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<\/a>Paying for a cheeseburger in dimes and quarters is commonplace amongst college students. Some people blame the millennial generation\u2019s laziness for their money troubles, others blame it on the economy\u2014but while they argue semantics and shout at small children to get off their lawn, the average college student doesn\u2019t gain anything from their mutterings.<\/p>\n
Phones: Prepaid phones used to be subpar, but in the past years, many mainstream providers have jumped on board the contract free train. Contracts are tempting when they offer phones for free, but many two year plans give you less for more. Even worse, early termination fees often cost more than what the phone was worth. AT&T\u2019s Early Termination Fee for smartphones that require a data plan is $325. Even though they take off $10 for every full month a customer has paid, it\u2019s a pretty steep price to pay. Along with a device access charge and a monthly charge for data, you\u2019d be better off throwing your money into a furnace.<\/p>\n
Popular alternatives are Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile. Virgin Mobile is a cheap alternative with unlimited text and data. Although there are only 300 call minutes in the cheapest package, it\u2019s a perfect choice for people that prefer texting and web surfing. For someone that isn\u2019t willing to give up unlimited talk, Boost Mobile\u2019s cheapest plan is $40. Along with unlimited talk, text and web the plan also includes 500 mb of 3G data. Although buying a no-contract phone can be expensive, both providers often have sales that put nice smartphones at about $100.
\nTelevision: While Hulu and Netflix have become the two prominent figures for saving money with tv shows and movies, there are other often overlooked options for those that are tired of the content the big two have to offer.<\/p>\n
When Chromecast first came out, the channels it supported was minimal; but as the months have gone by its library is growing. The USB device is $35 and the setup is minimal\u2014install the app, verify your Chromecast, then run the program. Paying for only the programs you want is the best thing about Chromecast\u2014it even has HBO Go and PBS Kids.<\/p>\n
If Chromecast\u2019s limited amount of channels isn\u2019t to your liking, the more widely known streaming platform called Roku may be preferable. The cheapest model is the HDMI stick which costs $49. The price is higher, but it gives the viewer access to over a thousand channels. For those that want a little bit of everything, Roku is perfect.<\/p>\n
Computers: Some people are fine with still using floppy discs, but most college students need something with more than 4GB of RAM to keep their workflow smooth. Computer jargon aside, it\u2019s often better to pay for what you need rather than getting shiny extras, especially since the technology will be outdated in a couple of years.<\/p>\n
Photography and videography students often want an Apple product, but even the fanciest of Apple connoisseurs will admit that, for what you\u2019re getting, the prices are steep. Macmall.com offers laptops and computer peripherals at discounted prices. Although their prices vary, the steepest discount as of August is 21% off a 15\u2019\u2019 Macbook Pro. It may take some searching, but these prices are definitely better than paying the out of pocket list price.<\/p>\n
Users more comfortable with Windows can find plenty of deals online. Many brands such as HP and Lenovo offer student discounts, but there are often ways to get computers even cheaper. Assuming that a mid-range laptop is optimal for most college students\u2014computers for animation are a different beast entirely\u2014keeping prices on the low end is important without giving up functionality.<\/p>\n
Tigerdirect.com<\/a> and Newegg.com<\/a> both offer huge savings for everything that has to do with computers. It can take some searching, but some laptops like the Lenovo Thinkpad are 25 percent off. For a little bit of searching and a lot of savings, taking some time to buy a computer on the net is well worth the effort.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Quinn Wilson In Motion Staff Saving money doesn\u2019t have to cut out the finer things in life, but these innovative tips might upgrade your dimes and quarters to dollar bills. Paying for a cheeseburger in dimes and quarters is commonplace amongst college students. Some people blame the millennial generation\u2019s laziness Continue reading Byte By Byte: Techno Budget<\/span>