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7 Tips to Save Money in College

August 13, 2013 by Lisa Park + Leave a Comment

7 Tips to Save Money in College

This post is sponsored by CampusBookRentals.com. All opinions are my own.

 

When I was young, I saved most of my money so that I would be able to pay for a few years of college without having to take out a loan. And I actually almost managed to pay for all my college without a loan! You can read more about my goal to save money for college and what ended up happening by reading My Financial Life Journey and the Lessons I Learned.

We all know that college is expensive! Since school will be starting for many students within the month, here are some tips for college students to help them cut costs and save money:

1. Budgeting
It’s so easy to spend money on things such as eating out, purchasing a new outfit, and filling up your gas tank. Before you know it, all the money you have for the month is spent. It’s important to know how much you are spending each month and what it’s being spent on. Take time to Set a Budget and track your spending so you won’t have to worry if you will have enough money each month.

2. Housing
If the opportunity is available, live at home. I was able to live at home for most of my years at college. I realize that it’s not the “coolest” option. I know this because there were many times where I wished I could have lived on campus. But looking back I’m grateful that I was able to live at home because it saved me a lot of money.

If living at home isn’t an option, then choose to live on campus. It’s usually less expensive than an off-campus apartment. Plus you’ll spend less money on transportation.

3. Textbooks
College textbooks from university bookstores are expensive to purchase. I remember that some of my textbooks cost $200! But did you know that you can rent textbooks? By renting them you can save 80-90% more than if you purchased them. If I had known there was an option to rent text books when I was in college, I would have used it!  One company that rents textbooks is CampusBookRentals.com. It was founded by a college student who knew there had to be a less expensive alternative to buying books. The company has now rented more than 1 million textbooks in more than 5,500 campuses. Here’s how it works:

  • Go to CampusBookRentals.com and find the books you need for your classes.
  • Decide how long you want to keep them.
  • Let them know where to ship them and when you need them to arrive.
  • When you are done with your books, just ship them back using the prepaid envelopes. The shipping is already paid for.

It’s that easy! While you have your books, you can highlight, underline, and take notes in the margins just like you would any other book. If you don’t need the books for any reason, like if you dropped your class for that semester, send them back within 30 days and you’ll get a full refund. If you need to keep a textbook longer, there is a 15-day grace period for every rental.

4. Transportation
Instead of driving to campus and spending money on gas and parking passes, look into other alternative transportation options such as riding your bike, walking, or using the local bus or subway system. If those options aren’t available, then try carpooling with friends.

5. Food
With a busy college schedule, it’s easy to just grab food at the campus eatery or a fast food restaurant. However, with a little bit of planning, you can save money and eat more healthy. Write down a weekly meal plan that includes meals you can take with you to campus if you know that you won’t be home for lunch or dinner. Plan meals around what’s on sale at the grocery stores. And when you make one meal, double it and put it in the freezer to have later for another meal. You could also schedule and rotate making dinners with roommates and friends.

6. Clothing
When shopping for clothes, look for clearance items on the rack. Also watch for sales, coupons, and promotion codes to save even more money. In addition, thrift stores, yard sales, and second-hand stores will save you money when your old clothes wear out. Make sure to avoid making impulsive purchases because you want that new dress or shoes. If it’s something you really want, you can save up for it. Or better yet, wait for it to go on sale then purchase it.

7. Activities
As a college student, you want to hang out with your college friends and do enjoyable activities. But rather than doing things that cost money like going to the movies, shopping, or eating out, be creative and think of alternative ways to have fun. Plan a picnic at the park, go hiking along trails, and play games around campus. These often end up being more enjoyable and cost less money too. If you do go out on the town and know you’ll be spending money, ask places if they offer student discounts to see if you can save a little more money.

These are just a few ways to save money. What tips do you have to save money in college?


 

Filed Under: Frugal Ideas, Money-Saving Tips, Saving Money

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Hello, I'm Lisa

I enjoy teaching people how to live frugally so they can live within their means while still enjoying and doing the things in life that matter most to them. I'm here sharing tips about budgeting, saving money, meal planning, simple recipes, and more.

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For those of you in Northern Utah, if any of you want to try the Staples boxes, use the code savingcent10 to get $10 off.

Also this month, the Food and Meat Co-op is featuring convenience foods and easy meal options such as chicken nuggets, corn dogs (regular and gluten free), restaurant-quality sweet and sour pork meal kits, and orange meal kits. It’s nice to have quick and easy meals on busy days!

The pickup day for orders is between March 23-25 depending on where you live in Northern Utah.

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For more tips, visit my website.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2021/01/05/how-to-create-a-budget-free-budget-worksheet/

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Click the link below for the recipe, or message me, and I'll send you the recipe.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2013/10/18/oven-baked-tacos/

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I've tried a bunch of French dip Sandwiches, and this recipe is by far my favorite. My family also loves this meal.

The link to the recipe is below or message me and I'll send you the recipe.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2015/05/29/best-slow-cooker-french-dip-sandwiches/

#frenchdip #frenchdipsandwich #easydinnerideas #easymeal #easydinners #easymeals
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Message me for the recipe or use the link below.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2018/03/09/st-patricks-day-cookies/

#stpatricksdaycookies #stpatricksday #greencookies #greentreats #stpatricks #stpatrickscookies
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For those of you in Northern Utah, if any of you want to try the Staples boxes, use the code savingcent10 to get $10 off.

Also this month, the Food and Meat Co-op is featuring convenience foods and easy meal options such as chicken nuggets, corn dogs (regular and gluten free), restaurant-quality sweet and sour pork meal kits, and orange meal kits. It’s nice to have quick and easy meals on busy days!

The pickup day for orders is between March 23-25 depending on where you live in Northern Utah.

https://foodandmeatcoop.com/tooele
Are you wanting to get out of debt or save up a do Are you wanting to get out of debt or save up a down payment for a home? Do you want to stop living paycheck to paycheck or save for a big family vacation? Determine what is motivating you to set some financial goals.

Once you determine your goal, determine how much money to save each month, then break it down to how much to save per week. You may not be able to save $500 a month, but maybe you can save $200 a month. That means you would set aside $50 a week.

Some things you could do to save this money is don’t eat out, cut your grocery bill down, don’t go to the convenience store to grab a drink, or cut out subscription services.

It’s the small changes that make a difference over time.

For more tips, visit my website.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2021/01/05/how-to-create-a-budget-free-budget-worksheet/

#budget #budgeting #financialgoal #finances
We are having these Oven Baked Tacos this week for We are having these Oven Baked Tacos this week for dinner. It's an easy meal to make!

To make this meal even faster, prepare the ground beef in advance by cooking it earlier in the week. You can then put the cooked meat in the fridge or freezer and pull it out when you are ready to use it.

Click the link below for the recipe, or message me, and I'll send you the recipe.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2013/10/18/oven-baked-tacos/

#tacos #bakedtacos #ovenbakedtacos #easydinneridea #easymealideas #easymealidea #easydinners #easymeals
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I share tips of where to purchase tickets, how to use Genie+, where to find hotels in Anaheim, how to save money on food, and more. Plus, I’m sharing tips how to plan out your days, and I share Disneyland and California Adventure itinerary ideas.

Use the link below or message me for the link to the Disneyland post.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2023/02/12/how-to-go-to-disneyland-on-a-budget/

#disneyland #disneylandtips #disneylandtipsandtricks #californiaadventure #californiaadventuretips #disneylandbudget #budgetdisneyland #savemoneyondisneyland
These slow cooker French Dip Sandwiches are on my These slow cooker French Dip Sandwiches are on my meal plan for this week. And it's so easy to make! You just need 10 minutes to put it together in the morning. Then let it cook all day.

I've tried a bunch of French dip Sandwiches, and this recipe is by far my favorite. My family also loves this meal.

The link to the recipe is below or message me and I'll send you the recipe.

https://savingcentbycent.com/2015/05/29/best-slow-cooker-french-dip-sandwiches/

#frenchdip #frenchdipsandwich #easydinnerideas #easymeal #easydinners #easymeals

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