Everyone knows that college enrollment places a heavy financial burden on students by way of tuition, textbooks, fees, hidden fees, and more hidden fees. But tucked beneath those heaping mountains of student debt is a modest, yet refreshing return on investment: the student discount.
Wherever you attend school — be it a big state university or a quaint private college — your student ID card and .edu email address join forces to score you savings at both the local and national level. Here’s where to look:
Related: Minute Hacks — Top Sites for Student Discounts
Movie Theaters
Not every movie house cuts slack for students at the box office, but many do — from independently operated mom-and-pop theaters to the largest multiplex monopolies across the States.
Regal, Rave, and Cinemark are among the chains that commonly offer reduced admission, but check ahead of show time to ensure your local theater affiliate participates. Occasionally they don’t, since some theater owners and managers have yet to see the light and are behind the curve when it comes to appreciating student business. Thursday is Student Day at AMC Theatres, and although we here at HackCollege think every day is Student Day, at least it’s a start.
Museums
Due to the close bonds that museums have forged with academia throughout the years thanks to research collaborations and endowments, students can often go see exhibits at a fraction of their usual cost. Occasionally, the savings extend beyond the turnstiles, so make sure to check if your ID can recoup some of the money you’re bound to waste on overpriced dinosaur merchandise as you exit through the gift shop.
Sam’s Club
If you’re careful with your money and you split living costs with your roommate, buying in bulk alone can save you cash thanks to wholesale pricing. Throw in the complimentary $15 gift card that Sam’s Club gives students at membership sign-up, and it can be all the more cost-effective.
J. Crew
This national clothing retailer grants 15% off for college students on all of its non-third-party branded products. As always, you’ll need your student ID card handy at checkout to cash in. This offer applies in-store only, so you’ll have to scour RetailMeNot and other rogue coupon sites if you want a chance to save in your online J. Crew shopping cart.
(Still no word on whether the J. Peterman catalog offers a similar deal.)
Amazon Student
There may not be such thing as a free lunch, but there is such thing as a free six-month membership to Amazon Prime, home of free two-day shipping. You won’t enjoy access to the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library or Prime instant videos through Amazon Student, but if you decide after six months the bonus perks are worth it, an annual membership to full Prime costs only $39, a whole $40 cheaper than the regular price.
But wait, there’s more! Through September 15th, Amazon is offering a referral program in which you get $10 of Amazon credit for every friend of yours you invite to Amazon Student.
Rdio and Spotify
The music-streaming service Rdio is currently slashing 50% off its pricing just for students, meaning you have access to millions of ad-free songs on your computer and smartphone for $5 per month.
If you’re keen on Spotify and spending the semester in the UK, purchasing a student discount card from the National Union of Students for £12 entitles you to half off their Premium service for up to a year.
Computers and Software
Whether you’re a Mac fanboy or partial to PC, there’s bound to be a student discount for you somewhere. Through Apple’s Education Pricing, students can save up to $200 off a new Mac. Windows is currently offering 10% off select PCs for undergrads, in addition to $130 off a Windows 8 Pro upgrade and a 4-year subscription to their Microsoft Office suite for only $80.
If you like to be more creative in your software than just turning out spreadsheets and word documents, be sure to capitalize on Adobe’s limited offer that lets students tap into their Creative Cloud for a monthly rate of $20, which comes in at 60% off MSRP. Although you’re locked in to a one-year contract through this deal, you’ll end up saving $120 over a 12-month period when compared to the non-student price.
Everything Else
Wherever you spend your hard-earned dollars, make it a habit to ask if your student status qualifies you for some deal or discount. Just because a business doesn’t openly list such perks doesn’t mean they don’t offer them. If it turns out they don’t, nudge them gently into considering adopting a student discount policy. And if they do, be sure to thank them!
Related: 7 Money Tips for College Students
Image: Cayusa
The post 8 Places to Snag Student Discounts and Deals appeared first on HackCollege.