Innis College
Save Some Coin

Here is a list of money saving tips that may work for you or you may have a few of your own! Remember, every little bit saved will mean more for you to use for investment or for a special goal!

Do you have a good money saving tip? Email us at registrar.innis@utoronto.ca your money saving tips.... we will include them on this list. Thanks in advance.

HOUSING
- Conserve water
- Learn to do simple repairs
- Lights on only when necessary
- Use Glass instead of Paper Cups
- Improvise furniture, shop garage sales
- Use worn out towels as wash cloths
- Make only emergency long distance phone calls
- Give up all unnecessary services on your telephone
- Get only the basic cable service or better yet, no Cable at all
- Get the best available deal on long distance calls. Switch company if necessary.
- Stand up when talking long distance or use a timer
- Split all shared bills equally with all roomates

FOOD
- Grow a garden
- Consider generic brands
- Preserve food when feasible
- Do more cooking from scratch
- Cut down on meals away from home
- Pack a lunch – “Brown Bag” as often as possible
- Use coupons for items you regularly buy
- If storage permits, buy in quantity if cheaper
- Plan menus in advance for your shopping trips
- Use leftovers (planovers) in soups and casseroles
- Avoid buying snacks or “empty calorie” foods
- Take advantage of seasonal specials, especially fresh produce
- Cook only as much as will be eaten unless it can be a part of another meal
- Limit food shopping to once a week; the fewer trips to the grocery store the better
- Avoid ordering out for food

CLOTHING
- Carefully coordinate
- Mend clothes promptly
- Buy clothing that is washable
- Buy clothing that does not need ironing
- Shop at outlet chops and warehouse sales
- Sew as much as practical, repair, remodel
- Hang on clothesline to dry instead of using a dryer
- Do not buy clothes that require Dry Cleaning.
- Use detergent that works well in cool and warm water
- Organize laundry so that a minimum number of loads are run

HEALTH & MEDICAL
- Serve nutritious meals
- Have regular check-ups
- Develop good health habits
- Follow safety rules to prevent accidents
- Carry only one health and accident insurance
- Stop using tobacco, alcohol and/or addictive drugs
- Investigate services being offered by Health Services on campus
- Check out what your U of T UTSU's Health & Dental Plan covers, i.e. drug plan coverage, dental coverage, etc.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Sun Life will cover 80% of the cost of drugs and supplies that
are prescripbed in writing by a doctor or dentist and are
obtained from a pharmacist. Check it out!

RECREATION & ENTERTAINMENT
- Eliminate cable TV
- Have potluck affairs at home
- Attend events organized by student groups, many of which are free
- Free Friday Films at Innis College's Town Hall
- Consider the costs of habits such as smoking (a pack a day is ~$2,007.50 per year!)
- Make good use of the Athletic Centre and Hart House

SAVINGS
- Keep your loose change for savings
- Alter your spending habits
- Determine your saving goals
- Use savings for emergencies
- Put your budget on a diet
- Open a separate saving account

TRANSPORTATION
- Car pool
- Consider moving closer to campus
- Get rid of your car
- Do your own maintenance if you must keep your car
- Walk instead of TTC or TTC instead of cabs

PERSONAL
- Do your own shampoos, sets and blow dries
- Select cosmetics that are reasonably priced
- Carry only pocket change needed for bus fare and small items
- Shop at places that offer student discounts

EMPLOYMENT
- Share transportation
- Make your position more secure by being a valuable employee
- Let your boss know you are interested in additional training

EDUCATION
- Buy used books
- Subscribe to only one newspaper
- Use all of the campus libraries for reading materials
- Cut out subscriptions to magazines that entertain only
- Access the internet through your account at school, rather than paying an Internet Service Provider
- Regularly read bulletin boards on campus for program-related jobs

GIFTS & DONATIONS
- Make gifts instead of buying them
- Give of your time instead of your money
- Carefully consider each situation and eliminate all the monetary giving that you possible can

CHILD CARE
- Share child care responsibilities with a friend, neighbour or spouse
- Investigate govn’t or church operated nursery schools for children of low income families