Bringing your lunch… and other good ideas for cutting your spending.

If you stop to think, you can probably come up with a long list of things you can do to reduce your spending even just a little.

We thought we’d recommend a few cost-cutting measures that have proven to work for students over the years. Often, these recommendations fall into the categories of housing, food and fun.

• Live with roommate(s) – more >
• Shop with a list and buy only what’s on the list
• Bring your own lunch, coffee, beverages and snacks to school
• Eat at “cheap” places when dining out
• Have only one phone (do you need a cell phone and a land line?)
• Avoid costly phone features and services you don’t need
• Have “free fun”
• Rent/share DVDs
• Dress for less! Shop at discount stores
• Clip and use coupons, but only on things you need
• Don’t buy a new car, stick with the car you have
• Carpool, use public transit, ride a bike, walk!
• Beware of impulse shopping and buying for convenience

Got any other ideas?

You may not believe it now, but every little bit helps. Bringing a soda from home instead of buying one at school? Those savings can add up. Same with making your own coffee and riding your bike instead of driving. Don’t undo what you saved on housing by forgetting the small stuff. It all adds up.