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?
Comment and let us know!
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/.
