Having a student ID - regardless of how horrendous the picture on it is - does have its perks. The benefits are money-saving, time-saving and all around your ticket to making life in college easier, according to alligator.org.

At the University of Florida in Gainesville, the Gator 1 Card provides students with access to a variety of discounts from fare-free bus rides, to discount movie tickets, free access to athletic events, recreational facilities, and the holy grail of drink specials at the local bar, club or restaurant.

• Drink specials. There are certain “magical days” that boast discounts for drinks to college students - whether it’s BOGO or half off.

• Free bus rides. In Gainesville, students can venture outside those brick walls, free of charge when displaying their Gator 1 Card.

• Free recreational access. Among the parks, bike trails and swimming pools near UF, there’s the UF-owned gem that is Lake Wauburg. Students who present their Gator 1 Card use the facilities, lay out on one of the chairs, rent a kayak and explore the lake, and so much more.

• Discounted movie tickets. Take your Gator 1 Card, combine it with free travel on the RTS bus, head down to the local matinee and a discounted student ticket will be waiting to provide you with not a bad way to spend an evening away from campus.

• Cheap game day tickets. College football game days, especially at UF, are no joke and a Gator 1 Card gives you the exclusive free access to basketball games, gymnastics meets and other sports events at UF. And it guarantees a seat at every home football game - enter the football ticket lottery.

• Gator Nights. Free movies, popcorn and game booths at the Reitz Union offer a great way to meet new people and have some free fun; all made possible with that student ID: the Gator 1 Card.

Deals and discounts are a great way to appeal to the cash-strapped and thrifty college student, and may well help to garner student support for school ID systems.

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