THE ULTIMATE COUPON: College Students can Save $1,000 on Tuition

ST. CHARLES, Ill. - Aug. 22, 2014 - PRLog -- It’s no secret that college education comes at a price. Many college students and their parents are struggling to pay tuition, despite the fact that the increase in this cost is slowing down.

According to College Board, the average in-state tuition for a public, four-year college or university was $8,893 in 2013, increasing 2.9 percent from the previous year, yet the smallest increase since the 1970s. The average tuition for a private four-year institution was $30,090, increasing just 3.8 percent.

Though the cost of education is high, a student and their family can offset some of these costs by saving money in other ways. Couponing (http://www.imin.com/store-coupons/) may be one of the most consistent ways. Considered a lifestyle to some, it is the secret to spending less and saving more!

According to Imin.com, many undergraduate and graduate students see couponing to be beneficial. In fact, last year, one in five students surveyed by Study Breaks and Campus2Careers.org say they are constantly looking for mobile deals (http://www.imin.com/store-coupons/walmart/) to use while they are out and about. After all, preparing for and living a life in a new dorm with new classes and new friends, perhaps in a new city, isn’t easy on a budget. School supplies, personal hygiene items, furniture, clothing, groceries, textbooks, and activities can all drain a bank account in no time, so the key is to avoid paying full price (http://www.imin.com/store-coupons/office-depot/) whenever possible.

St. Charles-based I’m In is a free service that offers consumers, like college students, a new way to shop both online and in-store. The company works alongside hundreds of merchants around the country in various categories, including Office Depot, eCampus, Best Buy, and Target, offering exclusive coupons, discounts, sales, and freebies (http://www.imin.com/grocery-coupons/). They aim to make savings easy and convenient for their users by offering a mobile app, auto alerts, and smart recommendations.

If the coupons aren’t enough, I’m In is awarding the ultimate coupon (http://www.imin.com/college-scholarship/), in the form of a $1,000 scholarship, in an effort for students to be smart and shop smart. This scholarship will be given to the college student who best answers the question, “Do coupons influence your purchasing decisions…why, or why not?”in a 650 word essay.

Questions to ponder include: “Why do you look for coupons prior to shopping?” “If coupons are never part of your purchasing routine, why?” “Are certain barriers preventing you from using coupons while purchasing products?” “Does your decision to purchase a product ever hinge on the possession of a coupon for that item?”

This student may be enrolled in any accredited undergraduate or graduate degree program, as long as they attend in the fall of 2014 and/or spring of 2015.

Essays will be published on I’m In’s website (http://www.imin.com), where the public will be able to vote on the most thoughtful response through social media handles - i.e. a “Like”on Facebook or a “Tweet”on Twitter. I’m In’s staff will then select one winner from the top 10 essays.

Those interested in applying for this scholarship must submit their essay via email to scholarship@imin.com by December 31, 2014. The prize, which may be used toward college tuition and/or books, will be awarded to the winner on January 31, 2015.