If you’re a student pursuing FI, you know how important saving money is. And you definitely don’t want to miss out on the savings that student discounts can provide you. Many businesses offer varying reductions in price, with some even offering freebies!
Sometimes small discounts don’t seem worth it, but they can add up fast and keep your budget on track. From food to technology, here is our list of some of our favorite student discounts.
Student Discount Platforms
Student discount platforms, like UNiDAYS and Student Beans, are one of the best places to find new and exclusive student discounts. Both websites require a .edu email to verify your student status, so be sure to register with your school-assigned email address. Once you do, you can start claiming your discounts.
UNiDAYS advertises discounts on student favorites like:
- Levi’s
- GoPro
- Seamless
- Journey’s
- MAC Cosmetics
- PacSun
- Under Armour
Student Beans can help you save on:
- Home Chef
- Graze
- Zipcar
- EyeBuyDirect
- Fender
When searching online for student discounts, you may be asked to log in with a student discount platform account. This can save you a lot of time waiting to have your student status verified through each individual company.
Subscription Services
Amazon Prime Student
Amazon Prime gives student subscribers access to some exciting features including free shipping, exclusive discounts, access to Prime Video, and free product sampling. After a six-week free trial, Prime Student will cost $6.49 per month. If you pay in full for the year, it will only cost you $59.00. That’s an extra discount of $18.88!
Spotify + Hulu + Showtime
Spotify has teamed up with Hulu to be the premier source of streaming entertainment for students. For $4.99 a month, students will receive access to Spotify Premium, Hulu, and Showtime. That’s savings of up to $21.98 a month, or over $250.00 a year.
Audible
If your eyes are tired from studying, but you still want to escape into your favorite books, Audible is for you. For $9.95 a month, Audible will give students access to one audiobook and two Audible originals. New student subscribers receive $10.00 in Amazon credit.
If you are already a subscriber, switching to a student account will save you $60.00 a year.
The New York Times
If finding ways to stay up-to-date is important to you, you may want to consider the New York Times. The New York Times offers students their most basic subscription, which includes unlimited access to NYTimes.com, as well as their app, for just $1.00 a week.
If you like to see information in print, you can subscribe to print newspaper delivery for $5.00 a week while still retaining full digital access.
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal offers students a fifteen-week digital, or digital and print subscription for just $1.00. By subscribing to the Wall Street Journal, students can keep themselves informed on current events and access informative podcasts.
After the fifteen weeks, students can expect to pay $9.99 plus tax per month in order to continue their subscription.
You Need A Budget (YNAB)
You Need A Budget, or YNAB, is a personal finance software that helps you learn how to prioritize and control your money. A favorite of many, YNAB can help keep students’ spending habits in line and help to save for their future. The best part about signing up for YNAB as a student? It is free for a full year!
After the free year, students will receive a 10% discount off of YNAB’s Annual Plan, which costs $84.00 per year.
Check out our full review of YNAB here.
Apple Music
Apple Music is a subscription music streaming service that is supported on both Apple devices and Android phones. After a three-month free trial, Apple Music comes in at $4.99 for students, or $9.99 for a non-student subscriber. With Apple Music, subscribers can discover new music, listen to their favorite music, and even watch music videos.
Food
Whole Foods
If you are a student who is already shopping at Whole Foods, consider switching your shopping day. Why? Because Whole Foods offers all students 10% off their haul, with a valid student ID, on Tuesdays only.
GrubHub
If your dining hall isn’t known for having the best food, or you are living at home, delivery services like GrubHub can help you save precious time between classes. Through UNiDAYS, you can save $15.00 per order on two different orders of $20.00 or more on GrubHub.
HelloFresh
If you are a college student who is lucky enough to have a kitchen, but can’t sacrifice too much time spent away from studying, HelloFresh has the hookup. If you have a UNiDAYS account, their 15% discount, and free shipping, off of every box, will have you cooking up fresh food in no time.
Related: How To Start Grocery Shopping Online
Shopping
H&M
Chances are all of us have at least one article of clothing from H&M and if you are student, it might be time to start buying more. Verified through UNiDAYS, H&M offers students a 15% discount.
Adidas
Whether you are a student athlete in search of new running shoes, or just someone who loves wearing comfortable sandals around campus, Adidas is ready to save you some money. With not only a 15% discount but free shipping, students can keep a little more of their money in their pockets.
Express
Express is a great place for those back-to-school wardrobe staples. With a 15% discount for students who have a UNiDAYS account, Express will have you walking the halls in style.
Forever21
A favorite among many, Forever21 offers 15% off for students. In order to receive the discount, you must make an account with Student Beans, a website that unlocks discounts to students after verification of student status.
New Balance
New Balance sells shoes for just about any sport, as well as athletic apparel. If you are a college athlete, don’t forget about their student discount. While their prices might not fit in to every college student’s budget, their 15% discount through UNiDAYS can help.
Goodwill
Most Goodwill‘s are happy to support students, but you will have to check with your regional or local Goodwill. Many stores offer up discounts, usually from 10-20%, on certain days of the week. With an ever-changing inventory, you are sure to find something unique.
Related: Best Cash Back Card For Everyday Spending
Entertainment
Regal Cinemas
Regal Cinemas doesn’t always provide discounts, but they make it easy to find the locations that do. By visiting their dedicated list of Regal Student Pricing Locations, you can check to see if your local cinema will make seeing the latest movies a little more wallet-friendly.
Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster is one of the biggest online box offices and sells tickets to everything from sporting events to concerts to comedy shows. While not all tickets qualify for a student discount, you should always check their “ticket type” drop-down menu for the option.
Ticketmaster suggests that if you don’t see a student discount listed, you should call the venue directly to see if there are any savings that they can provide you directly.
Universal Studios Hollywood
If you are a college student in California, or finds yourself in California, remember to check if your school is on the list of schools that partner with Universal Studios Hollywood. If your school qualifies, all you have to do is click on the link and browse all available student promotions.
After verifying student status through a .edu email address, you will be on your way to riding roller coasters and exploring the Wizarding World.
Travel
Greyhound
If you attend school away from home, or just have some free time to travel, Greyhound offers 10% off bus fares for students. In order to get the discount, you must sign up for their Student Advantage Membership card, which costs $30.00. While the cost of the membership might offset the savings, if you plan to travel by bus often, it might be worth it.
In addition to the discount offered for Greyhound, the Student Advantage Membership can help you save on hotels, dining, entertainment, and more.
Hotels.com
Hotels.com is one of the biggest online hotel booking websites, and makes it easy to book accommodations. With access to hotels all over the U.S. and beyond, their 10% student discount could help take the financial edge off of your next spring break.
Student Universe
Student Universe is an air travel booking website designed for students. With cheap flights, hotels, and tours, you can begin planning your next great adventure. With flights all over the world, Student Universe claims to have saved students over two million dollars last year alone.
CheapOair
CheapOair is a great place to book flights on a budget, and even offers special fares for students. Whether you are jetting off to London or your family reunion out West, CheapOair can help you find the best student rates.
ISIC Card
The International Student Identity Card, or ISIC, is a favorite among those students who travel internationally. A globally recognized student ID card, the ISIC gives you access to discounts all over the world. From 10% off a cereal cafe in Colombia to 10% off an escape room in Austria, your student status will have you saving all over the world.
Related: Best Credit Card To Book Flights–Maximize Your Travel Rewards
Technology
Apple
Apple is a favorite among many of those headed off to college and after seeing their student discounts, it is easy to see why. Currently, with Apple’s “education pricing,” you can save up to $200.00 on Macs, receive free Beats headphones, and 20% off AppleCare+.
If iPads are more your thing, expect to save up to $50.00, get a free pair of Beats headphones, and enjoy the savings on some Apple accessories.
Microsoft
Microsoft offers up to a 10% discount to students and has a large lineup of computers, gaming consoles, and software to help you during college. It is a great option for those who are not Apple fans, but want a powerful computer.
Best Buy
Best Buy is a one-stop shop for almost any brand or type of technology a student might want. Their Student Deals program is a great way to save some money on anything from a new laptop to a Magic Bullet. After signing up for a Best Buy account, you can sign up for student deals, and you will immediately start receiving exclusive student deals.
Evernote
If you need help keeping track of your lecture notes, Evernote can help. Evernote is a great way to record information, organize it, and carry it with you wherever you go. Students who sign up through their student discount promotion can save 50% off of a year of Evernote.
Adobe
Adobecan be hard to fit in to a college student’s budget. For those who take creative paths, it is hard to avoid paying the price for a commonly required software. Adobe understands the struggle and has created some great savings for students through their Creative Cloud.
If you decide to get their full package, which includes Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and over twenty other apps, your bank account will be set back only $19.99 a month. When a similar plan for non-students goes for $52.99 a month, it is hard to not take that 60% savings.
GitHub
GitHub is a platform where you can learn by building your own software and developing code. Luckily for those interested in this technology, GitHub has developed a Student Developer Pack that is free for students. To receive access to the Student Developer Pack, you must first go through an application process, which asks for proof of academic status and must be reviewed by a member for the GitHub team.
Insurance and Finance
GEICO
GEICO is one of many insurance companies that offer up discounts for students. With GEICO’s competitive rates, they claim that students can save up to $200.00 on their insurance policy. The Good Student Discount is available for students who keep a “B” average or better. If you are part of a fraternity, sorority, or honor society, you could even receive a member discount.
Allstate
Allstate’s Smart Student Discount is available to students under twenty-five years old, who are unmarried, and meet at least one of these requirements:
- Attend college full-time and receive good grades
- Have completed the teenSMART driver’s education course
- Go to school 100 miles or further from where they store their car
Final Thoughts
Many college students are not taking advantage of available savings, even on services they already use, simply because they don’t know about them. If you’re unsure if a company offers a discount, ask them. You might find even more ways to save money!
Many local businesses and franchisees offer discounts to students at their specific locations. You can even check with your school to see if they have a list of partner companies that offer student discounts.
Using a combination of these available discounts will help you save on your way to FI.
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