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Discount Clubs
Many local businesses offer special discounts just to students at neighborhood colleges, so make sure to carry your student ID at all times. A lot of national and online discount clubs and cards are only available to students. These clubs are often the best places to look for deals on food, clothing and entertainment.
1. Edhance
Edhance offers an unusual twist on the student discount club. Rather than take discounts off the top of purchases, members who have registered their credit or debit cards receive cash back when shopping with Edhance partners. Registration is free, and is only open to students with proof of enrollment. They partner with tons of popular retailers - you can use Edhance to get cash back on your art supplies from Utrecht, your dorm decor from Target, your shoes from Puma, and so much more.
2. Student Advantage
This popular program has really cornered the market on student discount cards. They charge a small annual fee, but they partner with an unparalleled range of popular vendors and services, from Amtrak to Urban Outfitters to Drugstore.com to Barnes and Noble and many, many more.
3. Student Bistro
The Student Bistro is a site that compiles lists of student discounts that don't require buying a special card. They categorize things with the college student in mind and offer forums where users can share their own discoveries.
4. Student Savings Club
The Student Savings Club is a service offered for free in partnership with schools to help you find student discounts in your area. They also offer a few online deals with national retailers.
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Computer Software and Hardware
Computers represent a huge expense for most students. First you need the hardware - depending on your courses, that might mean a laptop, printer, scanner, web cam and more. Then you need the software. While many popular programs are available for free, some of the most essential apps for students - such as word processors like Microsoft Office - can really set you back. Check out the following sites for hot deals on some very cool technology.
5. Academic Superstore
This student discount mega-store focuses mostly on computer software and applications, but they also offer deals on computer hardware like web cams and Wacom tablets, A/V equipment, books, DVDs and backpacks.
6. Apple Store for Education
The best place for Mac computers, software and accessories is right at the source. The Apple store offers big discounts for students and educators on everything you need for that new MacBook, iPod or iPhone.
7. Campus Tech
Run on the same engine as Journey Ed, Campus Tech is another discount source for all your educational hardware and software needs. One thing that sets this site apart is that they also offer discounts to non-profit organizations.
8. Gradware
Gradware also offers a range of software, hardware and tech accessories. They've got the most useful niche applications and the most popular software packages, as well as technology training guides, A/V equipment and laptop bags and backpacks.
9. StudentDiscounts.com
With proof of current enrollment, this site offers big student discounts on everything from Microsoft Windows to SPSS.
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Travel
Travel is another common expense for students. Whether you're headed home for the holidays or off to Cancun for spring break, transportation costs can really add up. The following sites can help you get there for less.
10. Adventure Student Travel
Planning a senior class trip? Trying to find some educational tourist opportunities? Adventure Student Travel offers special tours, student cruises, group discounts and other student-oriented organized travel activities.
11. Smarter Travel
Smarter Travel's student section is more than just a bargain fare finder, it's a compendium of 'information and inspiration' for student travel planning. And, of course, it still offers a discount fare search.
12. STA Travel
Like Travelocity for students, this site focuses on finding you the lowest airfare, cheapest hostels, best rail pass prices and more. They also offer great tips for common student travel needs, from studying abroad to spring break.
13. Student Travel Services
STS is your student travel agent. They'll help you plan your spring break getaway, find the cheapest vacation package or just hook you up with the oh-so-essential party pass at your tropical destination.
14. Student Universe
Student Universe is another site that offers student-only discounts on hotels, airfare, rental cars and more. They also have a forum where students can share travel tips and read guides on popular destinations.
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Books
Textbooks may not be as exciting as spring break, but they represent a significant, unavoidable expense for students. Most school bookstores stock their shelves with used books at a slightly lower price than new books, but you can almost always find a better deal online. Just make sure to get your reading list and order your books early - nothing's more stressful than not being ready for class because your book's still in the mail.
15. All Bookstores
All Bookstores offers an aggregated textbook search that allows you to compare prices from over three dozen online bookstores. They sort your results by condition (used or new) and availability and can even incorporate hidden costs like shipping and sales tax into their price comparison.
16. Amazon
Whether through their own warehouse or the hundreds of resellers who use Amazon, you can find almost any textbook for cheap with this online retail giant.
17. eCampus
This venerable student site is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year. They still have some of the best online deals in new and used textbooks, and have since added e-books and textbook rental. They also offer cheap school supplies and college apparel.
18. Half.com
Now owned by eBay, Half.com still offers some of the best textbook deals available online. Don't want to shell out $150 for that chemistry book? You might find it for $50 on Half.com. They even allow you to sell your books online when you're done with them.
19. Valore Books
Valore promotes itself as the premier online marketplace for students to buy and sell cheap textbooks. Unlike Half.com, you don't have to hassle with selling your old books directly to new customers. Valore offers an online textbook direct buyback program that's a lot like the one at your school's bookstore.
