took the same classes prior to you is always the go-to route for many students to get their hands on used copies of textbooks. Another way to get second-hand resources would be through the Stevens bookstore in the Howe Center. Here you are able to buy used textbooks or rent and return the resources by a certain date. The bookstore will even buy your textbooks back, or you can simply sell the books to your friends to make some money in return. Also, always look for online textbooks. Here you can find most resources at a cheaper cost, or even possibly free, to download straight to your electronic devices. When asked to buy homework programs such as WebAssign, make sure to check with upperclassmen if your future classes use the same programs, since you can usually buy multiple semesters of access at once for a lower price than buying each individually.
Earn money while at school
Getting a part-time job can come in handy, whether it be on or off campus. Hoboken and the Jersey City areas are filled with employment opportunities, literally, on every corner. Walking down Washington Street can be a quick way to find those businesses thirsty to employ a college student; furthermore, getting a job on campus is not uncommon either. Check out the Job Portal on the Stevens website to find on-campus opportunities that can fit with your schedule (google “Stevens student employment office”, then on that page click the link that says “Workday for external applicants”). This is highly recommended if you were given work study aid at the beginning of the year. Check your FASFA if you are eligible for work study. This money can go towards tuition and is guaranteed money from the government. Even if you did not qualify for work study, there are plenty of options for on-campus employment, and those jobs will be very understanding of your hectic college schedule.
Check out your meal plan
This tip, unfortunately, cannot resonate with freshmen and mandatory platinum meal plans. Keep tabs on how often you find yourself at the dining hall or doing meal exchanges every week. In some cases, it is better to have no meal plan at all — just use your own money when you find yourself at one of the dining halls. However, if you do have a meal plan, make sure to use it and avoid spending your money on food outside. If you do like eating food outside of campus once in awhile, use the restaurants that accept DuckBills! The basic idea is if you do not use it, lose it.
Keep updated with technology
Though this seems like a ridiculous statement considering this is a technology school, you would be surprised at the amazing deals you can get through the internet. Plenty of applications provide discounts. One popular app is known as UniDays, a website that gives students instant and free access to discounts from technology, fashion, and restaurants. Make sure to also get on board with the student deals through Amazon Prime, Apple Music, and Spotify (it comes with Hulu and Showtime!). Music is a great way to destress throughout your time at college, so using a music streaming device is highly recommended. Amazon Prime will always come in handy, especially for those last-minute items you forgot to bring with you to campus. Another recommendation would be to use applications such as Facebook, NextDoor, or LetGo during your time at Stevens. These websites are easy ways to snag furniture for your living situation, technology, and even clothes for little to no cost. Plus, if you like attending concerts or plays in the area, keep tabs on what is going on with the Entertainment Committee. They are a great resource to get tickets to your favorite artists for a very low price. Transportation is usually included with the cost, so that is a plus. This is also a great way to use your DuckBills.
Track your spending and how you spend
This is pretty much essential to any college student. Use applications such as Digit, Google Sheets, or Notes to keep an eye on how you maintain your spending. It is super helpful to keep tabs of your physical cash and Venmo balance. This can also generate an idea of where you can cut some spending to save a little more in your pocket. Create a section for your savings and goals if you like to travel and go to events not provided through the Entertainment Committee. It is also important to save some percentage of your income towards your savings or an emergency fund. This will save your life. Also, when choosing to splurge your money on necessary items, it might be best to purchase the higher quality item. This will most likely save you money in the long run. Less wear and tear means less repair.
Use public transportation
This tip is more for those who find themselves going into the city or wandering around Hoboken during the year. Uber or Lyft can sometimes be cheap, but in the end it always adds up. Based on experiences I’ve heard about from other students, never Uber into the city — it will never be worth it. Instead, take the 126 bus from Washington Street to get to Port Authority Bus Terminal, or the PATH Train to get to multiple locations in Manhattan. Finally, walking is totally doable for basically all of Hoboken; you can even use the new Lime scooters scattered around our city for a quick lift, or better yet invest in a bike!
There are so many ways for you to cut costs while spending your time here at Stevens, but these are just a few tips to get you started on the right foot. Enjoy your time here while you can, just make sure to spend that money wisely! Let us know if you have any more nifty tricks for us broke students!
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