By tamaraI can remember counting down the days to my high school graduation. I couldn’t wait to go off to college and live on my own. When I stepped on campus, it was everything I had hoped for and more. I finally had the freedom to choose my own classes and I could sleep in on weekends, but I was also on my own when it came to paying for everything. I really wasn’t prepared for how expensive college life was. I knew I had to budget for tuition, housing, and fees, but the everyday items, like toothpaste and laundry detergent, really added up. You never really think about all those little expenses when you’re at home and can simply grab something from the pantry or bathroom closet. Luckily, being a college student also gives you access to something else – discounts! It took me a few months before I realized I was carrying a card that could open the door to some serious savings. Unlike my credit card, which only added to my overall debt, my student I.D. provided discounts on a variety of different services and products. Here are just a few examples of some of the savings you can receive by flashing your student I.D. card. 1. Sam’s Club You should really look into the Sam’s Club Collegiate Membership card. For only $40, you get two cards and a $15 gift card, which effectively makes the year-long membership only $25. By partnering with your roommate or another student on campus, you can really rack up some savings by buying in bulk. If you have a Sam’s club near your campus, I would seriously consider registering for this program. 2. Apple You know what they say, ‘Once you go Mac, you never go back!’ I know I love my MacBook Pro and was thrilled to learn I could save $200 just because I was a college student. Apple offers current and incoming college students Educational Pricing on many of their products, including personal computers, notebooks, and software. 3. Microsoft Who doesn’t use Word, Excel, and the other Office products in college? If you don’t want to pay hundreds for the software, be sure to check into Microsoft’s Student website and deals. They have Office University for only $99 and it includes pretty much everything you will need to complete your assignments and projects in school. 4. Adobe® You can score some major discounts with Adobe®. I wanted to use Illustrator and Photoshop for several of my marketing classes, so I checked out the Adobe® Education website. Boy, did I get a huge surprise. As a college student, I was able to purchase Creative Suite 6 (CS6) for only $349. That’s $950 cheaper than the regular purchase price! You can also get discounts on Creative Cloud, Dreamweaver and other products, all at serious discounts. 5. Movies If you’ve been to the movies lately, you know it can get expensive, but not if you are a college student! Cinemark offers discounts to students on specified days and times (varies by theater) and AMC offers reduced prices to students every Thursday. Many local theaters also offer discounted tickets to students, so don’t be afraid to flash your student I.D. and ask about special rates. 6. New Vehicles Do you need a new car? Before you sign on the dotted line, check out the GM College Discount program. You could save hundreds or thousands on your next vehicle, depending on the model and your location. Ford offers an additional $500 bonus on new car purchases, along with other advertised incentives, so be sure to mention your student status during negotiations at the dealership. If you prefer Nissan, check out their College Graduate Program, which offers haggle-free pricing and substantial discounts on vehicles to recent college graduates or current graduate students. Many other dealers offer discounts, so be sure to ask before closing your deal. Many local restaurants also offer discounts to students, but most do not advertise these deals. Check with the manager to see if your student I.D. card can score you 10 percent off your check or more. Even chain restaurants, like Burger King and Arby’s, offer discounts to students in college communities. Your student I.D. card can be the key to savings at a myriad of places you may have never considered. Just remember, ‘When in doubt, take it out!’