This is obvious, but it’s worth repeating: one of the best ways to have money is to avoid spending it. There are basically two ways to stretch your dollars:

1. be intentional about where, when, and how you spend your money
2. get the most value with the money you spend.

In order to make strategic spending choices, your very best tool is a budget. It helps you understand where your money’s going and be deliberate about where you want it to go in the future. To get started, check out:

• our tracking your monthly budget task
• sites/apps like CreditKarma.com

To learn more about your options, read these roundup/review articles at CNBC and NerdWallet.

Once you’ve figured out what you’ve been spending, evaluate it. How much do you need to save?

First, set a limit on what you can spend on certain things each month.

Remember to pace yourself. Think about what your limit is for, say, takeout or delivery on a monthly basis—and stick to it.

We said there are 2 steps to stretching your dollars. We’re at part 2: find the most value for your money. Shop smart and pay less.

• comparison shop using Google or Bing shopping
• try coupon aggregators like Honey or Capital One Shopping—web browser extensions that test coupon codes and offer you the best ones at checkout online
• use online reviews to reseach value, emphasizing unbiased and fair reviews
• consider used, especially for stuff you won’t keep forever (like textbooks!)

Plan ahead! For example, a weekly grocery shopping trip, with a shopping list, ends up being a LOT cheaper than restaurant or convenience store food.

You probably know your student ID can get you discounts, but there’s more you haven’t thought of. Check out these 100 places. Ask everywhere you shop.

Using your .edu email address will often qualify you for discounts with online retailers, too!