{"id":38974,"date":"2024-04-03T15:43:00","date_gmt":"2024-04-03T13:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.home4students.at\/?p=38974"},"modified":"2026-06-16T10:09:02","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T08:09:02","slug":"saving-money-while-in-college-smart-tips-and-tricks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.home4students.at\/en\/saving-money-while-in-college-smart-tips-and-tricks\/","title":{"rendered":"Saving Money while in College: smart tips and tricks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Our Money-Saving Tips for Students<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a student, it\u2019s not uncommon to be short on cash and have to watch every penny. Want to save money while you\u2019re in school without cutting back too much? We\u2019ve put together some practical money-saving tips for student life. You\u2019ll see: even with just a few small changes, you\u2019ll have more money left over for the things that really matter in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Budgeting for Students<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before we dive into our money-saving tips, here\u2019s a quick primer on budgeting. As a student, you may be responsible for your own finances for the first time in your life. To stay on top of things, we recommend keeping a budget book. That might sound old-fashioned, but there are now smart apps available for this purpose. Basically, the idea is to record all your income and expenses from the past month and categorize them\u2014for example, by subscriptions, groceries, clothing, etc. This way, you\u2019ll see where your money goes each month, how much is left over, and where there\u2019s potential to save.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to reduce your fixed costs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest ways to save money while in college is by managing your fixed costs. These are monthly expenses for rent, electricity, insurance, subscriptions, etc. All added up, they really add up. To help you avoid wasting money unnecessarily, we have a few useful tips for you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Banks and Insurance Companies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many banks offer students free account management and attractive discounts. You can also often get significantly lower rates on insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ORF Household License Fee<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since January 2024, the new ORF household license fee has been in effect in Austria, replacing the previous GIS fee. Unfortunately, this means that a general exemption from the ORF household fee for students is no longer possible. However, there is one important exception: anyone living in a student residence, such as the Home4students residences<\/a>, is automatically exempt from the ORF household fee. For many students, a spot in a residence hall can therefore mean not only affordable housing but also savings on ongoing living expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subscriptions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Whether it\u2019s music and video streaming, newspaper subscriptions, or Amazon Prime\u2014many providers offer particularly affordable rates for students. You can also save a lot of money with trial subscriptions or free trials. Also, make sure you\u2019re not paying for subscriptions you don\u2019t actually use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Internet and Cell Phone Service<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Looking for a good plan with plenty of data and fast speeds? Here, too, your student status works to your advantage. You can get special student plans for very little money. You can find the right offer for you on one of the many comparison websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip: When switching to another provider, you can keep your phone number for free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Electricity and Heating Costs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Are you paying too much for electricity and heating? Comparison websites can help you here, too. You can save even more by unplugging unused energy-guzzling appliances or turning up the heat only when necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rent<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you no longer live with your parents, rent probably makes up the largest portion of your fixed costs. This brings us to what is arguably the best money-saving tip for students: If you opt for a room in a shared apartment or a student dorm<\/a>, you can save quite a bit of money. Still looking for an affordable student dorm in Vienna<\/a>, Klagenfurt<\/a>, Innsbruck<\/a>, Graz<\/a>, or Salzburg<\/a>? At Home4Students, you\u2019ll find the perfect place to stay right near universities, universities of applied sciences, and other higher education institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tip: Heating, electricity, and utility costs are already included in the price. Free Wi-Fi is included as well. You don\u2019t have to lug furniture around either\u2014our rooms come fully furnished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to Save Money in Your Daily Life<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that we\u2019ve covered the big picture, it\u2019s time to fine-tune your strategy. We\u2019ve also got some great money-saving tips for your everyday life:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether it\u2019s electronics, furniture, or clothing<\/strong>\u2014you can find many items at lower prices on platforms like \u201cWillhaben\u201d or \u201cVinted.\u201d For new purchases, you can use price comparison sites like \u201cGeizhals\u201d or \u201cIdealo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to save on groceries<\/strong>, discount stores offer significantly more value for your money. You can also use apps like \u201cToo Good To Go\u201d to get surplus food at a discounted price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top tip:<\/strong> To save even more, it\u2019s a good idea to regularly look for student discounts<\/strong>. Whether it\u2019s a museum, movie theater, or bouldering gym: If you have your student ID with you, you can often take advantage of attractive discounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We hope we\u2019ve given you a few ideas on how to save money while in college. But don\u2019t be too hard on yourself! There\u2019s nothing wrong with treating yourself every now and then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve put together more useful tips for you on our blog:<\/p>\n\n\n\n