Getting your college degree can give you knowledge, but because of the time commitment required, your finances may suffer if you do not budget carefully. Whether it’s tuition, books, or class fees, the costs can add up quickly, and you may find yourself with a mountain of debt after you finish. However, there are still a few ways you can build a stronger financial foundation as you earn your degree.

Work on Your Credit Score

Having a high credit score will show potential lenders that you can handle your money, making it more likely you will be able to buy a car or rent a space of your own. Young people often have not had a lot of time to build their credit scores, so there are a few things you can do to boost it. If you have never gotten a credit card before, this could be an excellent time to get one. You can read a guide with more information on how to pick the right one for you.

Earn Some Income

Even though going to college is often a full-time job, getting some part-time work can help you build your savings or pay for the essentials. It can also give you important experience that you might not get if you were to focus only on your studies, and this experience can help you gain real-world job skills like time management. It is usually recommended to work 20 hours or less per week if you are already a full-time student, so you do not experience burnout or see a drop in your grades.

Look for Student Discounts

Getting a student discount can help you save money in other areas. You can get discounted car insurance, streaming subscriptions, or gym memberships from many major companies. But don’t limit your search to only the brands you’ve heard of. Smaller businesses in your college town may offer student discounts as well. Even if you do not see one listed on their website, it never hurts to ask. You can often get discounts for attractions, like parks and museums, so you can go out with your friends while sticking to your budget.

Eat at Home Instead of Going Out

It can be tempting to have food delivered or to grab something on your way back from classes, but this is not one of the ways to make eating healthy easier and it is definitely not a budget-friendly way of eating either. Restaurant prices tend to be higher than grocery stores, and delivery fees and tips can also add up quickly. Do some simple meal planning so you can eat food at home.

You might take part of the day Sunday to bake casseroles or cook soup so all you have to do is heat it up during the week. You could also freeze meals in plastic bags or containers so they will keep for longer and so you can have more variety in your daily meals. You can supplement these meals with something simple and healthy, like a bag of frozen vegetables you can microwave.