How To Live An A-List Lifestyle On A D-List Budget

Tip #4. Don’t even think about take-out.

This post is presented in partnership with Microsoft.

Being a student is most commonly associated with being broke (or being very close to broke). But that doesn’t mean you need to lead a banal existence.

Seeing that Microsoft is offering Office 365 free to students, we decided to see how else students can live the high life (without the dosh usually required for high-life livin'). Here’s how you can revel in your self-important glory, just like Meryl Streep from The Devil Wears Prada. Just... on a budget.

1. Look for bargains.

If you haven’t already, it’s time to take advantage of the hipster fashion craze. It is not only extremely cost-effective to get your outfits at op-shops, but it’s pretty stylish too. Like Macklemore, you can be “hella happy” with your “99 cent” purchases. (Here are some more tips on how to ‘op shop’ like a style champ.)

But don’t limit the hunt for sales to just clothing; keep an eye out for cheaper alternatives to your other expenses. Often, the only difference is the pretty packaging. Track your savings in Microsoft Excel and by the end of the month you'll be able to see just how much spending money you have left over... for more clothes!

2. Get fit for less.

Most of us have the intention (at the back of our mind, where it won’t ever really trouble us) to get fit and healthy. However, working out at the gym is - let’s face it - only enjoyable for a select few and gym memberships are quite expensive. However, you can work out on the cheap. And it can be fun. There are public courts scattered around the country and people rarely take full advantage of them even though they’re a perfect way to avoid the boredom and, more importantly, the expenses of the gym. Grab your crew – or Entourage, if you will – along with that unused basketball lying somewhere around the house. If it’s a game and not a chore, you just might enjoy it.

3. Be your own barista.

The one thing students are very good at is drinking coffee. And even though a four-dollar caffeine boost doesn’t seem costly, it adds up (to, like, $1,000 by the end of the year). Instead, you can buy a ‘keep’ cup (yes, a cup you can keep) and make your own coffee before you start your day. You save time avoiding the morning coffee queues and also contribute to helping the environment. If your friends bug you to join them for an afternoon latte, simply tell them that it’s so passé to buy over-priced coffee these days. Get them to come over for a brew instead.

4. Don’t even think about take-out.

It goes without saying that paying $20 (or more) for one meal should seriously be avoided. And though it may be tempting to buy food, it’s one of the biggest budget busters out there. I know that cooking can be a pain (especially when you have a mountain of assignments piling up) but it is a much healthier and cheaper alternative. Try cooking a few meals on a Sunday to eat throughout the week. And, instead of spending all your money at a different restaurant or club each weekend, get a group together and arrange monthly “house parties” in which someone hosts and everyone else brings a plate to help keep costs down.

Bonus: If a buddy has a cost-effective (and delish) recipe they're willing to share, you can keep it logged in Microsoft OneNote. Next time you need to impress someone with your cooking prowess, you can pull out one of these affordable recipes - and your dinner guest will be none the wiser.

5. Go to free social events.

A simple search of some variant of “free social events in [YOUR CITY]” (psst, don’t literally write “Your City”) will lead you to a wonderland of opportunities: from exploring ‘80s Italian fashion to sustainability workshops. Don’t miss out on the lesser known, inexpensive events of your town’s social calendar; after all, it’s the secret shindigs that have the most cred.

6. Make Microsoft Office your Personal Assistant.

Managing the multiple components of your life can be a daily struggle. But without ever leaving your computer (okay, you may occasionally have to leave it), you can use Microsoft Office 365 to bring some order to your life – especially since it’s free to download for students. For instance, Outlook can sync your school/ uni email, your personal email and your work email (even if they use a non-Microsoft email service), because who has time to individually check each account? It also syncs their associated calendars, so if you’ve got an assignment due and a birthday party to attend all at the same time, it’ll be clear to see well in advance. This PA is built to help students get stuff done, from budget-management in Excel to life-management in Outlook.

You can also access lecture notes via PowerPoint, just in case you couldn't attend class (which is just like having a PA run to your school to pick up work). Plus, with access to unlimited OneDrive online storage, your notes will be as accessible as a friend’s cringe-worthy Facebook status (even if you accidentally leave your laptop at home). All you need is an Internet connection. Who needs Anne Hathaway to boss around when the relationship between you and your computer is perfectly functional?

To find out more about how students can download Microsoft Office 365 - including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more - for free, follow this link.

Header Image: NBC