5 Easy Ways to Save Money While in College
College, for most, is that special time in life that will never be forgotten. New people, new experiences and being exposed to new ideas is what college is all about. But unfortunately college usually gives way to a huge burden of debt upon graduation. Books, food and all the other things taken for granted in the past can add up fast to put a strain on a student’s bank account. But fear not! It is true that college may be the single most expensive time in someone’s life, but that doesn’t mean that students have to leave college with huge debt or any debt at all. Here are the 5 easiest things a person can do to save money while attending college.
Manage your money the smart way. As soon as you can start a checking and savings account and if possible start a high-yield savings account. This will not only help you to save money but it will also let you put money aside for an emergency. But watch out: always keep track of your bank accounts to avoid costly overdraft fees. Signing up for Upromise is an easy way to earn money toward college tuition. By making everyday purchases, a percentage can be put toward paying your students loans which means less you’ll have to pay back later.
Rent or borrow books instead of buying. Let’s face it, books maybe the highest expense you will face during college besides tuition. A Department of Education study found that since 1986, textbook prices have risen almost 186 percent, or 6 percent a year. Compare this to other products in the same market which rose only 3 percent during the same time frame. Here is a tip: never buy books from your college’s bookstore. On average they have higher prices than outside bookstores and online stores like Amazon.com and Half.com. Check out Chegg.com if you are interested in renting books. And keep on the lookout for frineds that have had the class you need to take next semester. Its likely they will let you borrow his or her old book.
Eating for cheap can cut your costs substantially, so if you haven’t heard of Ramen, get familiar with it because its the best friend of a hungry college student. Never go to a sit down restaurant. A meal that would likely cost between $2 to 4 dollars at home usually costs $10 to 15 at a restaurant, not to mention the tip. Try to avoid other expensive fast food places also. Thats not to say don’t ever eat out. There are usually local eateries and sandwich shops on a around all campuses. These places are usually high quality for the price and always among a poor college student’s favorite places to eat.
Apartment living offers certain benefits over dorm life and will usually be cheaper if you can find a couple of roommates to split costs. Remember to save money on bills by keeping the A/C or heat turned down or off, keeping the lights off when not in the room and taking short showers. This will assure that your utilities stay low.
Getting a job is probably the best ways to bring in extra money to cope with college expenses. First look for a job on campus since you won’t have to travel far, plus campus jobs usually come with other benefits too. You could also sell your skills as a tutor. If all the campus jobs are taken start looking in the local classifieds or on Craigslist. If you get a job in the food service industry you’ll have a high chance of eating for free!
These are only a few great ways to save money while in college, To get a few more ideas, check out 118 Ways to Save Money in College on CollegeScholarships.org. No matter what you do to save money, enjoy college but just remember to think Good luck!
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I wish I could understand why college books are so expensive? I realize that books are not cheap under any terms, but it would seem that since college tuition and other expensive would encourage that books be sold at a huge discount to students. Just a thought.
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Hope this is useful! Cheers!