By attending community college before transferring to an Ivy League university, you’re already saving yourself thousands.
Credit hours and room and board can add up, but so can rent, transportation, and other costs of living as an Ivy League transfer.
And we all know, pinching pennies can start to get downright depressing.
So, here are 8 ways to save money as an Ivy League transfer from community college — without frying your brain.
1. Consider your transportation
You probably drive the beat up car you got on your sixteenth birthday to and from community college — and that’s great. Even better, though, is using public transportation, which is free. If schedules and funny-smelling buses aren’t things you want to get acquainted with, ride a bike instead. Don’t have a bike? Find one on Craigslist for $50 or less! It’s an investment you’ll quickly find repaid, probably within a month, and something you can take with you when transferring to Ivy League universities from community college.
2. Cook for yourself
Most people coming out of high school don’t know their way around a kitchen. Transferring to an Ivy League university with a meal plan, that’s no problem. For community college students living at home or renting with friends, however, cooking at home rather than eating at restaurants or even fast food can save tons of money. Beginner-friendly foods include anything with rice or pasta, homemade pizza (dough can be found pre-made at most grocery stores), and anything you can throw into a slow-cooker or a microwave. If you're really desperate, a pasta-side or can of soup is as easy as it gets.
3. Stop shopping
This is easier said than done. But here’s how to take the sting out of it.
- Unsubscribe from store emails. You don’t need to know that American Apparel is having a sale. You don’t.
- Don’t go inside the stores. If you’re helping a friend shop, leave the wallet at home or in the car.
- Clear your internet history regularly of cookies so that your favorite online shops (and your credit card information) are less accessible.
- Budget. See number 6.
4. Shop better
I’ve mentioned Craigslist once already. That’s because no student should every buy much of anything new. I’ll say it again: don’t buy new.
- Buy anything for new housing as an Ivy League Transfer on Craigslist including futons, tables, etc.
- Check out Swap, which connects you to local events where you can swap your items for those of others.
- Ask stores, movie theaters, and every roof you step under if they offer student discounts.
5. Buy used (and sell back)
Craigslist is also great for selling your unwanted items, even if they’re not in the greatest shape. You can also sell back textbooks through eBay, Amazon, Neebo, BookRenter, College Book Renter,and Chegg.
Also, your campus bookstore will sometimes buy back your textbooks for cash. It's the same system that you use at community college before transferring to Ivy League.
6. Try using Mint
If you really want to see where your money is going, check out Mint on your computer or mobile. It safely and securely links your credit cards, debit cards, and bank accounts to one location, where it neatly shows you in graph and numerical form on what you’re spending your money. You might not want to include the difference in community college tuition and Ivy League transfer tuition fees. Seeing a pie chart tell you that you’re spending as much on entertainment as you are on groceries is a sure-fire wakeup call that’ll get you minding your money a little better. You can also personalize a budget to fit your needs, and Mint will send notifications to your email or mobile when you exceed your limits. It’s like having a miniature dad in your wallet.
7. Rent right
Knowing you're going to be an Ivy League transfer, it may be liberating to get out of the house early and rent your own apartment (and have some peace and quiet, for a change), but you’ll find that roommates not only make the rent cheaper, they can pitch in with groceries for group dinners, too. You can also pool in a couple dollars a month to use Netflix—which costs under the same as a single movie ticket for innumerous TV shows and movies. Internet service can also be split up into cheaper bits in addition to a slew of things you’ll discover when you rent with clean, friendly roommates.
8. Winterize your home
However if you are living at home like most community college students before they transfer to Ivy League, don’t be cheated out of your money by numbers on a thermostat. You can make simple changes to your lifestyle and home to keep warm air in and cold air out in the winter and the reverse in the summer.
- Make draft snakes (they go under doors to prevent drafts) out of an unwanted necktie or a rolled up towel.
- Caulk and weatherstrip leaks by windows. If you don’t know how, offer a friend dinner to help you, or convince Mom or Dad to do it for free.
- Insulate your hot water pipes by buying pre-cut pipe foam at the hardware store. This decreases the chances of the pipes freezing in the winter and keeps the energy you spend on heating water doesn’t get wasted.
There are countless ways to save money as an Ivy League transfer student from community college. You just have to get creative!
Can you think of some more ways to save money for Ivy League transfers?
Let me know the comments below!
Ivy League Transfer Resources
Saving money while transferring to Ivy League is one thing, but you have to make sure that you get accepted into an Ivy League university from community college.
Click here to learn how to be a successful Ivy League transfer >
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About The Author
Carlina Yepinski is the primary researcher and writer for networkmonitoring.org. Her most recent accomplishments includes graduating from Kentucky State with a degree in communications and computer science. Her current focus for the site involves server monitoring tools.
