Complete Guide To Free Resources And Discounts For College Students

College students face numerous financial challenges while pursuing their education, from tuition and textbooks to daily living expenses. Fortunately, numerous free resources and exclusive discounts are available specifically for college students, helping to alleviate some of these financial burdens. This comprehensive guide explores the various categories of student freebies, including food and dining options, career development resources, software tools, financial services, and reward programs, all accessible to students through legitimate channels.

Food and Dining Freebies

One of the most sought-after categories of student freebies relates to food and dining. College students often operate on tight budgets, making any opportunity to save on meals particularly valuable. Several restaurant chains and food-related services offer specific benefits to students.

Chick-fil-A provides a notable example of student-friendly dining benefits. The fast-food chain reportedly offers college students a free drink with their meal when they present their student ID. Additionally, Chick-fil-A operates a rewards program called One, which allows students to earn points when ordering through the app. These accumulated points can be redeemed for various rewards, including free food items and special birthday rewards.

Similarly, Chipotle extends complimentary drinks to students who show their student ID when purchasing food. This simple gesture provides immediate value to budget-conscious students looking to maximize their dining options.

Subway offers its student benefits through the MyWay Rewards program. By joining this program, students receive tokens with each food purchase at Subway, which can be accumulated and redeemed for $2.00 rewards. This incremental savings approach can add up over time for regular Subway customers.

The Pocket Points app represents an innovative approach to student rewards. This application incentivizes students to stay focused during class by rewarding them with points for not using their smartphones. After opening the app on campus and locking their phone, students begin accumulating points that can be redeemed for freebies and discounts at various establishments, including:

• Smoothie King
• Insomnia Cookies
• Jamba Juice
• Buffalo Wild Wings
• Papa Johns
• The Pita Pit
• Pizza Hut
• Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
• Panda Express
• Firehouse Subs

The Pocket Points system also includes referral bonuses, allowing students to earn additional points by encouraging classmates to use the app.

Career Development Resources

Beyond immediate savings on food, college students can access valuable career development resources at no cost. These tools can provide significant advantages in the competitive job market and help students build professional networks.

Handshake serves as a specialized platform exclusively for college students seeking internships or positions in their field of study. This free service helps students connect with relevant opportunities by allowing them to create a profile using their school-provided email address. Through Handshake, students can browse job listings or connect directly with recruiters. The platform also offers additional resources such as interview tips, resume and cover letter assistance, explanations of various job roles, and career path exploration. Student success stories are also available for inspiration and guidance.

The Ladders provides another valuable career resource through its free resume review service. Submitting a resume to this platform allows students to receive complimentary analysis from career experts, offering pointers to improve their documents and increase their chances of securing desirable positions. This service represents a particularly valuable opportunity, as many similar services charge substantial fees for resume reviews.

Professional organizations frequently offer complimentary memberships to college students studying in related fields. These memberships provide access to job boards, mentoring opportunities, networking events, and industry-specific resources. Several notable organizations that provide free student memberships include:

• The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the world's largest membership association representing the accounting profession, with over 400,000 members. Student Affiliate membership is free and provides access to the institute's tools and resources.

• The American Planning Association, the largest membership organization for professional planners and planning resources, offers free membership to students.

• The National Society of Professional Engineers provides free student memberships, supporting those in engineering fields.

• The Society of Petroleum Engineers promotes knowledge exchange within the oil and gas industry and offers free membership to students.

Software and Educational Tools

Software and educational resources represent another significant category of student freebies. These tools can enhance academic performance while reducing the financial burden of purchasing expensive software and subscriptions.

Amazon Prime offers one of the most substantial student benefits. College students can receive six months of free Amazon Prime membership, which includes free two-day shipping on over 100 million items (including textbooks), unlimited streaming of Prime movies and TV shows, unlimited photo storage with Prime Photos, and 20% off pre-order and new release video games. After the initial six-month period, students are automatically enrolled in a Prime membership at 50% off the regular rate.

Microsoft Office 365 Education is available to students at eligible institutions with a valid college email address at no cost. This comprehensive suite includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Microsoft Teams, providing essential productivity tools for academic work.

Google Sheets, part of the free web-based Google Docs Editors suite, offers spreadsheet functionality that many educational organizations utilize to improve productivity. This service is widely popular among students and accessible through any web browser.

When signing up for six months of free Amazon Prime, students also gain access to six months of The Washington Post online, providing current news and information resources.

For students interested in expanding their skill sets, several platforms offer free or discounted educational content. Coursera allows students to take several select courses for free, with unlimited access to the site available for $399 per year. Skillshare provides a one-month free trial, with no obligation to continue, though the service costs $13.99 per month if renewed for a full year after the trial period.

Financial Services for Students

Managing finances is a critical aspect of college life, and several financial institutions offer specialized services to help students avoid unnecessary fees.

Many banks provide free checking, savings, and credit card accounts to students, allowing them to avoid the maintenance fees typically associated with standard accounts. These free student banking options help preserve limited financial resources by eliminating unnecessary charges.

When selecting a student bank account, it's important to compare features such as minimum balance requirements, overdraft policies, ATM access, and online banking capabilities. Some institutions may offer additional benefits like fee waivers for certain services or special interest rates for savings accounts.

Survey and Reward Sites

Several online platforms offer college students opportunities to earn money through surveys, app usage, and other activities. These services can provide supplemental income while requiring minimal time investment.

FreeCash allows students to earn money by testing games, using apps, and taking surveys. The platform claims to offer highest payouts and instant cashouts with daily bonuses. Registration is free.

Earn Haus reportedly pays up to $25 per survey, with same-day payment through PayPal, Venmo, or check. This platform focuses on quick compensation for survey participation.

InboxDollars provides multiple ways to earn money, including watching videos, online shopping, and taking surveys for activities students may already be performing. The platform offers a $5 bonus just for signing up.

KingOpinion allows students to earn up to $8 per survey for sharing their opinions, with a super-fast signup process and payouts via PayPal or gift cards.

Swagbucks, which has paid out over $900 million to users, offers a $10 free sign-up bonus and additional opportunities to earn through watching videos, taking surveys, and other activities.

General Tips for Finding Student Discounts

Beyond the specific resources mentioned above, college students should adopt a proactive approach to discovering additional discounts and freebies. Several general strategies can help maximize these opportunities:

Always inquire about student discounts when making purchases, whether at museums, restaurants, retail stores, or service providers. Many establishments offer student benefits but don't actively advertise them. Having a student ID or valid student email address readily available can help unlock these savings.

The StudentsFreebies platform offers access to exclusive deals and programs across numerous brands and organizations. The platform follows a three-step process: checking eligibility, submitting an application, and receiving approval for offers. Eligibility for various programs may differ by location and sometimes include requirements such as low-income status or participation in federal assistance programs.

Government aid programs can provide additional resources for eligible students. Requirements for these programs often vary by location and may include provisions for low-income households or those already participating in federal assistance programs.

Students should regularly check for updates on new offers and programs. Some services, like StudentsFreebies, provide news and updates about available resources through their platforms or email newsletters.

Conclusion

College students have access to a wide range of free resources and discounts that can significantly reduce the financial burden of higher education. From food and dining options to career development resources, software tools, financial services, and reward programs, these opportunities help students make the most of their limited budgets. By taking advantage of these offerings, students can focus more on their academic pursuits and less on financial stress. The key is to be proactive, maintain awareness of available resources, and always carry proper identification when seeking student discounts. With strategic use of these benefits, college students can navigate their educational journey with greater financial flexibility.

Sources

1. StudentsFreebies
2. Free Stuff for College Students - MoneyPantry
3. 12 College Freebies You Need to Know About - The Krazy Coupon Lady
4. Free Stuff for College Students - SavingForCollege