How to save money as a student

Overspending is way too easy when you are a student. This is probably the first time you stay at your own home and have to pay for rent and bills. It is very difficult to have the  financial discipline that is required, when you have no real experience with finances. That does not mean that a solution cannot be found though. There are things that can be done to make things easier.

How to avoid overspending when you are a student:

Set up an emergency fund

Due to the fact that as a student you do not really know how to manage your finances; in all probability you will run out of money often enough in the beginning. Furthermore, even if you really try to live frugally as a student, unexpected things may occur from time to time and you may end up with little to no money at all without even realizing it. Setting up an emergency fund can come to your rescue in all the above cases. Decide on a specific amount of money to deposit in a bank account on a monthly basis and do your best not to forget. Do not withdraw money from that account, for any reason. If you are not able to deposit money one month, make up for it by depositing more money next month.

Create a budget

Another thing you can do as a student is to create a budget according to the money you have and the money you have to spend on a monthly basis. Once you create that budget, do your best to stick to it. Modifications are allowed every once in a while, but you need to always  follow the basic rules you have set for yourself.

Home entertainment

Going out with friends every night is a big temptation for a student. If you give in to that temptation, you will end up overspending without realizing it. While you should definitely go out with friends once a week, you should try to focus on home entertainment to reduce costs. You can invite friends at your home to watch movies, play board games and even cook together. You can experiment with new recipes using only the ingredients you have at home, or ask your friends to cook a meal themselves and bring it over. 

If you follow the above tips, the risk of overspending as a student will be significantly lower. Make a conscious effort to incorporate them in your daily life and you will not regret it.