How to Save Money While Going to College

After paying tuition, student fees, and dorm costs, your budget probably already seems tapped out before you even go to your first 101 class. College is expensive, but there are ways for students to cut costs and save more.

·         Shop around for textbooks -- Yes, purchasing books at the school's bookstore is a great time saver because it is right on campus. However, the prices are far from the best deal. Try getting the used textbooks online from Amazon.com or other similar sites. Make sure that the books are the same edition so that the content will be the same as what is described in the syllabus. If the newest version is still pricey, though, try contacting the professor and asking if a cheaper, older edition is okay. Many instructors will not mind if you use the 5th edition instead of the 6th.

·         Sell your textbooks once you're done with them -- Let's be honest. Once the class is over, you will probably never look at that Introduction to American Government book again. Then why keep it? You can try getting the money you spent back by selling the book online. Amazon.com and eBay are good places to start. Campus bookstores will also buy back textbooks at the end of the semester. You can also cut out the middle man and sell books directly to students who you know will need them next semester.

·         Mind your food budget -- If you spent good money on a campus dining plan, don't waste it. Try to use your dining plan as much as possible and avoid budgetary black holes like coffeehouses and pizza. Students who get bored with the campus food should first explore what local restaurants provide student discounts. If you want to branch out more, plan ahead and use Groupon.com or Restaurant.com to get coupons or discounts.

·         Let your school entertain you -- The Campus Events and Student Life departments of your schools work hard to bring entertainment to the students so that they don't have to spend money off campus. Schools often host free screenings of popular movies or even have free concerts and festivals. Check your the Campus Events calendar to find out what fun things will be available for you to do for free. Is there an entertainment dry spell? It happens even at the best of colleges. In that case, you can go to movie theaters or concert venues for a discount student rate. Just do not make a habit of it. Going out frequently can quickly eat away at your budget.

Readers: How do you plan to save money while in school?
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 Reference:

Johnston, S. (2010, Nov. 16) "Campus on a budget: Money saving tips for college students." MintLife. Retrieved June 15, 2012, from http://www.mint.com/blog/saving/budgeting-tips-for-college-11152010/.