(BLACK PR WIRE/FAMU-TALLAHASSEE) – Couponing is more popular now than ever. With TLC’s reality TV show “Extreme Couponing,” the world is now familiar with the growing interest in coupons. The classic medium for coupons that still exists is newspapers. Just as the world of technology has evolved, so have coupon clippings. Today coupons can be found on various websites, social media networks and cell phone applications, making them more available to the younger generation. College students have recently adopted this new hobby as a part of their lives.

College is that time where the least amount of money is at hand. Students are always looking for ways to save money: borrowing books, shopping at thrift stores and using public transportation, to name a few. Why leave out couponing? During college, students’ shopping habits are tailored for themselves so it is easier for them to obtain big savings. Couponing is a great tool to utilize during those penny-pinching college years.

It is normal for students to struggle with finances during college. As the years fly by, the experiences in college teach students the value of a dollar. College students have become aware of the savings and rewards that come along with clipping coupons. “I use coupons mainly on groceries, and then I have more money for shoes,” says Nesha Thorpe, biology student at Florida A & M University. “I believe I save about $50 off my bill at the grocery store,” she adds.

According to RetailMeNot.com, about 24% of college students use coupon websites. Tweeting with eyes glued to cell phones and computer screens, manufacturers are now exposing coupons to millennials. On average, an intermediate “couponer” can save a whopping $100 a month! Money that could be saved for textbooks or put towards that iPhone 5.

A college student finding the time to clip coupons is different from the average mom. For balancing classes, school work, and a part time job while maintaining a social life, clipping coupons may not make the cut. Yet, students still complain about high prices and empty pockets. If the average mom has time to gather coupons while working and maintaining a household, college students can also find the time.

Psychology student Michelle Ranglin finds time out of her busy schedule to clip coupons. “Every Sunday I buy the Tallahassee Democrat and cut out coupons from the Smart Source. It takes me no more than 20 minutes,” she says.

Without any realization, students who use coupons motivate their friends, cashiers and other shoppers. “I notice more and more college students using coupons at work. They have encouraged me to start clipping,” says Wal-Mart cashier Ashley Todd. This growing number of coupon usage will keep manufactures eager to print them.

Cash-strapped students shall keep this trend of couponing going. Who knows, maybe high school students will develop this hobby one day. Using coupons is no longer looked at as that boring activity just for grandmothers. It is now viewed as cool because students have learned that it keeps money in their pockets. The coupon world is changing and at the same time helping college students save money while learning how to balance their expenses.