Just Say No!

College budgets are tight and saving money seems impossible when you need gas, groceries, and you accidentally slam into someone's rear end only to find out your insurance can't cover it. Well, there's one solution that can make a tight budget college student earn $1000 in just one year. Yes ONE YEAR. But the catch is that no credit/debit cards can be used. Sure, the machines at publix, walmart, and target ask for cash back. But, the cash back is minimum $20. Some times, you'll get lucky and it'll offer $10. However, pulling $20 out of a college kids bank account is a lot. The only time I get $20 cash back is when I don't I have any cash on me.

$20 can pay for a few things like coffee, cheap lunch or dinner from Zaxby's or Wendy's, a case of ramen, the $5 movie bin at walmart, and of course a half a tank of gas. When a situation comes up where your total is under $20, you might feel lenient on using cash. This way you won't have $20 less in your account when it's time to pay rent or electricity. So, if your total is under $20 and it's around $14.50, then your change will be $5.50. Simple math right? Well the key making $1000 in a year is to save that $5 dollar bill you got back as change. Look at a $5 like it's expired money and it's no longer in currency. Once you get into the habit of this, it'll become natural to not spend $5 bills.

You're probably wondering if any of this is true. Well I was skeptic too. But my parents took up the habit after they heard about it from a friend. Now keep in mind, my parents ALWAYS have cash on them, so they pay with cash unless the total is over $20. In just 3 years my parents saved approximately $7000 in $5 bills. Amazing right?

I'm not a huge cash spender, since I mostly use my debit or credit card. But when I have cash, I always make sure to pocket fives. In 3 months I already have $75 saved. Granted, I am a coin collector. Because the country revolves around tax, coins will always be in circulation. I have over $20 saved in coins, but that's a whole different story.

Saving fives is a really great idea and a great habit for people and college kids to get into. With student loans, rent, mortgages, car payments, and so many other tedious expenses, new methods on saving money is always a bonus.