How to Save Money as a College Student

If you ask college students if there are any ways to save money, you could get ironic laughs, some choice words of rebuttal or show-me challenges. Saving money may not be easy for many students, but there are many ways it can be done.

1. Budget your expenses: Set up a weekly or monthly money schedule. On a note pad or create a computer bookkeeping file, write up a list of all your on- and off-campus expenses. Include on it what you expect to pay: rent, food, entertainment, transportation and other regular expenses. Check the list frequently, and when you over-spend for some items or services, cut back on spending in other areas until your budget returns to what you're able to afford.

2. Buy previously owned CDs, DVDs and computer at the campus store and from internet ads. You can cut way back on your electronic expenses by buying used items. You can also trade music and movie disks with others on campus and online. Susbscribe to Netflix or other DVD rental service, and share cost with others. Watching films together can cost 25 cents each, instead of the $5 and up theaters charge, plus extra costs for parking and overpriced snacks. A bucket of homemade popcorn that feeds six costs $4, compared to $30 at the movies.

3. Textbooks: You're assigned specific textbooks required for classes. If the campus store offers used textbooks, or you can get those specific ones online, the cost can be half or less than retail.

4. Eat out less: Cut back on restaurant meals. Campus cafeteria food costs less, but also more expensive than buying and preparing your own. If you live off campus or are permitted to cook in dorm rooms, get together with other students to share buying ingredients, and preparing your own meals.

5. Eat less of the blubber-adding calorie-loaded foods: Cut back on ice cream, cake, candy, pie and cookies. Limit your beer and booze purchases, especially if you're under age and in danger of legal and parental troubles.

6. Get a job: If it won't interfere with your classroom attendance and studies, seek out a paying part-time job on campus or nearby retail stores. If you're qualified, you may be able to get assignments on campus or at nearby schools as a tutor, or in hospitals as an assistant in wards, offices or labs.

7. Cheap dates: Instead of always going out to clubs, sports events and concerts, set up group parties. They can feature large-screen TV for live and DVD showings. The group pitches in to buy drinks and snacks, with party hosts providing games, recorded music and dancing.

8. Check electronic gimmick expenses: Make sure you're getting the most economical contracts for land-line telephones, cellphones, iPods and other communication devices. If the cheapest contracts are for a limited number of calls or hours of use, cut back on casual tweeting and other costly uses.

9. Combine summertime to be both vacation and opportunity for money-making and savings. If you have no summer classes, get full-time jobs at camps, local retail stores or fast-food restaurants. You can sign up for volunteer vacations that may involve apprentice, intern or teaching jobs where living and food expenses are paid. Some also offer salaries. Check with your campus job placement office, as well as those opportunities described online at onesmallplanet.com, transitionsabroad.com and rileyguide.com and other resources.

Some students will swear there are no easy ways to save money while in college. Often it's because they've never felt they needed to cut back or just don't have the self-discipline to do less spending and more saving. However, for the frugal-minded students or those who have no choice but to be frugal, there are many easy ways to save money, if they'll just open their eyes and look for them.