According to College Board, the average cost for a year of in-state college for books, room, board, tuition and incidentals was $15,000. A Fidelity
survey of 750 college graduate students showed an average debt of $35,000 when
finished school. With this in mind, here are some savings tips:
Buy used books Amazon and eBay are both great sites to order books and you'll pay half the price as you would at the student bookstore. Resell your books at the end of the year unless you know you'll need the book for a different class. Chances are you will never look at it again. *Tip: To save even more, see if your local library or campus library carries the book.
Apply for scholarships There are scholarships out there for everyone - single moms, nursing students, business students, tall people, short people... Fastweb.com has helped over 50 million students find scholarships, and Scholarships.com is now the largest scholarship site on the web. Applying for scholarships takes time, but it can be more than worth it.
Create a monthly budget Budgets are an important tool. Loans are typically dispersed on a semester basis, so it's vital to make that money lasts all semester long. *Tip: Whatever money you don't absolutely need, send back to the lender.
Consider not having a car While it may be frustrating at times to not have a car, you'll save hundreds per month by not having to pay for car insurance, gas and general car maintenance. Take the bus, walk or ride your bike. If you need visit your parents in a different city, chances are someone will give you a ride for a small gas fee.
Learn to cook When you consider the average price of a meal is $10, not including drinks, eating out adds up quickly. Get in the habit of cooking meals every few days and eating the leftovers for lunch. Other ways to save include making your own coffee at home, carrying granola bars with you for snacks and splitting meals with friends when you do decide to indulge at a restaurant.
Save on entertainment Since you're in college, you're going to need the Internet. But can you do without cable? The answer is yes. You can watch almost any television show online. For movies, consider getting a Netflix subscription for just $7.99 per month. Go to matinee showings of movies instead nighttime showings. Instead of going out to bars, have friends over and have everyone bring their favourite drink or appetizer.
About the Author: Sarah Brooks is a freelance writer living in Glendale, AZ. She writes on getting college degrees, saving money and small businesses.
Buy used books Amazon and eBay are both great sites to order books and you'll pay half the price as you would at the student bookstore. Resell your books at the end of the year unless you know you'll need the book for a different class. Chances are you will never look at it again. *Tip: To save even more, see if your local library or campus library carries the book.
Apply for scholarships There are scholarships out there for everyone - single moms, nursing students, business students, tall people, short people... Fastweb.com has helped over 50 million students find scholarships, and Scholarships.com is now the largest scholarship site on the web. Applying for scholarships takes time, but it can be more than worth it.
Create a monthly budget Budgets are an important tool. Loans are typically dispersed on a semester basis, so it's vital to make that money lasts all semester long. *Tip: Whatever money you don't absolutely need, send back to the lender.
Consider not having a car While it may be frustrating at times to not have a car, you'll save hundreds per month by not having to pay for car insurance, gas and general car maintenance. Take the bus, walk or ride your bike. If you need visit your parents in a different city, chances are someone will give you a ride for a small gas fee.
Learn to cook When you consider the average price of a meal is $10, not including drinks, eating out adds up quickly. Get in the habit of cooking meals every few days and eating the leftovers for lunch. Other ways to save include making your own coffee at home, carrying granola bars with you for snacks and splitting meals with friends when you do decide to indulge at a restaurant.
Save on entertainment Since you're in college, you're going to need the Internet. But can you do without cable? The answer is yes. You can watch almost any television show online. For movies, consider getting a Netflix subscription for just $7.99 per month. Go to matinee showings of movies instead nighttime showings. Instead of going out to bars, have friends over and have everyone bring their favourite drink or appetizer.
About the Author: Sarah Brooks is a freelance writer living in Glendale, AZ. She writes on getting college degrees, saving money and small businesses.
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