Money Savers

8 Ways to Get Free Things as a College Athlete

By Isaac Haney|Updated on June 27, 2023 (originally published on December 17, 2021)

Living as a college student, let alone being a student-athlete, means you have a tight budget. Because of your busy schedule, you have to make every penny count. This also means saving whenever you can. Well, there are many opportunities for you to cut corners and save some cash during your college journey, and we're here to help. Everybody loves free, and we've discovered 8 ways to get free things as a college athlete.

1. Join a supplies program: Many schools offer free supplies to students who apply to certain programs. Things like notebooks, folders, pens/pencils, highlighters, and sometimes even laptops are all given to students without needing to do anything in return. As the cost of going to school continues to rise, it would be smart to equip yourself with the tools to perform in school at a low cost, or free.

2. Find NIL deals: NIL deals have provided student-athletes with a great tool when it comes to providing for themselves. There are NIL deals for everything you can think of, and with each one you get, you can check one of your necessities off of your list without opening your wallet. Every student-athlete should apply for as many as they can to get the most out of their experience. Most NIL deals include repping merchandise, gear, or food, which the company often provides for the athlete. So this is a great way to make AND save money.

Related: 6 Most Interesting NIL Deals

3. Take advantage of free travel food or per diem: On every trip as a student-athlete, you're going to be accommodated with a great deal of snacks. Schools do this so their athletes can perform to their fullest potential, but they often overbuy. It's worth taking a few of these snacks home to have around your dorm when you get hungry. These snacks are nutritious and will keep your belly full.

4. Use student discounts: It's known that many platforms provide students with deals for joining, but what's more interesting is that some give out free deals for the sole reason of helping college students. Things like Amazon prime, grubhub, and coursehero all offer student deals that are free of charge; of course, with each one there comes a catch, so be wary.

5. Go to club meetings: Many club meetings on campus accommodate the attendees with gifts like free food or coupons. Not only are you making friends and getting information by attending a meeting, but you also can get your food for the day covered.

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