I get it, living on your own – possibly for the first time – as a college student is scary. And it’s totally understandable since you’re moving out of your safe space with the people you love to an entirely different environment with strangers.

Add crushing student debt to the mix and you got yourself a potential early-life crisis. This means you have to play your cards right and that includes saving money where you can. 

Well, look no further because there are a number of ways you can get free stuff or at least a student discount from all of your favorite brands.

1. Amazon Prime Student for 6 months. 

You will have free access to Amazon Prime’s two-day shipping and its streaming services, such as Amazon Original, Music Prime, and Prime Gaming, for 6 months. Afterward, you’ll be subscribed to a student membership for 50% of the regular price! 

You will receive:

• Amazon Original: Stream shows exclusively on Amazon
• Amazon Photos: Unlimited photo storage and 5GB for videos and files
• Amazon Rental: Save up to 90% on textbook rentals
• Cell Phone Service Plans: Unlimited talk and text, 10% credit back each month, and no contract required!
• Member-only Deals: Exclusive deals for home and kitchen items, electronics, accessories, and so much more!
• Music Prime: Access to more than 2 million songs, thousands of music stations/playlists, offline listen, unlimited skips, and hands-free listening with Alexa
• Outfit Compare: Upload two outfits and receive feedback from a fashion stylist
• Prime Gaming: One free PC Game, in-game content, and subscription to a Twitch channel of your choice each month
• Prime Reading: One free Kindle book and unlimited access to electronic books and magazines on iOS or Android
• Prime Wardrobe: Order up to 8 items and only pay for what you want to keep
• The Washington Post: Free access to WaPo articles for 6 months

All this for $6.49 a month? What an amazing deal!

If you’re feeling a little adventurous, you can also add Showtime or Amazon Music Unlimited to get exclusive access to shows and over 70 million, ad-free music for only $0.99 per month!

And it’s okay if you don’t have an email address ending with “.edu” just provide proof of enrollment in at least one college course to the following email: amazon-student-verification@amazon.com.

2. Apparel and accessories.

If you love shopping for new clothes then this is definitely for you. Major retail stores offer amazing deals to students, such as H&M, Ralph Lauren, and Urban Outfitters.

• Adidas: 20-50% discount
• Aerie: 20% discount
• Aéropostale: 15% discount
• American Eagle: 20% discount
• ASOS: 10% discount
• Banana Republic: 15% discount
• Champion: 10% discount
• Forever 21: 15% discount
• Goodwill: 10% discount on Sundays
• H&M: 15% discount
• Hanes: 10% discount
• J. Crew: 15% discount
• Jockey: 10% discount
• Kate Spade: 15% discount
• Leonisa: 15% discount
• Levi’s: 25% discount
• MaleBasics Underwear: 20% discount
• Nasty Gal: 5% discount
• Nike: 20% discount
• North Face: 10% discount
• PacSun: 10% discount
• Princess Polly: 10% discount
• Ralph Lauren: 10% discount
• Ray-Ban: Get access to exclusive student offers and free shipping
• Salvation Army: Students and teachers receive a 25% discount on Thursdays
• TOMS: 15% discount
• Under Armor: 10% discount
• Urban Outfitters: 10% discount
• Vineyard Vines: 15-40% discount

3. Checking account with $0 monthly fees.

It’s always good to have both a checking and savings account so you can manage your transactions while earning interest on your savings. 

Luckily for you many banks are offering checking accounts to students at no cost and with no monthly fees!

• Bank of America: No monthly or overdraft fees for students under the age of 24.
• Chase: No monthly fees for up to 5 years while in college plus a $100 reward for opening a Chase College Checking account.
• U.S. Bank: No monthly, overdraft, or ATM transaction fees. You will also receive your first box of checks free and 50% off the next order. Additionally, if your college participates in campus banking, you can link your student ID to your student checking account.
• Wells Fargo: No monthly or overdraft fees plus your checking account comes with 24/7 fraud monitoring.

4. Costco shop card.

Everyone loves Costo because it offers everything we need in bulk for such a low price.

Well, there’s even better news for college students: You qualify for a $20 Costco Shop Card when you join as a new member.

So whether you’re looking to stock up on essential food items like whole wheat bread, fat-free milk, various cheeses, or frozen food, this Costco card will definitely come in handy.

5. Educational software programs.

Save money on essential software so you can focus on the things that truly matter: building meaningful college experiences. Have one less thing to worry about and give yourself that peace of mind with these awesome student discounts.

• Adobe: 60% discount for students and teachers on programs, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat Pro.
• Adorama: Join their college student discount program to get a 10-15% discount on film and photography gear.
• Autodesk: Free access to the software and its services for one whole year!
• Babbel: 40% discount on a 3-month plan
• Evernote: 50% discount on a 1-year subscription of Evernote Premium
• JetBrains: Learn coding from tutors and other learning resources free of charge for a year. Even better is that you can keep renewing this free membership for as long as you are a student in college!
• Microsoft Office 365: Get Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, and Microsoft Teams for free (just provide your school email). If your school email is not eligible just follow this link and speak to a representative.
• Norton: Students are eligible for a $40 to $65 discount on select anti-virus programs. 
• Prezi: Instead of paying $7 per month, you’ll get a Basic Student Plan for free! If you want to get a Premium Plan, you get the first month free and then it’s only $3 each month rather than $15 (what a steal)!
• Rosetta Stone: Additional 10% discount on top of site-wide promotions
• You Need a Budget: Free access to this personal finance software for an entire year! Afterward, you have the option to continue your membership for 10% off!

6. Electronics.

I get it, college is expensive so save your money with these student discounts on reliable laptops, headphones, and other essential devices from the brands you love.

• Abt Electronics: Save $50 on eligible purchases
• Apple products: Save up to $100 on Apple’s line of Mac computers and iPads! Apple is also well-known for giving out awesome deals to students during back-to-school season. This past year, students received a free pair of Dr. Dre Beats Solo2 Wireless Headphones and AirPods with the purchase of a new Mac or iPad. You also get a free year of Apple TV+ when you purchase an eligible Apple device.
• Best Buy: Save big with student deals on electronics and appliances, such as TVs, computers, and coffee makers. Best Buy also has a Price Match Guarantee program so if you find a cheaper price for the same item elsewhere, they will match that price.
• Bose: Save with exclusive student discounts on select headphones and speakers.
• Dell: Save $100 on exclusive student offers, free shipping, and Dell rewards. You can also join here for academic discounts or use these coupons.
• HP: Hassle-free online shopping experience and 35% discounts on select products, supplies, and services.
• Lenovo: Verified students and teachers are eligible for great discounts on a variety of laptops and computers.
• Microsoft: Save $250 to $384 on laptops and up to 50% on games.
• Samsung: 40% discount on select smartphones, laptops, and tablets with Samsung’s Education Discount Program.
• Sennheiser: 30% discount

7. Entertainment.

It’s a Friday night and you’re probably thinking about going out with your friends, but where do you go without breaking the bank? Have fun while saving big on these awesome deals — it’s a win-win situation.

• AMC: 35% discount
• Apple Music: 50% discount (only pay $4.99 per month instead of $9.99) but you’ll get the first 3 months free! You will also get a full year of Apple TV+ free of charge!
• Blaze TV: $30 discount on annual membership
• Carnegie Hall: Only $10 using the code: STU31950
• Carnegie Museums of Art and National History: Free admission for students at select universities and $11.95 for others. There is also a 50% discount on weekdays.
• Cinemark: Student discounts at select locations.
• Edwards Theatres: 30% discount 
• Harkins Theatres: 30% discount
• Marcus Theatres: Only $6 on Thursdays
• Metropolitan Opera: Student discounts on tickets
• MLB.TV: 35% discount on the MLB streaming service so you’ll have access to every regular-season game live or on-demand.
• Six Flags America: 40% discount
• Six Flags Hurricane Harbor: 15% discount
• Spotify Premium: 50% discount (only pay $4.99 per month instead of $9.99) plus Hulu and Showtime will be included for free! 
• Universal Studios: Discounts for students at select universities
• YouTube Premium: You get the first month of YouTube Premium free and then you’ll be switched to a student subscription, which is half of the original price (only pay $6.99 per month instead of $11.99)! You’ll receive ad-free YouTube and YouTube Music, background play, and a download feature.
• Zoos: Bronx Zoo (free student admission per paying adult), Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (exclusive offer for USF students), Fort Worth Zoo (save $8), Houston Zoo (free admission for select students), Oakland Zoo (participate in Arroyo Viejo Creek Clean-Up Day to get free admission), Phoenix Zoo ($2 discount), San Diego Zoo and Safari Park (15% discount), Smithsonian National Zoo (free admission), Zoo Atlanta ($5 discount).

8. Free drinks and discounts at food chains.

Many food chains, especially ones near campus, offer student discounts or a free item with an eligible purchase (just remember to bring a valid student ID). 

Keep in mind that they are only offered at participating locations so make sure to always ask beforehand. A good rule of thumb is if the location is within a few miles of your university then you should be fine. 

Popular places include:  

• Arby’s: 10% discount at select locations
• Buffalo Wild Wings: 10% discount at select locations
• Burger King: 10% discount at select locations
• Chick-Fil-A: Free drink with a purchase
• Chipotle: Free drink with a purchase
• Dairy Queen: 10% discount at select locations
• Dunkin’: 10% discount at select locations
• McDonald’s: 10% discount at select locations
• Papa John’s Pizza: 10-20% discount on a pizza or side at select locations
• Pizza Hut: 10-20% discount on a pizza or side at select locations
• Subway: 10% discount at select locations
• Taco Bell: 10% discount at select locations

But want to know where is the best place to find free food? It’s your own university! 

Since universities host a number of independent departments and schools on their campus, there are often many concurrent events going on so food is practically given out for free all the time!

Tip: In my experience, the best places to get free food is the food pantry on campus (if your school has one), student unions, dorms, school-sponsored events, departments, and the transfer student office.

Tip: Be on the lookout for flyers since they are a great source of information. Many student organizations will explicitly advertise free food in order to increase student turnout at their meetings and/or events.

9. Free merch.

Ever wanted branded merchandise for free?

Check with your college campus because companies typically do community outreach and job fairs every year.

And yes, this usually means free stuff and awesome giveaways, such as hoodies, backpacks, laptop stickers, phone cardholders, and so much more! 

10. Health and fitness.

It is important to not only take care of your physical fitness but also your mental health. So why not try these awesome deals and discounts exclusively for students?

• 24 Hour Fitness: Discounts offered at select locations so contact the nearest representative
• Aaptiv: 50% discount on a monthly or yearly subscription
• Calm: 57% discount on a 1-year subscription
• Casper: 20% discount
• Hallow Catholic Meditation: 80% discount (only pay $1 per month!)
• Headspace: 86% discount (only pay $9.99 per year instead of $69.99!) 
• Kick Ass Workouts: 10% discount
• MANSCAPED: 15% discount
• MyProtein: 45% discount plus free gift

11. Insurance.

Every student needs auto insurance regardless of whether you live at home, off-campus, or in dorms because things can happen to your car.

Trust me, I’ve been there. Accidents, car theft, vandalism, and damages happen way too often so protect yourself and your financial wellbeing.

• Allstate: Save with student discounts 
• Geico: Save $100 to $200 when you switch, exclusive student discounts, and 24/7 customer service
• Nationwide: Save with student discounts
• State Farm: Save 25% with student discounts

12. Journal subscriptions.

Do you enjoy reading journals, such as the New York Times or Washington Post? Well, you’re in luck because there are great discounts and deals just for students!

• Economist: Currently, students only pay $19 for 12 weeks of content versus the $55 regular price so you’ll be saving more than $35!
• Financial Times: Instead of paying the standard $7.10 per week, you’ll only pay $3.55! As a member, you’ll have unlimited access to FT content, be able to share up to 10 articles with friends and family, and use financial tools to track your investments.
• New York Times: For only $4 per month (instead of $15), you will have unlimited access to every published NYT article since 1851!
• Wall Street Journal: Students only pay $4 per month instead of $38.99! A subscription will give you full access to articles, podcasts, and its Premium Benefits Program.
• Washington Post: The Academic Rate is arguably the best deal out of this entire list. For only $1, I repeat, for only ONE FREAKIN’ DOLLAR per month (Jesus take the wheel), you will have unlimited access to WaPo articles and its award-winning mobile apps. Don’t forget you also get WaPo free for 6 months if you’re an Amazon Prime member.

13. Makeup and beauty products.

Not many students know that cosmetic companies offer great student discounts so if you love makeup and beauty products then this is your go-to list.

• bareMinerals: 15% discount
• BH Cosmetics: 10% discount
• bioClarity: 15% discount with the code: STUDENT15
• Bobbi Brown: 20% discount
• Buxom Cosmetics: 15% discount
• Charlotte Tilbury: 10% discount
• Clinique: 15% discount
• ColourPop: 10% discount
• Flesh Beauty: 25% discount
• GLOSSYBOX: 20% discount
• LOOKFANTASTIC: 20% discount
• MAC: 10% discount
• Murad: 20% discount
• N°7: 20% discount
• Perricone MD: 20% discount
• Pixi Beauty: 15% discount
• Sally Beauty Club Pro Card: Save on every item and receive exclusive monthly discounts
• SHEIN: 15% discount
• Sigma Beauty: 10% discount
• SkinStore: 25% discount
• Stila Cosmetics: 10% discount
• Tarte: 15% discount
• Too Faced: 10% discount
• Urban Decay: 10% discount

14. Phone plans.

Smartphones are the lifeblood of every student since it serves so many functions – it’s your alarm clock, communication system, and source of information to the outside world – so save on your phone bill with these exclusive student discounts. 

• AT&T: Save on exclusive deals for students, teachers, and parents. And if you’re studying abroad, there is the AT&T International Student program for only $5.99 per month!
• Sprint: Save with the Sprint Works Program. 
• Verizon: Save $10 to $25 per month on an Unlimited plan. You’ll also receive Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Apple Music as well as six free months of Todoist Premium.

15. Travel and transportation.

If you’re smart and planned ahead then you are likely commuting to class every week, but you can be even more cost-efficient by saving on travel costs with these student discounts.

As an added bonus, there are also special deals for students moving to a new apartment/dorm or traveling over break.

• Amtrak: 15-25% discount on California, Midwest, New York, and Virginia tickets
• Budget Truck Rental: 15-20% discount using the code: TRUKU
• CoachUSA: 15% discount for students at select universities
• Enterprise: 25% discount
• Greyhound: 10% discount on Greyhound travel and 20% with the Student Advantage Discount card
• Hertz: 15-20% discount on rentals in European locations
• Hotel.com: 40% discount plus 10% on sitewide sale
• Hyatt Resorts: 15% discount
• MetroLink: 25% discount on the Monthly Pass, 7-Day Pass, and One-Way/Round-Trip tickets
• On-Campus Services or College Credit: Check with your institution because odds are it will offer its own commuting services, have a partnership with one, or give you credit/discounts for fares.
• Penske Truck Rentals: Save 10% on all truck rentals with unlimited miles and 24/7 roadside assistance by using the code: STUDENT. Additionally, the underage surcharge will be waived if you are between the ages of 18 to 23.
• SMARTBOX: Receive a student discount
• United Airlines: Student discounts on domestic and international flights, hotels, and other perks (e.g., in-flight connection, entertainment, and other exclusive discounts). Also, download the United app to get even more discounts!
• Zipcar: Discounts for students at select universities

16. Anything and everything else!

This is by no means an exhaustive list (but it’s pretty damn close) so it is always a good idea to check for student discounts with all of your favorite brands.

Most large companies will offer some sort of student discount so tailor your search according to your preferences.