Now that school is back on for everyone, we’re always looking for ways to make life easier and more affordable. Here are some ways to save money for back to school.
Buy a bus pass
Getting around town can be tough, especially when you need to travel from far away. Ten post-secondary institutions in Metro Vancouver participate in TransLink’s U-Pass program, but if you don’t go to one of these schools, your best bet is to pick up a monthly bus pass.
Make your own lunch
Buying lunch every day will add up and leave your wallet emptying very quickly. Make and take your lunch instead and you’ll find yourself saving a ton every month!
Buy computer software online
No need to go into stores and buy your software when you can do it online! Like textbooks, buying software online not only guarantees you the lowest price but also that you’ll have the software instantly to use. Check out SoftwareKing.ca for discounts on products from Microsoft, Adobe and more.
Shop online
Back to school shopping is now easier than ever, especially for finding a deal. Shop online to find who has the best deal, and price match whenever you can!
Get books online / e-books
If you’re not into highlighting real pages and writing notes in margins, buy e-textbooks – it’s one of the cheapest ways of getting the textbooks you need.
Pro tip: Wait until the first class to see and ask friends if you’ll actually need the textbook. Sometimes it might say required but you’ll only need one chapter of a $150 textbook.
Know when to shop
Shop as early as possible. The longer you wait, the more expensive it’s going to get – it’s as simple as that!
Student discounts
While there’s back to school sales going on, there’s also other ways for students to get discounts. Search around for student discount cards, like the SPC, ISIC or Student Saver, where you can get discounts anytime.
Make a list and stick to it
Shopping for back to school can get distracting, especially when there’s so many cool supplies to choose from. Make a list and stick to it, even if you find some really cute new notebook.
Get next year’s supplies this fall
If you find a steal of a deal and you know you’ll need it next year, or next semester, buy more of it!
Contest
SoftwareKing.ca wants to celebrate back to school by giving away free software to some lucky readers! We’re giving away three prizes:
- Grand prize (1 winner): one full version of Adobe Creative Suite (value of $999) and one full version of Microsoft Office ($99 value)
- Second prizes (2 winners): one full version of Microsoft Office ($99 value)
To enter to win, do at least one of the following:
1. Retweet the following on Twitter: (1 entry)
- Win free software (Adobe CS and Microsoft Office) from @SoftwareKingCa via @VancityBuzz http://ow.ly/BErxr RT to enter!
2. Leave a comment below with your best back to school saving tip. (1 entry)
Contest ends September 25 at 11:59 p.m. Three winners will be drawn at random.
Feature image: Students via Shutterstock