Budget-Friendly Philly

Living off a limited income while juggling tons of different expenses? Welcome to grad school. Here, I outline a few money-saving tips for Philly students. 

At the most basic level…

Stock up on rewards cards. If you’re like me and frequent a specific grocery store, CVS, froyo place (hey, I’m right there with you!), etc., be sure to sign up for their rewards card in order to receive special deals and discounts. The CVS ExtraCare card can definitely save you some big bucks. 

Cut coffee costs. What grad student doesn’t love a good caffeine boost? Stores such as T.J. Maxx and Marshalls sell K-cups and coffee grounds for less (just check the expiration date before purchasing), and Trader Joes sells its own brand of coffee pods that, in my opinion, taste amazing. There’s no need to pay $2 for a cup of Keurig coffee when your cost could be much closer to 50 cents. 

Purchase subway tokens. When you purchase tokens to ride the subway, the cost ends up being less than the usual $2.25 you would have to pay in cash at the station. This requires a little bit of planning since not all subway stations have token machines, but it can help you cut transportation costs.

For those who still like to indulge a little…

Utilize your student ID! If you’re going to shop, don’t forget to bring along your student ID card—tons of stores in the Philadelphia area offer markdowns for students who present a valid ID. 

Fix your Uber app. A friend recently told me that in Philly, Uber defaults to the black car option rather than the less expensive Uber X. While I wish I had paid attention to this earlier, switching the settings on my app has made Uber rides much more affordable!

Fitness fanatics, keep an eye out for student deals. Again, here’s where using your student ID comes in handy. The Penn gym evens out to about a dollar a day for a year-long membership, though group exercises classes cost extra. Workout classes such as Flywheel offer monthly passes at a student discount, and this ends up being a great deal if you frequent the studio at least once a week. Finally, don't forget about freebie classes such as outdoor yoga (a fun activity for summer evenings!).