How to Save Money at College

Tired of being stuck at home because you can't afford to have a decent night out? Growing sick of eating ramen three times a day? It's true that being a college student is a very expensive venture, even if you work full time. But if you strive to balance your money and cut corners whenever you can, you may find yourself able to treat yourself every now and then.

If you live at home because you don't want to pay for a dorm room, or for whatever reason, it can still get expensive having to drive back and forth, especially if you live in a little town and have to drive a great distance. I can't stress enough the great advantage of carpooling. Find acquaintances living around you or on your way to the campus and ask them if they'd be interested. Chances are likely they're not particularly keen about paying the gas to drive back and fourth by themselves either. Of course, you have to factor in their schedule. Unless you're taking the exact same courses, your schedules will probably vary a bit, in which case you may want to compare schedules and see if it'd be worth both of your time to stay at school a bit longer because one of your classes is longer than the other's. It may take a bit of self sacrifice on your part, but the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. Plus, it gives you a fine opportunity to forge new or closer friendships.

It's a well-known fact that college books are expensive. I'd wager you don't want to keep them forever unless you've very interested in the material. Personally, the period when I can sell my books back to the bookstore is one I always look forward to eagerly. If you're the same, be sure to keep your books in good condition. The better condition they're in, the higher the price the bookstore will likely pay for them. Don't even think about turning in a book with, say, the cover torn off or the book submerged in liquid. Bookstores want their books in good condition so they can resell them later. This requires keeping very close track of them. If you bring your lunch to school, don't keep it in your backpack with your books. I can tell you this from experience; I've lost out on reselling several of my books due to putting them in the same bag as my lunch. Bookstores aren't very fond of books with dried smashed banana against them, a lesson we'd all do well to keep in mind. Keep track of your books at all times. Don't set them near food or liquid. Be careful if you're eating or drinking while reading them. One stain can affect the resell value significantly. If you can't sell the books back to the store, try asking around to see who may be interested in buying them from you. Of course you'd want to sell them cheaper than they could get them at the bookstore. Price them depending on the condition they're in. Ask the school if you can put up fliers advertising them. Popular social sites like MySpace and Facebook can advertise them to a much wider variety of people. Of course, selling your books back won't get you nearly as much as you bought them for originally, but not only will they no longer be taking up unnecessary space in your home, but the money you earn back may be just what you need to pay a bill or treat yourself to something you've been eyeing.

Don't underestimate the value of scholarships and grants. These might be the single most valuable tools to college students. True, it takes considerable effort to fill out the dreaded FAFSA and write essays or whatever may be required, but if you meet the qualifications to earn them, it's definitely worth a shot to try. I didn't have to pay a dime (admissions and book-wise, anyway) to get through my first year of college thanks to said avenues of moneymaking. Wouldn't it be worth a few hours of work if you can have your college paid for?

Avoiding spending money needlessly may seem like a no-brainer, but its amazing how often students do just that. Food at my college is fairly expensive, yet every day I see people shelling out four to six bucks for something they could've brought from home for half the price. If you enjoy school food and have the money to burn, you can go for it, but if your financial situation is strained, it'd be much more practical to simply bring your lunch to school each day. That's not even considering the fact that you could have a much healthier meal instead of the constant barrage of hamburgers, fries, wraps, et cetera. One area I've had a problem with in the past is getting snacks from the vending machines. I've been known to spend five dollars or so a week simply on soda, candy...just something to snack on to get me through my day. I've been trying to bring drinks and snacks from home. One would be much better off--both physically and financially--snacking on some fresh fruit or whatever it is you may enjoy. Examine your eating habits. You may be surprised to see how much money you could be saving a month on food at school.

There are a wide variety of ways one can save money at college. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to do so, and you may find yourself able to afford that night out you've been craving.