Your student status is worth more than you think
Your Gustavus student ID card (you know the one, that gold card tucked in the back of your wallet, held together with Scotch tape) gives you a number of privileges on campus, such as being able to get meals from the Caf or check out a book from the library, but the truth is, your ID card can do so much more for you.
Many stores and restaurants offer discounts to students with a valid student ID – you just have to ask. It may not always make a huge difference, but a little extra cash never hurts.
Food chains such as Chipotle, Dairy Queen, and Subway, as well as some clothing stores, offer discounts for students, usually around 10%. And while the St. Peter and Mankato stores do not offer these, you can always try asking when you go home on break to see if they offer student discounts at your local locations.
Some movie theaters also offer discounts. For example, AMC and Cinemark offer student discounts at participating locations, so have your student ID handy if you’re planning to go see a new film.
In a tech-savvy world, one big way for students to save is by taking advantage of online deals. Amazon Student allows you to reap the benefits of Amazon Prime at a fraction of the cost. And if you’re looking for a new laptop or software, technology giants Apple, HP, Dell, Sony, and Adobe all have education discounts.
Your student status won’t last forever, so take advantage of it while you can, and remember, even if you don’t think a store offers a student discount, you’ll never know unless you ask.
1. Hy-Vee
5% off entire purchase
2. El Agave
10% off your meal
3. St. Peter Co-op
Do you like to buy local and organic? The Co-op offers a student membership for $25/year. With it, you can receive member-only deals and have access to the Co-op’s Community Club Card, which gives special discounts at locally owned businesses.
4. Mount Kato
If you love to ski or snowboard, take advantage of college night at Mount Kato this winter. Lift tickets and rentals are $18 each (half-off) Thursdays after 4 p.m. with a student ID.
5. Amazon Student
With Amazon Student, you get free 2-day shipping, free instant streaming of movies and TV shows, and 1 free e-book loan a month, all for $39/year, almost half off the regular Amazon Prime price of $79/year.
6. Tech Gadgets
Whether you’re an Apple or PC person, you can get an education discount from nearly all of the top computer and electronic brands, usually around 8% off.