Image by Hobbies on a Budget, flickr
One of the best things about attending a post-secondary school is getting that powerful card that you’re going to store in your wallet and cherish. I’m not talking about your credit card – it’s your student ID card. Granting you access to student-only events and discounted admission to various attractions, this card is one of the first things you should research when you’ve decided on your school. It’s the business way of saying “we know you’re probably broke, so here’s a break.” Take advantage and keep as much money in your pocket as you can – you’ll need it in the future, when even coupon cutting doesn’t seem to be enough.
Benefits offered depend on your state/province, your city, and your school itself. Some of the more common ones include:
- Public transit student rates
- Discounts to on-campus food locations
- Local business and restaurant discounts
- Free or discounted admission to local bars
- Admission to student-only events
Once you graduate, your school may offer an alumni card that gets you discounts for tickets, stores, restaurants, and sometimes even insurance rates.
On top of your school’s identification card, here are some other ways to get discounts as a student:
| Card | Cost | What You Get |
| SPC Card (Canada) |
$9 plus shipping Available for 1 year |
Valid at over 100 locations, most offer 10-15% off clothing, restaurants, hotels, coffee shops & more. See the full list. |
| StudentSaver (Canada) | Free |
Discounts range from 10% to 50% for goods and services including restaurants, salons, art classes and more. This card is available to both full- and part-time students across Canada. |
| Student Advantage (US) |
1 Year + Rebate: $20 2 Year + $10 Rebate: $30 3 Year + $10 Rebate: $40 4 Year + $10 Rebate: $50 plus shipping |
Discounts on a ton of brands, including hotels, transportation, clothing and technology. |
| ISIC (International) |
$20 plus shipping Valid for 16 months |
Acts as student identification across the globe so you can take advantage of discounts in every country, whether you’re visiting or on exchange. |
Don’t forget to shop around too – especially in July and August, stores are full of back to school sales! A quick Google search for “back to school sale” will give you a ton of places to look for discounted laptops and school supplies. Deals for students are plentiful. Take advantage of them while you can!