{"id":57586,"date":"2025-09-16T15:56:44","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T19:56:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/five-smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/"},"modified":"2025-09-16T15:58:59","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T19:58:59","slug":"smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus","status":"publish","type":"rbc_my_money_matter","link":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"Smart Money Tips for Living Off Campus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-block  pos-rel\" style=\"border-radius:0px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-section-inner-block  section-inner\" style=\"border-radius:0x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-rbc-block drop-shadow pos-rel top-line-blue block-wpr\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-rbc-block-inner-block block-inner\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tldr\">TLDR<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-rbc-list is-style-blue-disc\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Student rent, groceries and utilities all add up. Staying on top of your expenses takes some planning.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-rbc-list is-style-blue-disc\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Having open and regular conversations with roommates about housing costs can help ensure everyone is covering their fair share.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-rbc-list is-style-blue-disc\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Budget-friendly food and transportation strategies can help you keep costs down.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Digital budgeting and tracking tools for students make it easier to stay on top of your money through the school year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Living off campus is a major rite of passage for college and university students. Whether you lived in residence or at home with your folks last year, moving out on your own (or with roommates) is a big transition. Cooking for yourself, paying bills, getting around \u2013 it all comes with new money scenarios to figure out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adopting smart financial habits can make living off campus more organized, less stressful and way less likely to cause fights with roommates. Most importantly, it can help make sure your money lasts the whole year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-off-campus-living-requires-a-money-plan\">Why off-campus living requires a money plan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>No more meal plan. Maybe no internet plan or utilities included in your rent. Living off campus means handling a whole new set of expenses \u2013 some predictable, some not so much. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/money-academy\/banking-basics\/budgeting\/back-to-school-finances-budgeting-for-the-school-year\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-57586-bf4a4e8b\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"Having a plan\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">Having a plan<\/a> at the start of school helps to ensure you can cover your essentials and still have some left over for fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-rising-rent-and-cost-of-living-for-students\">Rising rent and cost of living for students<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Student housing is tight across Canada, from big cities to small college towns. And high demand means high rent. Groceries are another shocker \u2013 who knew vegetables could cost this much? Somehow, your bill always creeps higher than you expect it to. With rent, utilities and food all eating into your budget, it\u2019s key to track what\u2019s coming in and what\u2019s going out each month.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-benefits-of-budgeting-early\">Benefits of budgeting early<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Like starting the semester strong, getting your budget in place early can save a lot of stress. Off-campus student budgeting involves mapping out the year, which allows you to spot any gaps before they become crises. That way, you can avoid the February panic of realizing your bank account is running on fumes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-smart-housing-choices\">Smart housing choices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Finding the right place is about more than a short commute. Affordable, livable and fair lease terms are a must. And just as important? Good roommates. You\u2019ll want to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/sharing-expenses-with-roommates-how-to-set-your-home-up-for-success\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-57586-378af3fe\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"make sure everyone is on the same page\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">make sure everyone is on the same page<\/a>&nbsp;\u2013 about money, chores and noise \u2013 before you sign anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-splitting-rent-with-roommates\">Splitting rent with roommates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some students split rent evenly, some adjust it based on room size and others come up with creative trades \u2013 like cheaper rent for the roommate who always cooks. Whatever you decide, agree to it up front. Getting it all in writing is a bonus move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-understanding-leases-and-hidden-costs\">Understanding leases and hidden costs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is probably the first lease you\u2019ve signed, and there\u2019s a lot packed in there. Here are some key things to look for:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-rbc-list is-style-blue-disc\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Timing:&nbsp; Leases usually run a full year, not just the school year<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>What\u2019s included: Internet, furniture, utilities? Make sure it\u2019s all clear.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Trade-offs: Some landlords might offer discounts if you agree to do snow shoveling or lawn care<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Deposits: Landlords in Canada can only ask for the first month\u2019s rent \u2013 not extra cleaning or security deposits&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-food-budgeting-for-students\">Food budgeting for students<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With no meal plan and no parents cooking for you, food is something every student living off campus has to figure out \u2013 and fast. A balance of cheap and healthy is ideal. After all, you can\u2019t be at your best on a diet of butter noodles alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-meal-planning-and-cooking-at-home\">Meal planning and cooking at home<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Cooking at home is much cheaper than takeout and healthier than fast food. Even a rough plan can help cut down on last-minute \u2018what\u2019s for dinner\u2019 stress. You don\u2019t want to be staring at an empty fridge on an empty stomach!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-grocery-shopping-hacks\">Grocery shopping hacks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you enjoy grocery shopping or despise it, it has to be done. Here are some hacks to keep the visit short and the costs down:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-rbc-list is-style-blue-disc\">\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Always shop with a list<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Look for deals and use loyalty cards<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Buy generic \u2013 it\u2019s usually just as good<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Frozen fruit and veggies are your friend<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Stock up on bread and meat you can freeze<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-block-rbc-list-item\">\n<p>Go solo \u2013 shopping with friends often leads to more impulse buys&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-managing-utilities-and-internet-costs\">Managing utilities and internet costs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes utilities are included in the rent, and sometimes they\u2019re extra. If you\u2019re splitting them, keep it fair and transparent. Here are some utilities tips for students:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-set-up-automatic-payments\">Set up automatic payments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019re busy enough with school \u2013 you don\u2019t want to keep track of bill deadlines. Automatic payments make sure nothing slips through the cracks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-sharing-bills-fairly-with-roommates\">Sharing bills fairly with roommates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Agree on who pays for what in advance. It\u2019s easy if everyone is going to make use of Wi-Fi and electricity. But if one roommate doesn\u2019t watch TV, maybe they don\u2019t chip in for cable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However you organize your expenses, it\u2019s worth doing regular check-ins and settling up regularly so nobody feels taken advantage of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-getting-around-without-overspending\">Getting around without overspending<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on how far you live from campus, this is something you\u2019ll need to think about. If you can get there on your own steam \u2013 walking or cycling \u2013 great. If not, here are some tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-public-transit-versus-car-ownership\">Public transit versus car ownership<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re thinking of having a car for the school year, don\u2019t forget about the cost of gas, insurance and parking. But maybe you can carpool with your roommates to share costs? Public transit will probably be cheaper overall, but crunch the numbers if you\u2019re on the fence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-student-discounts-on-transport\">Student discounts on transport<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some schools provide transit passes as part of tuition. Otherwise, most transit systems in Canada have student discounts, provided you show a student card when paying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As much as possible, skip ride shares and taxis \u2013 they can drain your wallet fast!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-building-good-financial-habits\">Building good financial habits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Money management is a skill \u2013 like learning to cook or doing your laundry without shrinking your clothes. The more you practice, the better you get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tracking-expenses-with-rbc-digital-tools\">Tracking expenses with RBC digital tools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Available through the RBC Mobile app, <strong><em>NOMI<\/em><\/strong> Budgets makes it easy to manage your day-to-day spending. NOMI will recommend a budget based on your personal spending and saving habits and then actively help you stick to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-starting-an-emergency-fund\">Starting an emergency fund<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if you can set aside a little bit at a time, every little bit counts. A small buffer can save you from overdraft fees or scrambling when something unexpected comes up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-rbc-resources-to-help-you-thrive-off-campus\">RBC resources to help you thrive off campus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>RBC has long supported students in making the most of their money. Here are some resources that have helped others just like you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RBC student bank accounts<\/strong> \u2013 Fees are waived on the RBC Advantage Banking for students account for anyone under 25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Budgeting calculators<\/strong> \u2013 The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/student\/budget-calculator\/?msockid=089114f10aab690c070102a70b046888\" data-dig-id=\"LP-57586-a8e1f2e8\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"RBC Student Budget Calculator\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">RBC Student Budget Calculator<\/a> can help you figure out how much money you&#8217;ll need to get through the school year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Credit educatio<\/strong>n \u2013 Learn how to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/how-to-build-your-credit-score\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-57586-4b2dcd80\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"build good credit\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">build good credit<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/how-to-build-your-credit-score\/\"> <\/a>now. It will matter later when you rent your first non-student apartment, get a car or apply for a mortgage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Living off campus is exciting. It\u2019s freedom, independence and real-world living rolled into one. But with freedom comes responsibility \u2013 especially with your money. The good news is, building smart money habits now sets you up for the future (from next semester to years down the road). So, budget early, be open with your roommates and make smart choices. And eat your vegetables!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find more tips on how to be financially prepared for college or university <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/\" data-dig-id=\"LP-57586-fdcdd7fc\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"link click\" data-dig-label=\"here\" class=\"rbc-link-format\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-rbc-default-collapsible\"><p><button class=\"collapse-toggle collapsed\" data-target=\"#collapse834a1009\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"collapse834a1009\" data-dig-id=\"LP-57738-834a1009\" data-dig-category=\"LP\" data-dig-action=\"accordion closed\" action-closed=\"accordion closed\" action-opened=\"accordion open\" data-dig-label=\"Things our lawyers want you to know\"><span>Things our lawyers want you to know<\/span><span>Things our lawyers want you to know<\/span><\/button><\/p><div class=\"collapse-content collapse\" id=\"collapse834a1009\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-rbc-collapsible-inner-block collapse-inner\">\n<p>This article is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Living off campus involves a whole new set of money situations. Get tips to help you save, manage and stay on top of your money.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":54548,"parent":57295,"menu_order":0,"template":"wp-custom-template-mmm-sticky-nav","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[81,48],"rbc_content_type":[31],"rbc_audience":[49,61],"rbc_lob_group":[50],"rbc_difficulty_level":[33],"rbc_mmm_category":[318,367,303,348,304,312],"class_list":["post-57586","rbc_my_money_matter","type-rbc_my_money_matter","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-education","tag-savings","rbc_content_type-article","rbc_audience-students","rbc_audience-youth","rbc_lob_group-students","rbc_difficulty_level-beginner","rbc_mmm_category-banking-basics","rbc_mmm_category-budgeting","rbc_mmm_category-goals-aspirations","rbc_mmm_category-going-to-college-or-university","rbc_mmm_category-money-academy","rbc_mmm_category-school-and-career"],"acf":{"contently_publication_id":"191543","custom_author":"Diane Amato","rbc_video_header":"","rbc_media_duration":"","rbc_toc_for_mmm_tag":"h2","rbc_toc_for_mmm_limit":6,"rbc_toc_for_mmm":[{"title":"Why off-campus living requires a money plan","url":"#h-why-off-campus-living-requires-a-money-plan"},{"title":"Smart housing choices","url":"#h-smart-housing-choices"},{"title":"Food budgeting for students","url":"#h-food-budgeting-for-students"},{"title":"Managing utilities and internet costs","url":"#h-managing-utilities-and-internet-costs"},{"title":"Getting around without overspending","url":"#h-getting-around-without-overspending"},{"title":"Building good financial habits","url":"#h-building-good-financial-habits"}],"rbc_toc_for_mmm_action":"Generate Table Of Contents"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Get handy money tips for students living off campus - from grocery hacks and paying bills to splitting costs with roommates.\u00a0\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Get handy money tips for students living off campus - from grocery hacks and paying bills to splitting costs with roommates.\u00a0\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"RBC Royal Bank\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-16T19:58:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-223_402x.jpg?quality=80\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"930\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"620\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"RBC\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/#\/schema\/person\/565fe74483a298c05d1be363c890c7b0\"},\"headline\":\"Smart Money Tips for Living Off Campus\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-16T19:56:44+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-16T19:58:59+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/\"},\"wordCount\":1290,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-223_402x.jpg?quality=80\",\"keywords\":[\"Education\",\"Savings\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/\",\"name\":\"Smart Money Tips for Living Off Campus - My Money Matters\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-223_402x.jpg?quality=80\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-16T19:56:44+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-16T19:58:59+00:00\",\"description\":\"Get handy money tips for students living off campus - from grocery hacks and paying bills to splitting costs with roommates.\u00a0\u00a0\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-223_402x.jpg?quality=80\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-223_402x.jpg?quality=80\",\"width\":930,\"height\":620},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"My Money Matters\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Goals and Aspirations\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"School and Career\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Going to College or University\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":5,\"name\":\"Smart Money Tips for Living Off Campus\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/\",\"name\":\"RBC Royal Bank\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/#\/schema\/person\/565fe74483a298c05d1be363c890c7b0\",\"name\":\"RBC\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ebd3d2d89d929986d9e254569349587e0ae3dda4934d4b7c91e93fd550e72532?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ebd3d2d89d929986d9e254569349587e0ae3dda4934d4b7c91e93fd550e72532?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ebd3d2d89d929986d9e254569349587e0ae3dda4934d4b7c91e93fd550e72532?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"RBC\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"description":"Get handy money tips for students living off campus - from grocery hacks and paying bills to splitting costs with roommates.\u00a0\u00a0","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_description":"Get handy money tips for students living off campus - from grocery hacks and paying bills to splitting costs with roommates.\u00a0\u00a0","og_url":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/","og_site_name":"RBC Royal Bank","article_modified_time":"2025-09-16T19:58:59+00:00","og_image":[{"width":930,"height":620,"url":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-223_402x.jpg?quality=80","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/"},"author":{"name":"RBC","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/#\/schema\/person\/565fe74483a298c05d1be363c890c7b0"},"headline":"Smart Money Tips for Living Off Campus","datePublished":"2025-09-16T19:56:44+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-16T19:58:59+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/"},"wordCount":1290,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-223_402x.jpg?quality=80","keywords":["Education","Savings"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/","url":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/","name":"Smart Money Tips for Living Off Campus - My Money Matters","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-223_402x.jpg?quality=80","datePublished":"2025-09-16T19:56:44+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-16T19:58:59+00:00","description":"Get handy money tips for students living off campus - from grocery hacks and paying bills to splitting costs with roommates.\u00a0\u00a0","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-223_402x.jpg?quality=80","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-223_402x.jpg?quality=80","width":930,"height":620},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"My Money Matters","item":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Goals and Aspirations","item":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"School and Career","item":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Going to College or University","item":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"name":"Smart Money Tips for Living Off Campus"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/","name":"RBC Royal Bank","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/#\/schema\/person\/565fe74483a298c05d1be363c890c7b0","name":"RBC","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ebd3d2d89d929986d9e254569349587e0ae3dda4934d4b7c91e93fd550e72532?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ebd3d2d89d929986d9e254569349587e0ae3dda4934d4b7c91e93fd550e72532?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ebd3d2d89d929986d9e254569349587e0ae3dda4934d4b7c91e93fd550e72532?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"RBC"}}]}},"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Smart Money Tips for Living Off Campus","url":"http:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/goals-aspirations\/school-and-career\/going-to-college-or-university\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-223_402x.jpg?quality=80&w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-223_402x.jpg?quality=80"},"articleSection":"Uncategorized","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"RBC"}],"creator":["RBC"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"RBC Royal Bank","logo":""},"keywords":["education","savings"],"dateCreated":"2025-09-16T19:56:44Z","datePublished":"2025-09-16T19:56:44Z","dateModified":"2025-09-16T19:58:59Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"Smart Money Tips for Living Off Campus\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\\\/en-ca\\\/my-money-matters\\\/goals-aspirations\\\/school-and-career\\\/going-to-college-or-university\\\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\\\/en-ca\\\/my-money-matters\\\/goals-aspirations\\\/school-and-career\\\/going-to-college-or-university\\\/smart-money-tips-for-living-off-campus\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\\\/en-ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/12\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/thumb-223_402x.jpg?quality=80&w=150&h=150&crop=1\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\\\/en-ca\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/12\\\/2023\\\/09\\\/thumb-223_402x.jpg?quality=80\"},\"articleSection\":\"Uncategorized\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"RBC\"}],\"creator\":[\"RBC\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"RBC Royal Bank\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"education\",\"savings\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2025-09-16T19:56:44Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-16T19:56:44Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-16T19:58:59Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/rbcroyalbank.com\/p.js"},"featured_img":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2023\/09\/thumb-223_402x.jpg?quality=80&w=930","coauthors":[],"author_meta":{"author_link":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/author\/fclaussen\/","display_name":"RBC"},"relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 7 months ago","modified":"Updated 7 months ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on September 16, 2025","modified":"Updated on September 16, 2025"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on September 16, 2025 3:56 pm","modified":"Updated on September 16, 2025 3:58 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","tax_additional":{"post_tag":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/education\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Education<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/my-money-matters\/topic\/savings\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Savings<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Education<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Savings<\/span>"],"slug":"post_tag","name":"Tags"},"rbc_content_type":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/content-type\/article\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Article<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Article<\/span>"],"slug":"rbc_content_type","name":"Content Types"},"rbc_audience":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/audience\/students\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Students<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/audience\/youth\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Youth<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Students<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Youth<\/span>"],"slug":"rbc_audience","name":"Audiences"},"rbc_lob_group":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/lob-group\/students\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Students<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Students<\/span>"],"slug":"rbc_lob_group","name":"LOB Groups"},"rbc_difficulty_level":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/difficulty-level\/beginner\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Beginner<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Beginner<\/span>"],"slug":"rbc_difficulty_level","name":"Difficulty Levels"},"rbc_mmm_category":{"linked":["<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/mmm-category\/banking-basics\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Banking Basics<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/mmm-category\/budgeting\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Budgeting<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/mmm-category\/goals-aspirations\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Goals &amp; Aspirations<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/mmm-category\/going-to-college-or-university\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Going to College or University<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/mmm-category\/money-academy\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Money Academy<\/a>","<a href=\"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/mmm-category\/school-and-career\/\" class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">School and Career<\/a>"],"unlinked":["<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Banking Basics<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Budgeting<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Goals &amp; Aspirations<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Going to College or University<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">Money Academy<\/span>","<span class=\"advgb-post-tax-term\">School and Career<\/span>"],"slug":"rbc_mmm_category","name":"Categories"},"ep_custom_result":{"linked":[],"unlinked":[],"slug":"ep_custom_result","name":"Custom Results"}},"series_order":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"primary_tag":"48","primary_rbc_mmm_category":"348","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_my_money_matter\/57586","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_my_money_matter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rbc_my_money_matter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_my_money_matter\/57586\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":95554,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_my_money_matter\/57586\/revisions\/95554"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_my_money_matter\/57295"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54548"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57586"},{"taxonomy":"rbc_content_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_content_type?post=57586"},{"taxonomy":"rbc_audience","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_audience?post=57586"},{"taxonomy":"rbc_lob_group","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_lob_group?post=57586"},{"taxonomy":"rbc_difficulty_level","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_difficulty_level?post=57586"},{"taxonomy":"rbc_mmm_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rbcroyalbank.com\/en-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rbc_mmm_category?post=57586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}