Student Loan Dodgers

Small amounts of money add up fast. Don’t make the mistake of dismissing the opportunity to save a little bit. Here are a few ideas to help you pinch your pennies a bit harder.

Don’t take your loose change for granted! Most people end up with a jar or container in which they store their loose change. As time goes on, the nickels dimes and quarters can really add up. If you don’t believe it, set up your own change jar. Over the course of a school year, add your change to it each night. At the end of the year, roll your change and take it back to your bank or credit union. You’ll be surprised what your “pocket change” has amounted to.

If you don’t pay for your purchases with cash, the experiment won’t mean much to you, but if you regularly use cash, your pennies will turn into dollars before your eyes. Don’t take your coins to one of those coin machines you see in the grocery store. It’s relatively easy to roll your change by hand, and it’s all yours! Don’t waste it on a “service” you can perform yourself for free.

Likewise, if you live in a state that has a bottle deposit law, return your bottles regularly. You’ll benefit from the extra space and you’ll have some extra cash in your pocket. As long as we’re talking about bottles, if you regularly drink soda, buy a two-liter bottle of your favorite soda and pour out of that. You can get a two-liter bottle for about the same cost as a 20 oz bottle in a convenience store or vending machine. You’ll get three times as much soda for the same price. Better yet, make Kool-Aid. You’ll get twice as much drink for about the same cost as a two-liter bottle of soda, and you won’t generate junk for the landfill. Better still, drink tap water.

If you shop at a supermarket, clip coupons and take advantage of whatever special offers you can. Keep track of the money you save with the coupons and transfer it into your savings account every month.

By themselves, small amounts aren’t much, but put them together and they’ll add up to big savings. Get into the habit of looking for ways to save money. Even if you save only five percent of what you would have spent, it’s your five percent!