Living in Conway is relatively inexpensive, but here are some tips to help you live within your means.

Guides

Banking

  • Ditch Banks with monthly fees that drain your accounts. Open up a free checking account at a Credit Union. The credit unions in Conway offer free checking accounts with no monthly fees. You can save a lot of money in the long run. For example, if your bank charges you a $10 monthly checking account fee, this can add up to $120 a year. A free checking account from a not-for-profit credit union will save you money and you can even get free check orders (normally costs about $15-$35).
  • If you use a lot of ATMs and are tired of ATM fees, you can sign up with a bank or credit union that offers ATM fee refunds.
  • If you want cash but you don't like ATM fees, you can use your ATM/Debit Card for cash back at the register. Drug stores and grocery stores offer this feature. You can enter your PIN and get cash back. Usually, this is free of charge.
  • If your credit card has an annual fee or a high interest rate, you can shop around and see if a credit union offers credit cards without annual fees. Also many credit unions offer credit cards with better interest rates than banks and credit unions usually offer better loan rates than banks due to their not-for-profit statuses. This can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on home loans or car loans.
  • Credit Unions often offer better rates on car loans and home loans. You can save a tremendous amount of money by getting loans from a credit union versus a for-profit bank.
  • USE Credit Union offers Free Traveler's Checks & cashier's checks. These perks are great for traveling.
  • Simply shopping around for the best deals can save you money.

Bars

See Special Drink Nights

Buy Used

Free

  • Free Food
  • Free Checking: Get free checking deals at credit unions and some banks. You can save a lot of money each year by choosing a free checking account that has no monthly fees & free checks.
  • Linux
  • Free DVD rentals: Redbox Free rental codes: breakroom and dvdonme. You can use these codes once per credit/debit card. Use different cards and you can get more free rentals.
  • Free Software - You don't have to buy Microsoft Word to write your term paper. There are open source, free office suites from OpenOffice. You can also find free antivirus software at link
  • The Freecycle Network (Faulkner County chapter here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FaulknerCountyFreecycle/) is an online forum for stuff people no longer want, but can still be useful to someone else. Get stuff for free, and ease the pressure on landfills at the same time!
  • The Yolo County Library has books, movies and CDs you can borrow for free once you have a library card and have proven your residency.
  • Free Munchies at Bars
  • USE Credit Union Free Traveler's Checks & cashier's checks at USE Credit Union along with a free checking account.

Discount Programs

  • AAA Discount AAA offers very inexpensive emergency auto care (including free towing). They have discounts at local businesses such as Rite Aid and CVS/Pharmacy for prescriptions; check the AAA page for a list of local participating businesses.

Food

Housing

Medication

  • AAA Discount AAA offers discounts at local businesses such as Rite Aid and CVS/Pharmacy for prescriptions; check the AAA page for a list of local participating businesses.
  • Costco offers many prescription drugs at lower prices than at other pharmacies. Non-members can use the pharmacy. However, they only accept cash or debit.
  • Many drug stores and supermarkets offer store brand versions of medications such as Tylenol. The generic store brand is listed under Acetaminophen. You can save several dollars just by choosing the store brand. The store brand medications contain the same active ingredients and are just as safe and effective. Big corporations advertise Tylenol and other brand names such as Claritin to try to fool people into spending the extra money for the brand name, when the store brand generic equivalent contains the same active ingredients. Don't fall for the advertising. Save money by going with whatever is cheapest.

Out of town destinations for cheap(er) things

Electronics / Computer Parts

General Big-Box

Warehouse Stores

Grocery Stores

Outlet Malls

Tech/Professional Schools

( Note: you do not have to be a student to use these deals, however the person doing the service may be a student )

Taxes

  • The IRS website lists various vendors that offer free tax filing. link You can file a Federal tax return for free. Just choose a vendor. Some examples are TaxAct, TurboTax, and H&R Block At Home. State tax returns are not free.

Volunteering

Volunteering can help you feel like you are giving back to the community. On top of that some events can get you free admission to a lot of fun/interesting events in Little Rock, typically food, and occasionally a free T-Shirt. The only drawback is you may need a car to get to the event since it is not in Conway.

Do not volunteer if you don't believe in the cause. You are there to help them, and being opposed to what they do is not going to help anyone. Do consider your own values when volunteering.

The following list are events that can net you some pretty sweet things for the cash strapped student.

Also see Volunteer Opportunities (where this stuff really should be).

Add tags