College is a big expense, but if you’re enrolled there, you get all kinds of discounts, and those savings can really add up.

“I know that many stores like Panera and Spotify offer discounts of up to 10% to students who sign up with their ID,” says college student Cassie Riley.

Brandon Fisher, who studies in Ohio, said, “I use my ID for services like Spotify and then mainly for food delivery apps like Uber Eats, DoorDash and things like that.”

And a college student named Anthony said he likes the museum discounts he gets with his ID.

“I know the MIT museum has one,” he said. “It’s an incentive for us college students to get out of the house and have fun.”

There are so many college discounts available—on electronics and software, entertainment, food and drink, retail purchases, memberships and subscriptions. And when students take advantage of these discounts, they can save thousands of dollars by the time they graduate.

“Everything adds up,” says Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst at Bankrate. “Especially the big things, when we think about electronics, for example. But you know, in a lot of categories, whether it’s clothing, food or entertainment, every little bit counts. … You often have to figure that out for yourself, though.”

“Apple is a good example,” he continues. “If you buy a new phone, computer or tablet, they won’t necessarily know unless you ask about the student discount or join that program.”

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Many retailers offer discounts of 10, 15 or 20 percent. To access these, all you need to do is prove that you are a student.

You can even save on travel costs.

“Amtrak offers a 15% discount on travel within the U.S. For students who aren’t living at home while they’re in college, I think that’s a really resourceful way to save money,” says Allison Piwowarski, director of content strategy at Her Campus Media. “And Zipcar offers students an annual membership for $35, which is an incredible discount compared to the annual savings over the annual fee.”

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Students can access the deals directly on some websites, but can also log in and save on sites like UNiDAYS and Student Beans, which offer some exclusive student discounts.

“All you really need to do is have a student ID or an active .edu email address,” says Piwowarski. “And by activating your profile on UNiDAYS or Student Beans, you can apply it to brands that work with those platforms and offer student discounts. So it’s kind of a one-stop shop.”

And offering these discounts is a win-win for the brands, she explains.

“We know from talking to students that they are willing to shop at a new store or brand if there is an incentive attached,” says Piwowarski. “55 percent of students would shop at a new brand if there was a free sample, 47 percent would shop if there was a university-specific coupon or promotional code.”

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It is crucial that students get into the habit of checking whether a discount is available before making a purchase. And that they should not be afraid to ask whether a discount is available.

“I think the most important thing is: Don’t be afraid to ask. Don’t be afraid to look,” Rossman says. “A lot of these programs are out there, sometimes they’re almost hidden in front of your eyes, like all you have to do is go to another link, like you have to remember everything.”

Some small business owners, especially in college towns, may also offer student discounts if a valid student ID is presented. But again, you have to ask! And it Is It’s worth asking!