Students at the University of Arizona have a lot to balance, like their courses, their extracurricular activities and their budgets. When it comes to money matters, students can take advantage of several deals and discounts on campus, and even the occasional freebie. Here’s a sampling of some of them:

Eat Cheap

• A number of events during Wildcat Welcome include free treats or even full meals. For a complete list, check out the schedule on the Wildcat Welcome website.
• Select Arizona Student Unions eateries offer happy hour specials from 5-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday throughout the school year. The unions also have $5 Fridays, with participating restaurants offering $5 combos. Details on fall semester deals will soon be posted on the Arizona Student Unions website.
• The CatCard can be a powerful thing, even outside the immediate walls of campus. Some local restaurants and businesses offer discounts and deals to UA students with the ID. Don’t know if a discount is available? It never hurts to ask.

Shop Cheap

• The UA this week launched a new coupon service, called UA Savvy, which gives students access to exclusive campus deals online. Similar to member-based websites like Groupon or Living Social, the service regularly emails campus deals to registered students, who can claim coupons they are interested in online. No credit card is required. Students simply print out the coupon and take it to the on-campus business where it applies. The website is open only to students, who can opt in by going to the UA Savvy website and clicking “Join UA Savvy.” Freshmen are automatically enrolled as members. Current deals on the site include a pair of free UA sunglasses from the Ask Me! booth across from the main UA BookStore, a free water bottle with purchase of a Fitness Pass at the Student Recreation Center and a $3.50 noodle bowl from Cactus Grill (regular price $8.50).
• Every Friday before a home football game, the UA BookStores celebrates Bear Down Friday by offering 25 percent off all UA-insignia merchandise.
• The new A-Store at Main Gate, 845 N. Park Ave., which carries textbooks and UA merchandise, is celebrating its grand opening by offering free water bottles and tins of UA-themed “Mascot Mints” with paid purchases while supplies last.
• Scholarship Universe is giving away free promotional iPad sleeves, water bottles, pens and stress relievers in front of Bear Down Gym from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. through Friday.

Play Cheap

• UA students taking one or more units have an automatic membership to the UA’s award-winning Student Recreation Center, which features a wide range of exercise equipment and fitness programming in a state-of-the-art facility. Incoming students can check out what the center has to offer during Wildcat Welcome’s Meet Me at the Rec event, with free food, fun and prizes, on Thursday from 4-6 p.m. Also, a free pool party will take place at the Student Recreation Center pool on Friday from 12:30-3 p.m.
• Students can enjoy free admission year-round to a number of on-campus museums, including the Center for Creative Photography, UA Museum of Art and the Arizona State Museum.
• Discounted tickets are available to students for a variety of performances presented throughout the year by the UA School of Music, School of Dance, Arizona Repertory Theatre and UApresents.
• The Cellar Games Room in the basement of the Student Union Memorial Center offers low rates on billiards, arcade games and more, and it’s open late, until midnight Sunday through Wednesday and until 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
• Gallagher Theater in the Student Union Memorial Center offers movie tickets at a significantly reduced price compared to other local theaters (generally around $3). Free film screenings, improv comedy shows and other events also are held there on a regular basis.
• Arizona Athletics offers students discounted admission to select sporting events. Students who purchase a ZonaZoo pass can get admission to many different athletic events year-round.  

Free Services

• The University’s CatTran is a free shuttle service that helps students to get around on campus. A complete schedule is available on the UA Parking & Transportation website.
• Safe Ride, operated by the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, or ASUA, offers students a free ride home after dark Call 520-621-SAFE (7233).
• Lock your key in the car? Have a flat tire? Need a jumpstart? The Motorist Assistance Program, offered for free to UA students and employees through UA Parking & Transportation Services, can help with minor auto troubles on campus. Call 520-621-AUTO (2886).
• The 24/7 IT Support Center offers free tech support to the campus community at all hours. Call 520-626-TECH (8324).
• Students who need legal advice can call ASUA’s Student Legal Services, which provides students with free access to an attorney. Although unable to represent a student in court, the Legal Services attorney can offer free, confidential legal advice on a variety of issues. Call 621-ASUA (2782) for an appointment.
• The recently-launched Zimride is a free online ride sharing network for students and employees interested in carpooling to campus.
• Parking & Transportation Services provides many free bicycle services, including do-it-yourself bike fix-it stations in front of the Chemistry Building and at the intersection of Drachman and Warren, as well as a manned Campus Bicycle Station, where students can get help with minor bicycle repairs and problems every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in front of the Science Library. Students can also take advantage of free valet bicycle parking in a secure area in front of the Nugent Building. Finally, students who don’t have a bike but need to use one temporarily can get a free loaner through the Cat Wheels Bike Sharing Program.