Money Saving Tips for College Students

Saving money as a student is a challenge, so money-saving tips for college students are especially important. Students don't usually have full-time jobs and don't make very much cash with campus work or part-time jobs. In addition, most of them are accruing large amounts of debt due to rising tuition costs. For these reasons, managing money and developing good financial habits are paramount. It's also helpful for college students to have some extra spending money to use on hobbies, shopping, and other fun activities. After all, college is stressful! Unwinding with friends is a much-needed occasional break from academia, but even the costs of that can add up.

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Many students don't think of college scholarships as "real" money because it's cash they may never see. Instead, those dollars will be directly applied to offset tuition costs, room and board, and other college-related expenses. It's a mistake not to prioritize scholarships, though. Taking time to fill out applications and making an effort to get more money for college can dramatically reduce the amount you'll pay in loans later and may even leave you with a greater amount of discretionary spending money.

Even if it takes extra time, go to the trouble of searching for scholarships that apply to you and filling out the paperwork you need. The money you receive in return will be well worth it.

Most college students have lived with parents or guardians prior to moving into dorms, so purchasing normal day-to-day supplies can be a huge up-front expense. A lot of money-saving tips for college students relate to spending in the dorm.

The costs of college can add up quickly.

To save money in the dorms, talk with your roommate about what each of you can bring to the room. There's no need for one person to go out and buy a microwave or a mini fridge if the other person already has one and is willing to share. Another tip is to wait on acquiring bigger dorm supplies and to watch for fliers around campus that offer the items at a discount. Upperclassmen move into off-campus housing every year and need to get rid of their dorm-specific equipment, so they'll often sell it to underclassmen at low prices.

Taking advantage of sales and specials is another way to save money in the dorms. Cheap décor that also looks good is available for bargain prices at Target, Kohl's, and many other stores. Before you buy anything, make sure you'll use it. Dorm rooms are tiny and can quickly become cluttered with extra items. Rather than gathering too many supplies that you hardly ever use, buy a minimum amount of things and use them all often. If you need something else, consider borrowing it.

Whenever possible, utilize your school's meal plan. Most colleges require that first-year students sign up for some kind of meal plan, so it's a waste of money to buy other food and forgo what's available in the dining hall.

Still, it's nice to have a meal out with friends every so often. If you do go out, choose moderately priced restaurants or places with happy hours that offer reduced-priced food and drinks.

Buying alcohol can be a huge expense. To curb the money you spend on drinking, choose to drink less often or pick non-alcoholic drinks. Pay for your alcohol in cash so you can limit the total amount you spend.

• Buy used books. They're much cheaper than new and are often available online as well as in school bookstores. You could also check out books from the library, borrow them from other students, or use ILL (interlibrary loan).
• Use your student ID to get discounts at local restaurants, museums, theaters, and events.
• Don't sign up for a credit card unless you really need one. Choose a debit card instead. If you do use a credit card, pick a low credit line and try to pay off your full balance every month.
• Consider going without a car, if possible. The costs of insurance, gas, and maintenance are substantial, and most college towns and cities are very accessible by public transportation. If you do need a car, ask to borrow a friend's and pay for the gas.
• Set a monthly or weekly budget for food, entertainment, bills, and other expenses, and stick to it.

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