Tips & Resources for Saving Money

Food Banks

A food bank is a community-based organization that collects, stores, and distributes food to individuals and families facing food insecurity. Food insecurity broadly defined is “the state of being without reliable access to sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.” Utilizing a food bank can be a practical and supportive way to access nutritious groceries during difficult financial times. To learn more about Larimer county Food Bank programs visit the Food Bank of Larimer

Rams Against Hunger

Rams Against Hunger offers a menu of services that support CSU students, faculty and staff experiencing food insecurity. Rams Against Hunger Services include an on-campus food pantry, a meal-swipe program, pocket pantries, and in-person assistance with navigating federal aid eligibility.

Thrift Stores

Thrift Stores sell a variety of items such as clothing, shoes, accessories for adults and children, as well as household wares, books, and furniture. Most items in the store are previously-owned and slightly used, but they must be in good condition for the store to resell them. Thrift stores are a great place to pick up clothing and toys for growing children because you don’t lose very much money if the child ruins the clothes or outgrows them quickly. Thrift stores are also a very economical and environmental choice in purchasing adult clothing and household items (reduce, REUSE, recycle). The following is a list of local thrift stores in Fort Collins:

  1. Surplus Property – 201 West Lake Street (On Campus) – Monday – Friday from 7:30am to 4pm
  2. Brand Spanking Used Thrift Store – 227 South College Avenue
  3. ARC Thrift Store – 2701 South College Avenue
  4. Flamingo Boutique – 140 West Oak Street
  5. Goodwill – 315 Pavilion Lane
  6. Habitat Home Supply Store – 4001 S. Taft Hill Rd. (970) 223-9909
  7. Salvation Army – 246 N. College Ave. (970) 224-3340
  8. Savers – 4106 S. College Ave (970) 282-9446
  9. Once Upon a Child – 4519 S. College Ave. (970) 266-9999
  10. Repeat Boutique – 239 Linden (970) 493-1039 or 3307 S. college Ave. (970) 377-9678
  11. Eco Thrift- 302 N Meldrum St (970) 484-422

Coupons

Cutting coupons from the local newspaper and using them in stores and restaurants can be a great way to save money and try out new restaurants. The Fort Collins Coloradoan Sunday newspaper and the Denver Post Sunday newspaper have inserts of coupons that give you a discount when you purchase certain products. Also, CSU prints coupon books each semester that offer discounts at restaurants and businesses close to campus. The coupon books can be obtained from your area office or from the Lory Student Center. Many coupons offer buy one- get one free promotions or saving a certain amount of money when you purchase a specific brand of product or a special service.

In addition, most newspapers contain the insert all grocery stores publish advertising the specials of the week. Carefully investigating the weekly specials and purchasing items in bulk when they are on sale can help you save!