It’s that time of year when we all have to pay our tuition and wonder where all the money that we saved up so hard for has gone. It really can be a struggle being a student, so here are 12 money-saving tips you maybe don’t know about that can help you get through your time at the college with a little more money in your pocket.
Read on to find out about free movies, cheap food, free laptop loans and more.
1. Free laptop rentals
You can sign up for a free laptop with the Camosun library. It’s just a rental for one semester at a time, but it’s a great way of saving some initial money when starting your studies or if you are just struggling with your financial situation. The laptops go pretty quick, so you should apply four to six weeks prior to the beginning of a semester. You can find the application form at camosun.libwizard.com/f/laptops.
2. Free mobile hotspots/phones
If only I had known… this can save a student a monthly phone bill, which can easily be $70 or more. The mobile hotspots are actually smartphones with a data plan. This means you get a free phone for the term. For everyone who has no phone plan, or has broken their phone, this is the opportunity to save some bucks. You have to apply for the phone/mobile hotspot with the Camosun library, and resources are limited, but, still, they are there. There are some nitty gritty details with it, like you will have to pay $40 if you break the phone, but nothing to really worry about. As of press time, this was only confirmed as being offered until the end of April, but the program may continue after that; keep an eye on camosun.ca/services/library for info.
3. Free noise-cancelling headphones
These come as a four-hour rental directly from the library desk and are quite helpful if you need to have a minute to yourself from all the college buzz out there in between classes. Some of them also have a mic, which is handy as many of us still have to deal with online classes and meetups.
4. Free LinkedIn Learning account
A lot of students know Udemy, an online learning platform that some colleges and universities offer for free. Camosun doesn’t, but students get access to the LinkedIn Learning (formerly known as lynda.com) platform for free, which is similar to udemy (sometimes even with the same professors you’d find on udemy). So go have a look, because this is an incredible resource. You can find instructions at camosun.libguides.com/lynda.
5. Borrow textbook reserves for a longer period
So here’s the trick: textbook reserves from the library are usually only available for a 24- or 72-hour loan. After that it costs you $1 an hour for a late return. But if you want to get ahead of things, you can actually borrow those books right before a break (let’s say reading break or between semesters) and you can keep them for that whole break. It’s a great way to save some bucks and get your reading in before your classes start.
6. edx.org
This platform offers free certificates from courses that are taught online and are designed by well-known universities like Harvard and Berkeley. Absolutely worth a shot if you want to boost your resume. These free courses won’t give you any credits at post-secondary institutions but surely will be helpful when standing out for a job you really want once you finish school.
7. Free library card from the Greater Victoria Public Library
This is pretty common knowledge, but it deserves to be repeated, as no student should be without a public library card. Not only will this open the library’s world of books to you, but they also have streaming services available for movies and audio books. And here’s what people don’t always know: the library usually has a free access card—which is currently suspended due to COVID—that grants you and some family members free admission to places like the Royal BC Museum, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Craigdarroch Castle, the Victoria Butterfly Gardens and other attractions within the Greater Victoria area, as well as Saanich Recreation Centres. The library couldn’t confirm a date for when this program will resume, but get your library card and be ready for it once it does. Head to gvpl.ca for more info.
8. Free Amazon Prime for students
We all know about the downsides of Amazon, so why not get six months of free Prime service with this program? Use it for the free shipping, streaming, and music, then you can quit the service one day before the six-month trial period ends and go back to supporting local businesses.
9. Free Microsoft Office 365
All Camosun students get Microsoft Office 365 for free. Get your Office skills going right now for your future workplace.
10. Reduced ski passes
Mount Washington, Whistler Blackcomb, and other ski resorts offer student-discount tickets. You’ll need your student ID and proof of full-time enrolment to access these tickets, but then you can get a daily ski pass for Mount Washington for $84 (for a weekday), which is $15 less than the regular price, so you can buy some lunch instead. See mountwashington.ca for details. Getting the Whistler pass is a little more complicated, but you can find all the info at whistlerblackcomb.com. Can’t afford a car to go there? No worries, there is a bus on the weekends from Victoria to Mt. Washington for $50 return. Nothing’s gonna stop you!
11. Get a free massage
The massage clinics at Camosun offer the first massage for free for students. After that, students only pay $10 for 75 minutes of massage therapy. I tried it myself and I found it fantastic. Not only that, you help someone else learn their profession (although it seems to me that they are already really good at what they are doing). I can’t wait for my next appointment. You can book at camosun.ca.
12. Food banks
Camosun students can access a food bank run by the Camosun College Student Society that offers mostly dry/canned food and bread; see camosunstudent.org for more info. And there are more organizations that help out with food in Victoria, such as the Victoria Community Fridge in Rock Bay, the Mustard Seed, the Oaklands Community Centre, and the Red Cedar Cafe downtown. Also, grocery stores like Pepper’s Foods (in Cadboro Bay) and Bulk Barn (locations downtown and in Westshore) give you a 10-percent discount on your shopping if you present your student ID.