Tips on Stretching Your Money in College

There are ways to make your available expense money last longer, while not denying yourself of all the pleasures of student life. Some suggestions include:

1. Share costs: The easiest way to lower your expenses is sharing. If you're going into town or on any short expedition, share the ride. You can pile six or so fellow students in the car, and not depend on paying individually for taxis, buses and other costly local transportation.

2. Go buddy, buddy: The same applies to buying food and other products purchased at local stores that can be shared. If you're going to the laundromat, it costs the same for a multi-person load of wash and dry as it does for just one.

3. Eat light and healthy: If you're carrying around any extra weight, you'll save money and look better by quitting heavy pastries, sugared sodas and expensive processed foods. If you have a fridge and freezer handy, buy fresh ingredients and stay away from those instant, salt- and chemicals-loaded, frozen dinners.

4. Give up cigarettes: OK, you wowed everyone in high school when you looked cool as you casually puffed on your first cigarette. Then you were hooked on the smelly addiction. The average price of a pack today is around $4.50, and if you can finally quit the deadly habit, you can have at least another $100 a month to spend on other needs.

5. Set up house cheaply on- or off-campus: Unless you want all new furnishings for your dorm room or apartment, you can find used dishes, room furniture and work clothing in thrift shops and at flea market and church rummage sales.

A subject they don't teach in your classrooms concerns ways to make the most of your money in college. If you can keep on a budget, you'll not only save money, but it can be excellent training for when you're out in the cruel real world, and must live within your income.