Student budget: 5 ways to save money this season

Back-to-school season is fast approaching, and it’s the perfect time to start fresh. For you, this could mean returning to university to follow your passion, moving out for the first time, or even travelling to another country to study abroad.

No matter what your situation is, you can make the most of it by adopting a student life-inspired approach to saving money. We’re not suggesting that you live off of spicy noodles for an entire month (unless that’s your jam), but there are a number of simple ways that you can save effectively.

To help you get started, here are five easy ways to win at adulting — and even get a little something back at the same time.

Buy a monthly transit pass

Taking the bus or train every single day may not be something you consider a substantial cost. However, if you’re paying the full fare each time you tap in, it can add up. This season, why not save yourself some money and time by investing in an unlimited monthly pass? It’s also way cheaper than dealing with on-campus parking.

A TTC monthly pass costs $151.15, and if you’re a student, you can get it for $124.45.

Having a transit pass means you’ll be able to travel as much as you like seven days a week, and you won’t have to worry about topping up your card along the way. Most importantly, you’ll save precious dollars on each trip.

Seek out special offers

There are always special offers available for the taking. This could be BOGO deals on frozen yogurt at the grocery store, student discounts at the movies, or happy hour deals at your favourite restaurants.

Instead of letting these deals go to waste, get savvy when choosing where you shop and dine out. It can save you a lot of money in the long run, and it means you don’t have to sacrifice the things you love along the way.

There are always a bunch of free events happening in your city, and to find them, simply visit our Listed channel. Check out apps like foodora, Glance Pay, and Uber Eats, for food delivery and dining specials in Toronto.

Meal prep every week

In Canada right now, there are too many meal prep services to count. Yes, select services will go as far as chopping onions and garlic for you — but is it worth the money you’re spending? To avoid the costs that come with ordering from a service, you can get proactive and prepare your own meals for the week ahead of time.

This doesn’t have to cut into your weekend (unless you’re bored on Sunday) because you can easily do it on a Monday evening. Simply choose a dish, make a big helping of it, and sail through lunch/dinner for the rest of the week like a champion. To find some inspiration, simply search the hashtag #mealprep on Instagram.

Sell your pre-loved clothing

It’s easy to buy new pants one week, two dresses the next, and three pairs of sneakers the following week if they’re on sale. But ask yourself: do you really need these things?

Swap spending money on clothing and footwear for earning money by selling your pre-loved pieces. Poshmark, Depop, and letgo, give you the chance to sell the items you no longer wear that would otherwise collect dust in your closet. Say hello to some new side income!

Pay your bills through one app

Paying bills isn’t something that typically brings people joy⁠ — unless you’re using Paytm Canada. This app, which lets you manage all your bills in one place, makes paying phone, utility, rent, and food bills rewarding because you actually get something back at the same time.

You can earn rewards from brands we all love, like Uber (and Uber Eats), Sephora, Instacart, Esso, Starbucks, and more. For most students living on their own, Uber Eats and Instacart are a go-to, and Paytm lets you rack up your points to cash in on rewards. Paytm customers collect one Paytm point for every dollar spent, whether it’s paying a bill or purchasing a gift card. You can get 1,000 points today just for signing up. Plus, if you refer a friend, that’s another 5,000 points for you and your friend — this is basically a free $5 gift card as 5,000 points = $5.

Plus, Paytm now accept Visa credit cards for bill payments! That means you can pay your bills with a credit or debit card, a linked bank account, or Paytm Cash. FYI, the app is the only place in Canada that lets you pay your tuition with a credit card, and you can still collect points while you’re at it!

Simple changes can make the back-to-school season that much easier. Visit the Paytm website to learn more, or download the app today and start collecting points.