There's no doubting it; college is expensive. For most students, the cost is worthwhile because of the earning potential that exists on the other side, but what about the here and now? Did you know being a college student could get you all kinds of discounts? Here are three excellent places to save with your college ID.
1.) Save big on Amazon Prime
Amazon offers a specialized Amazon Prime discount that's just for college students. For
those unfamiliar, Amazon Prime is a membership program that offers free shipping on most products sold on Amazon. Just by providing them with an .edu email address, you get 50% off a yearly Prime subscription. Since you can share Prime with up to four other people, you could split the cost with roommates or family to get the cost even lower.
Amazon Prime also includes its own music streaming service (so you can stop paying for Spotify), its own online video service (goodbye Netflix), and even some free before-market e-books! With that range of services, plus free shipping, Amazon Prime for students might be your budget's best friend.
2.) Trim the travel costs
Visiting home, going on spring break trips and traveling to potential employers can really eat through your budget. Fortunately, there are several programs designed just for college students that can help you out. The Student Advantage, ISIC and ISE cards can all help keep the costs down at least a little bit.
The Student Advantage is the highlight for domestic travelers. These cards costs $22.50 and require verification of enrollment. In return, you get a 10% discount on Amtrak, a 20% discount on Greyhound and discounts on some hotel bookings. These are far from luxurious ways to travel, but the prices can't be beat!
3.) Save on software
Colleges tend to be all about sharing (or software piracy, depending on your perspective). Major publishers, recognizing this trend, have gone on the offensive by offering discounted versions of their signature products to college students at phenomenal discounts.
You can find Microsoft's Office Suite or new versions of Windows for a fraction of retail prices. Adobe's Creative Cloud software (which includes Photoshop) can be had for up to 60% off the retail price. Norton offers a seriously reduced fee for antivirus software and computer security, too. These are programs you'll need anyway, and with a student email address, you can get them at a price you can afford.
Sources:
https://www.isecard.com/5_1.php
https://www.myisic.com/isic-card/
https://www.studentadvantage.com/enrollment/?promoCode=SAMHOME02
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/60-awesome-student-discounts-on-clothes-tech-travel-and-more/
