We all know the cliché “broke college student.” If you can relate to that description, local businesses offer incredible student discounts all over the Long Branch area to help out Monmouth students.
There’s no reason to sugar coat it – we live in a pretty pricey area on the Jersey Shore. These student discounts really do wonders to make up for that.
If you are looking to get your nails done, you can get a manicure without feeling any guilt. Shannon McBride, a senior communication student, said, “The Affinity Nail Salon gives Monmouth students a discount and they do nails really well.”
When checking out the school’s site, you can easily find a list of some of the discounts that are offered to us. Believe it or not, we have some pretty awesome connections.
Apple, Dell and AT&T are just a few of the big names that really come in handy when you’re a student looking to buy some new electronics. Laptops, tablets and/or desktops are some necessary machines for all college students. Prices run pretty high for our beloved MacBooks, so we could all use a discount for that purchase.
With having a mall so close to campus, things can slightly get out of hand. If you hear the Monmouth Mall calling out your name to spend all of your latest paycheck, it’s okay to cave. If you want to get some new clothes or a sweet treat, there are plenty of discounts available to you.
Stores like Charlotte Russe and Forever 21 are among those who will give you a discount. When in doubt, don’t be afraid to ask your favorite store if they offer any deals for local students.
Reanna Morio, a senior business student, said, “The frozen yogurt place, Frozen Peaks, in the mall, gives Monmouth students discounts. And the fro-yo is really good, too.” When your sweet treat is discounted, the gym session the next day is totally worth it.
If you are one of the many Monmouth students who are addicted to Playa Bowls, you can get a 10 percent off discount when you show your ID at the Pier Village location. All those discounts will add up and if you use their loyalty card too, you will get a free bowl after purchasing 12. That deal will make you feel better about splurging on your Nutella snacks.
If you’re a commuter student, it can sometimes be difficult to keep up with what’s going on around the University neighborhood. But student discounts will follow you wherever you go, regardless of what town you call home. Many places will offer a student discount to anyone with a valid University ID, no matter what location you find yourself in.
There are a handful of chain restaurants that offer student discounts. Chick-fil-A and Chipotle offer free drinks with a meal if you show your student ID; how amazing is that? Other places like Dunkin Donuts, Dairy Queen and McDonald’s will give 10 percent off to students.
Many stores outside of Monmouth Mall also offer student discounts; in most cases, you can even apply this discount online. Some typically expensive stores, such as Urban Outfitters, give a 15 percent discount for students.
Other websites and apps can also verify your student status to give you a discount. Something that every college student needs is music. Whether you pledge your loyalty to Spotify or Apple Music, you can get a student rate for their monthly streaming services. Say good-bye to annoying advertisements!
Eleanor Novek, Ph.D., professor of communication, noted that you don’t even need to leave campus to experience the benefit of some discounts. “The performances that we put on here are really good, and the tickets are always discounted for the students,” she said.
In fact, Monmouth is currently putting on a production of The Drowsy Chaperone. You can still catch performances from Nov. 14-18, and tickets are free for students. Why waste money on gas or an Uber if you can just stay on campus for fun and free entertainment? You can call the Lauren K. Woods box office for more information.
The University also offers trips through the Student Activities office that give students the opportunity to get away for a low price. For instance, last spring, the history club funded a trip to Washington D.C. that cost students less than $50 for transportation and a two-night stay in a hotel. Always keep an eye on your email, because another trip could come up soon.
We all pay for that title of “Monmouth University Student,” so take advantage of everything that comes with it. It’s common for college students to claim that they’re broke, so there’s no excuse to not use all the discounts that are available to you.
PHOTO TAKEN by Jenna Puglisi
