Budgeting Tips

The Canada Learning Bond is money the government adds to a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) for children from low-income families. This money helps to pay the costs of full- or part-time studies after high school if  an apprenticeship, CEGEP, trade school, college or university is pursued. Personal contributions to an RESP aren't required to receive the Canada Learning Bond.

The TMU Library has a program called the Textbook Collection that allows you to take out your textbooks for a short-term loan.

Digital textbooks are often cheaper than physical textbooks. If you prefer physical books, there are also bookstores near campus or various social media platforms where you can buy and trade used textbooks with other students.

As a TMU student, you're eligible for student education discounts through Dell or Apple. Access educational pricing by logging on to your my.torontomu.ca account and navigating to the Dell or Apple links on the home page.

Many tech companies also offer student deals and discounts on electronics, especially right before the new academic year begins. Make sure to check online before starting your semester.

TMU offers a free pop-up store that's dedicated to helping you reduce your environmental impact and save money. You may find electronics, office supplies, home decor, kitchen supplies, books and more, all for free!

Your OneCard (your Student ID) will help you to save money around campus. You can enjoy free admission to TMU Bold home games and free access to the Recreation and Athletic Centre (RAC) and Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC). Beyond campus, many restaurants and shops near TMU offer discounts to students when you show your OneCard. 

The Student Price Card (SPC) (external link)  gives you access to discounts at many restaurants and stores around Toronto (especially near campus!) and the Greater Toronto Area. There's a small annual cost, but the savings will make up for it. Depending on who you bank with, you may even get a free SPC! You can confirm directly with your bank.

The International Student Identification Card (ISIC) (external link)  is another resource for both international and domestic students to explore. It can act as your “passport” to student discounts in Canada and worldwide.

Torontonians living in community housing may be eligible for reduced Bike Share memberships via Bike Share Toronto (external link) .

Did you know that you can negotiate your phone bill, internet/TV bill, or even your car insurance? You don't need to wait for your contract to renew to contact your provider. Offers become available throughout the year and it’s important to negotiate your rate. You should aim to start negotiating at least 2 months before your contract ends.

Tip: Try negotiating things like your phone bill, internet bill, or other services around holidays like Black Friday or Christmas. Service providers often have special deals and you can end up saving a significant amount of money!

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)

If you use the TTC, you may be eligible for post-secondary student fares (external link) .

GO Transit

If you use GO Transit, the GO Transit Student ID Card gives discounts to college and university students when you use your PRESTO card.

To be eligible as an undergraduate student, you need to be in a full course load in the fall and winter terms. If you're a graduate student, you need to be in a full-time program and a full course load. You can apply for the ID card online. For more information, visit GO Transit Post-Secondary Student Discount (external link) .

Remember to reapply every year! The post-secondary fare type expires annually from your PRESTO card. Check the expiration date on your PRESTO account and apply early to avoid losing the discount.

Services such as Odd Bunch (external link) , Flashfood (external link)  and FoodShare (external link)  provide discounted groceries with convenient ordering options. 

The Toronto Metropolitan Students’ Union (TMSU) also provides support through the Good Food Centre (external link) . Any TMU student facing any level of food insecurity (the inability to obtain food that meets your dietary needs) can use these services.

If you're a resident of Ontario or Toronto, you may be eligible for different types of financial assistance. Explore the links below to find support offered by the province and the city.

Tax filing is very important for students to complete each year. Regardless of your income amount, there are many benefits associated with filing taxes. For more information, refer to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) (external link) .

If you're an international student in need of support with your taxes, please refer to TMU's International Student Support Tax Services.

Your local public library may also offer free tax clinics and other personal financial advice. The closest public library to TMU is the Toronto Public Library (external link) .

If you're from a low-income household, you may be eligible for additional financial assistance through one or more publicly-funded programs. Visit the following websites for more information.