The ultimate guide to student discounts

There’s only one thing better than spending money: spending it at a discount!

Discounts. Everyone loves them. Students, on the other hand, need them. Being thrown into an independent lifestyle can be hard, even if you have a few semesters of experience under your belt.

Adulting feels like you’re in constant financial turbulence. Add in school work and a social life, and no wonder students are notoriously broke.

It doesn’t have to be this way, though. Some people think student discounts are only there to give you what you want, but they’re also there to give you what you need. Use them to your advantage and make your student life easier and more affordable.

I need it

Many products and services you use daily offer student discounts, so take advantage of your student status to lower your expenses. Transportation passes, Adobe apps, Office 365, you name it. They have heavy discounts for struggling student wallets.

Transportation: The best way to get the most out of your student ID is by getting a PRESTO card with a student discount. Any PRESTO vending machine or Shoppers Drug Mart can be your source for getting the card initially, but unlocking its full potential with the student attribute can only be done after getting your TTC Post-Secondary ID from Bathurst Subway Station. Then, set up your discount at a nearby Shoppers Drug Mart with your TTC ID.

If you’re using public transportation for more than eight one-way trips a week or four round-trips, then a monthly pass will pay for itself in spades, as it gives you unlimited trips for the month. A standard monthly pass will cost you $156 a month, while the student one knocks almost $30 off that price every single month. That’ll easily save you at least $100 a semester.

PRESTO also gives a decent amount of bonus perks and discounts separate from the TTC. From gym trials to 47 per cent off CNE shannanagians. If you don’t have a PRESTO card, you’re surely missing out.

Unfortunately, MiWay, Brampton transit and York region don’t offer post-secondary discounts, but if you’re just entering Humber Polytechnic or the University of Guelph-Humber for the first time, you’ll be able to use the youth fare system until you’re 19 years old.

Software: All Humber students get Adobe Reader for free, along with a few other niche apps. We also get Microsoft 365 for free, which includes Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams and everyone’s favourite, PowerPoint. Adobe also offers a plethora of student discounts for all its products.

Banking: Yawn…I know, it’s mundane, but the costs in fees add up more than any other expense could. Convert to a student account at any bank for free transactions and sometimes a higher savings interest rate.

Food: Fast food joints aren’t the only places to offer student discounts. Across Canada, grocery stores such as Sobey’s, Metro and Food Basics have begun to offer more than 10 per cent off your bill as well as specific sales only available to students. Be diligent, though. It won’t be at every location, and stores may only offer the discount on specific days. Check here for more details.

I want it

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Discount card: Now that we’ve gotten those modern-day survival discounts out of the way, it’s time for the fun stuff. To get the most out of your student ID, the Student Price Card has you covered. It’s $10 per year and provides you with up to 30 per cent off a variety of stores, entertainment venues and restaurants Canada-wide. Sounds like a plug, but it isn’t, it’s just a good deal.

CIBC gives out the card for free to all their student members. You’ll also be eligible for limited-time deals.

Entertainment: There are so many activities covered by your student discount. Entertainment discounts will live in infamy with students. Cineplex, Toronto museums and Canada’s Wonderland, among others, provide more than 10 per cent off for students. Socializing isn’t free, but if you play your student card right, it’ll at least be cheaper.

Random products: There are too many products or services to name that could be beneficial to you. It varies from person to person. It can range from Audible to Amazon Prime and Pandora.

A good rule of thumb is to see what interests you first, then look into the discounts. Not the opposite. If you didn’t want it before finding out there was a discount, then I’ve got bad news for you. Shelve it and move on.

Subscriptions: Do yourself a favour and convert any subscription services you have to a student account. Amazon, Spotify, YouTube Premium, Apple Music, all the major food delivery apps and most gyms offer student discounts.

Discount websites: Student Beans and Unidays are helpful discount websites specifically geared toward students. The availability of promo codes fluctuates often, but a deal is a deal. Get it while it’s hot.

Phone plans: Make sure to also check with your cell phone provider for any potential discounts. Some give a percentage off your current bill, while others opt for separate plans that suit students’ needs. It’s a constantly rotating endeavour, so check in with your provider, since it may not always be on their website.

Computers and tablets: Going to replace that busted-up laptop? Microsoft, Apple and Dell are all giving student discounts on most of their tech. The deals don’t just end at computers. Peripherals such as mice, styluses, monitors and any other accessory you can think of might have a student discount accompanying it.

Always ask

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Always double-check for student prices whenever you’re making a purchase. Whether you’re shopping online or in-store, student discounts are all around you if you ask. When you pull out your wallet, have it paired with the question. You’ll be shocked at what’s discounted.

Glasses, memberships, special deals at Costco, the list keeps going.

If you’ve checked for certain products last year only for them to say they don’t offer store discounts, ask again. Student discounts shift from year to year. Some are always dependable, but just like everything else in life, change is around the corner.

Whether you’re going out for a night of extravagance, buying weekly groceries or shopping for new tech at Best Buy, student discounts are there to support you. A student discount isn’t an excuse for bad financial management, they’re there to support and allow students the right to the bare necessities and some fun too.

Feature Image courtesy of Wander Fleur via Unsplash.

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