10 Ways to Save Money in Dental School

I've had several readers ask questions regarding finances during Dental School so I figured I would write a quick post on ways we saved money while Robbie was in school.

Here are some ideas for saving money while still being able to have some fun.

1. Eat at home as much as possible-- eating out is WAY more expensive than preparing food yourself. Grab some tupperware from the Dollar Store (they have BPA free ones if that matters to you) and send your student to school with their lunch. We especially like recipes that can be stretched over several meals like chili, tacos, stews, casseroles, etc.
2. When you do eat out, drink water and split meals-- water is a thousand times better for you (and your teeth!) than soda anyways and splitting meals is a great way to reign in those out of control portions sizes you find at restaurants nowadays.
3. Share a vehicle/utilize public transportation-- the fewer vehicles you have, the less you have to spend on gas, maintenance costs, and insurance. CU actually charges students for a bus pass each year whether they want it or not.
4. Buy a home-- wait... aren't we talking about saving money? Depending on the rental market in your area, mortgage payments can be a lot cheaper than rent! In Denver, our rent for a small two bedroom apartment was $1200/month. Our three bedroom home with attached garage? $900/month. If this is a feasible option for you based on your finances and credit score it's a great way to have a set cost instead of worrying about rent going up every year.
5. Live close to campus--save on gas. I think we can all agree that commuting sucks so if you have the option, live closer to campus.This one has the added bonus of saving you time as well. Make sure you do a little research on rental costs before doing this though. Sometimes places closer to campus cost more than ones a little further away negating what you would've saved on gas.
6. Pass on cable-- if you can't live without TV, Netflix streaming is only $9 a month and Amazon Student is only $49 a year! I never realized how wonderful it would be to live without all those annoying commercials.
7. Join Amazon Prime-- like I said above, for full time students it is only $49 a year and you get free shipping on all Amazon Prime products. I did all my Christmas shopping online and saved a ton (plus you can have gifts shipped directly to the recipient)! If you have a baby, you can also join Amazon Mom for free and get discounts by scheduling diaper orders. We have a box of size 5 Luvs 168 count delivered every other month for $30/box. At Wal-Mart, those same diapers are $35/box. Plus the less I have to leave my house for annoying things like diapers, the better.
8. Enjoy movies at home-- going out to the movies can cost you $10/ticket (plus like $500 if you buy a small popcorn and candy, am I right?). Instead, pick a movie from Redbox for $2 and a box of candy from the Dollar Store and snuggle up on the couch for a movie night. Pop some popcorn on the stove top and add your own toppings for a delicious (and healthier) snack as well!
9. Use coupons for dates-- don't pay full price for dates with your significant other. Instead, utilize websites like Groupon or Living Social. Whether it's meals, massages, concerts, pottery painting or whatever, these sites are great for finding fun and unique things to do in your city at a discounted price.
10. Buy used study/test materials-- despite what a few people on Student Doctor Network may tell you, you do not need the most current version of the Dental Decks in order to pass your Board Exams. Ask upperclassmen or check on eBay for deals on versions within the past 4-5 years. Items for Clinical Exams such as a ModuPro Typodont can cost $200 or more but you can find these used on eBay for much cheaper.

If you're trying to save money, a good question to ask yourself is, "Is this a need or a want?" Living frugally during Dental School will help you avoid stressing over finances plus it helps create good habits for after school when you are trying to pay off your student loans. Our culture encourages bad spending habits. Credit card debt is rampant! Frugality and living within your means are Biblical skills that should be practiced both during and after Dental School. Be careful with your money while in school and get out of debt as quickly as possible when you're done!

He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not become rich. -Proverbs 21:17

The rich rule over the poor and the borrower is slave to the lender. -Proverbs 22:7

Do you have any clever ideas for ways to save money while in Dental School? Share it in the comments!