Finances

Budgeting Tips

  • Rent
    • If possible, find roommates.
    • Move somewhere at least $2,000 cheaper per year — anything less isn’t worth it.
  • Phone Bill
    • Switch to cheaper MVNOs like Mint Mobile or Visible.
    • You can save ~$650 per year with similar speeds.
  • Subscriptions
    • Cancel unnecessary services or switch to ad-supported tiers.
  • Food
    • Eat based on calories. Once you hit your daily target, stop eating.
    • Use a calorie app like MacroFactor.
    • Extra eating (500–1,000 calories) means spending extra money unnecessarily.
  • Shopping
    • Only buy items on sale.
    • Stop buying books—you read once and they collect dust. Use the library.
  • Extra Income
    • If you're wasting hours on social media, pick up DoorDash or another side job.
    • Even 1–2 hours per day compounds into major extra income.
  • Downsize
    • Sell unused items on Facebook Marketplace. You probably don’t need 20–50% of your stuff.
  • Investing
    • Avoid single stocks unless you know what you are doing.
    • Stick to index funds like QQQ, VOO, SPY.
    • Dollar-cost average weekly.

Financial Tips for College Students

  • Student Tax Credit
    • The American Opportunity Tax Credit gives you up to $2,500 per year.
    • Over four years, that’s nearly $10,000 many students miss.
  • Books
    • Rent textbooks or use Z-Library.
    • Do not buy textbooks at full price.
  • Classes
    • Only take classes required for your major.
    • Coursera courses usually do nothing for you—avoid unless necessary.
  • Paying Off Student Debt
    • Add 1–2 extra work hours per day plus more on weekends.
    • Use that money to pay unsubsidized loans (already accruing interest).
    • Doing this for four years can reduce your debt by ~$20,000.
  • Roommates
    • Maximize the number of roommates to reduce living costs.