Student Discounts

By Sophie Jeffery, Editor

It’s a given that college is expensive, but the good news is every other aspect of our lives doesn’t have to be!  Many businesses, local and nationwide, provide opportunities for students to save a little extra cash.  One of the biggest and newest student discounts is from Spotify.  They have recently teamed up with Hulu to offer an amazing deal:  for just $4.99 per month, college students can enjoy a Spotify Premium account and a Hulu limited commercial plan.  Head here to sign up for this amazing offer!  Good luck deciding which show to binge first.  Might I suggest The Handmaid’s Tale?

I’ve highlighted some other deals for students below, but of course this list is not comprehensive.  Whether you’re looking to eat, shop, or binge watch your favorite shows, you’re sure to find a few savings below.

Dining Out:

            Everyone knows about Bearcat Monday at Dairy Queen, but did you know the McDonald’s in town also offers 50% off their entire menu on Mondays?  You can also swing through the drive-thru from 10pm-1am all week long to take advantage of Bearcats After Dark; Big Macs and Quarter Pounders are 2/$4 and chicken nuggets are 25 cents.  Dairy Queen offers a 10% discount on all other days.

Dairy King offers 10% off purchases over $7, excluding specials.  Employee and McKendree Senior Greg Kassen says, “I always see people come in wearing McKendree t-shirts and I’ll tell them about the discount if they don’t ask for it.  I’m surprised how many people don’t know about it!”    Head on out to their Breese or Trenton locations and have an order of fried green beans for me!

Looking for a caffeine fix?  The Foundry offers McKendree students 5% off their purchase; pick up a pastry or yummy lunch while you’re there!  Their lunch menu changes frequently; be sure to check out their facebook page for today’s offerings.

Entertainment:

In the mood for a movie?  The Edge and The Lincoln, both in Belleville, offer discounted student movie tickets with student ID ($7.50 and $6.50, respectively).  While Wehrenberg theater in O’Fallon does not offer a student discount, all showtimes (even new releases) on Tuesdays are only $5.  You can also snag a free 46oz popcorn if you have a rewards card!

Does your course-load have you feeling like bouncing off the walls?  Head over to Skyzone in Fairview Heights for Student Night every Thursday from 4-9pm.  Show them your Student ID and jump for 60 minutes for just $10.

Feeling crafty?  Pottery Hollow in Fairview Heights is a great spot for a girls’ night out or even date night!  Paint a mug for just $5 when you show your Student ID.  They usually have lots of great coupons on their website too, so make sure you check them out before you go!

Shopping:

            Amazon Prime is life, so if you don’t have it yet, sign up ASAP.  College students get 6 months of their 2-day shipping for free, and after that, a yearly Prime membership for half off.  It’s a great deal, especially for when you add in the other benefits of a Prime membership.  If you’re a Doctor Who fan, the streaming service alone is worth it!  As a Prime member, you can also select one free e-book a month from a selection of new publications through their program called Kindle First.  Prime me

mbers also have access to limited content from Audible, and Amazon Music.

Another great resource to save some money while shopping is the app UniDAYS.  Once you register and are verified as a student, you can take advantage of discounts from lots of top brands like UnderArmor, Modcloth, asos, American Apparel, Moleskine, Casetify, Apple, and more!  Download the app today or sign up on their website and check out all the great offers.

I hope you found some new deals to take advantage of!  Of course, this list is by no means comprehensive, so please let me know if I missed one of your favorite deals.