If you are paying for toothpaste, you shouldn’t be. 

I’m sorry to break it to you, but it’s time to accept that you have spent years spending far too much on your favorite Crest and Colgate products.

The solution to your troubles is one of life’s simplest but most underappreciated joys — a coupon. Yes, those pesky sheets of paper that used to get delivered in the weekly newspaper are the key to fighting inflation as a college student.

Let me explain.

Last summer, I was here on campus working for Orientation and Residence Life, and despite what you may think, SU is still quite active when not in session. During an off-day for orientation, several of our team members sat in for a Couponing 101 class with SU Vice President of Inclusion, Belonging, and Social Equity (and money-saving expert) Manny Ruiz.

Manny opened my eyes to the world of couponing and money-saving — he told us that all SU students get 5% off at Giant, taught us about the differences between store and manufacturer coupons and explained the world of rebate apps. I have rarely been one to do anything partially, so I took the lessons and ran with it.

Throughout last summer’s Academic Success Program, I kept a small pantry stocked with cereal, granola bars and other items I got for pennies or totally free, and it only grew from there. I slowly became an expert in shopping at CVS, Walmart and Giant, and I have just about mastered the various rebate apps that you’ll see used by couponing influencers — Ibotta, Fetch, Inbox Dollars and Shopkick.

In most cases, it could not possibly be easier to save money. CVS drops over 100 coupons every Sunday and Giant has a new ad every Friday. Open your app, clip the coupons you want to use and watch those prices drop — there’s really nothing better. 

Shortly before writing this, I took my weekly trip to CVS, spent $32 of $75 worth of items and got $36 back — aka, it was all free!

As my closest friends (especially those who I have made set up accounts on some of those apps) would happily tell you, I have become quite obsessive about these things. I needed a non-SU-related hobby, and this happily filled that void. But, of course, I do not expect our entire student body to make this a part of their lives.

But in the name of fiscal responsibility, you should.

Especially as college students, most of us live on a limited budget and have to manage paying bills, buying groceries and still having some money left over for extracurriculars. But as students, we also struggle to plan ahead and often make plans at the last minute.

So, my challenge to you is this. Take 30 minutes away from social media every week and look at what’s on sale at Giant, CVS or wherever you may shop. Have half a bottle of your favorite shampoo left but see it’s on sale and there’s a coupon — buy it now! 

In order to ball (survive) on a college budget, you have to make those prices work for you. Craving burgers but seeing pasta and chicken breasts are on sale that week? Go with the chicken — I promise you, ground beef and buns will be on sale soon. Be willing to make your diet and your budget work together.

Shopping is all about strategy. Waiting until you desperately need a product will almost always cost you more because as life tends to go, it won’t be on sale the one week you truly need it.

So get that free toothpaste — pearly whites never hurt anyone.

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