Finding student bargains

If your campus neighborhood is like most, bargains are advertised everywhere, including storefronts, free shopper newspapers, and flyers. Even the foyer windowsills of restaurants and taverns are stacked with discount coupons for students. Take advantage of these offers—if they really are good deals!

Discount stores

Take a good look around your campus commercial district. To a greater or lesser degree, it will contain some combination of used bookstores, mix-and-match computer parts shops, CD and DVD trade-in shops, secondhand clothing stores, consignment stores, dollar stores, and salon chains.

You won't have to look for deals—they'll find you. Expect to see discount flyers on your windshield or on your dorm's message boards. Coupon booklets are common, too, so watch for them in the mail. Some booklets are free, but you also can buy coupon booklets for $20 or $30 from specialty publishers.

Keeping your eyes open

Bargain-hunting ideas include:

• Carry your student identification card at all times. It may entitle you to unadvertised discounts.
• Look for sponsored promotional tables set up on any given day in the hallways of your student center—but be wary of credit card offers.
• Read the classifieds in your campus paper.
• Clip the food discount coupons in the community newspaper.
• Visit church sales and garage sales.
• Scan dormitory, library, and laundry room bulletin boards for additional low-price offers, and for students selling used items.
• Community Web sites often have used and new furniture for sale.

Click here for more tips on how to stretch your dollars.