Clothes
Call me crazy, but I would rather have enough clothes to wear that all of my clothes don't wear out within a couple of weeks than have one designer-brand outfit. The bargains I find on the clearance racks are just as sleek and stylish as the designer-brand clothes displayed on pedestals with teenagers alternately switching between the "must-have-because-this-celebrity-wore-it" mindset and the dead faint over the skyrocketing price tag. I've noticed that the jeans I find on sale for less than $10 look almost exactly the same as those $100 designer-brand jeans. The only difference is the absence of the famous name on the tag on the waistband of the jeans. And - as a matter of fact - I often find those designer-brand jeans for less-pricey prices. One just has to know where and when to look, as well as have a good idea of what one is looking for. I love shopping, trying on, and wearing outfits that enhance my beauty just as much as any other girl, and I have a strategy of doing so in such a way that I have money left over for more necessary things - and even the occasional luxury.
While shopping for clothes is fun, I have not allowed it to become a hobby. I go clothes shopping about 8 times or less a year (meaning real, all day, store-to-store clothes-shopping) - once or twice per season - and concentrate only on the clearance and sales racks. Though some stores only put off-season or slightly damaged garments on the clearance racks, most stores have many in-season and perfectly ok clothing on sale. My favorite clothing stores, in this order, are Kohls, Ross, JC Penney's, Dillards, and Target. Small, local stores also have good bargains on clothing. Before I go shopping, I take an inventory of the clothing I do have and the condition it is in, figuring out what I need and how much of it. I take the full year into account - not just the current season. There is no need to go to spend more than $30 for an item of clothing unless you are treating yourself to a luxury or it is a clothing emergency, since that exact same item will probably be on the clearance rack for half-off or more within the next couple of months.
I try to spend no more than $10 per school shirt (I usually manage to get them for about $5), $17 per pair of blue jeans, $30 for tennis shoes, and $20 for casual and dress shoes. You can usually afford to pay a little more for good-quality shoes than for clothing (and usually have to because of the prices) since - by the time you're in college - your shoe size will usually be the same for the next few years (at least) so that you can get twice as much wear out of shoes than clothes. Pay attention to when stores are having big sales, or - if crowds of people fighting over limited merchandise (even if it's reduced in price) is not your thing - shop in the middle of the week. Clip coupons when you find them. Shopping with friends is good if they share your opinions on finding bargains.
Groceries
Wal-Mart is my favorite grocery store - make no mistake about that. In just one trip I can generally find every single thing I need. However, there are many other stores in which one can find low prices on everyday items such as food, Tupperware, makeup, paper towels, etc. I have found generic brands to be just as high-quality as brand name merchandise - especially in the grocery category - and with lower price tags. Whether the difference is a few cents or several dollars, remember that a little bit goes a long way, and think about how much you'll save in a year if you consistently by the generic brand as opposed to the real product. Don't fall into the "just-a-few-cents-won't-matter' trap, because those few cents can really add up in the long run. If you buy Sometimes, though, coupons (clipped from magazines, newspapers, or printed from online sites - just Google "free printable coupons") can make the price of brand name products equal to or less than generic brands, so coupons are always good. Depending on how much you use coupons, what kind of coupons are available, and how easily you can get the coupons, there's no telling how much money you can save on your grocery bill.
Gifts (Birthdays, Christmas, etc.)
My friends and I have an agreement that - because college is hard on the pocketbook - we don't buy one another gifts. We might make presents or draw names for Chrismas, have get-togethers/low-cost parties, but we don't buy gifts for one another - expensive or otherwise - for birthdays and such (although there are some special-case exceptions). However, I still participate in exchanging gifts with my family members. Whenever I am in a store, I keep in mind the holidays and birthdays coming up and the people I'll be giving presents to. When I see something for a reasonable price (I generally look for stuff on sale until about 2 weeks before the occasion), I buy it and save it until the occasion, rather than waiting until a few weeks before the occasion when I might have to settle for something good but pricey or cheap but not-so-good.
Food
I try not to eat out more than 4 times a month (and usually less), and the only time I do this is when I'm on a date or with friends who would rather eat out than eat at home. I pack a meal when I am away from home/dorm/apartment, and - when on campus - I use my "meal trades." My friends do the same. Groceries cost less than meals at restaurants, though the occasional luxury is good.
Entertainment
For me, just being with my friends is enough entertainment for me. We like to play sports and board games, watch tv and movies, and talk. Occasionally we indulge in luxuries for which one must pay for admission, such as ice skating, going to the movies or golf, but - for the most part - we get plenty of entertainment at home/college. For movie nights, we make popcorn and watch rented movies or movies from home (rentals are usually cheaper than going to a movie theater). The campus library also has movies which can be checked out for free - Interlibrary loan also works great although it is generally only intended for research. We all own rollerblades, and every once in a while go rollerblading around campus - it's great exercise, too. Speaking of exercise, there is a free gym on nearly every college campus. Nearly every evening there is a free social event with free food somewhere on campus.
