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Part one of a three-part series
Every student knows what it's like to be broke in college.
Tuition sucks away a good amunt of money, along with housing, meal plans, and all the student fees, and that's before classes start. Book prices are through the roof, gas prices are still astronomical, and even the price of food is on the rise. All in all, the average college student has more than moderate difficulties with cash flow. Luckily, there are cheaper options.
This three part series will address saving money with living expenses, credit, banks, and school. On to the meat and potatoes of this week's handy guide to reducing weekly spending habits.
Many students have the HOPE program to help with tuition and books; however, the $150 check can buy one, maybe two new textbooks for a single semester. The secret here is to go other places for your books, and be willing to buy used or online editions. Campus bookstores are infamous for high prices and low buybacks, so the Internet is the best choice, even with shipping and handling.
Bigwords.com is a site that runs as a search engine of all online bookstores to find the best possible deals, including student discounts and coupons. iChapters.com actually offers single chapters of textbooks in an e-book format for as little as $1.99. Don't want to hassle with selling the book? You can now rent textbooks for one or two semesters, often for a third of the price or lower. Chegg.com is the most popular rental site, and they provide for shipping and handling.
School supplies are a little harder to save on, but again the advice is to avoid the bookstore.
You don't need UWG logos on your pencils; show school spirit by saving enough money to afford school. Unless you're planning on graduating or dropping out within the semester, buy in bulk during discounts. Wal-Mart usually has a "School Savings Week," with paper at 57 cents a pack and binders as low as $1. Pens and pencils can be bought in packs of 20, and those can be used for more than one semester.
Meal plans often provide cheap food without worrying about cooking. The only danger is the actual food, which is why students tend to buy their own groceries. With recent gas prices, the grocery industry has started either hiking their prices or putting less food in the same size box. Don't be fooled by this trick- it still means you're spending more than it's worth.
To cut down on that weekly bill, look for daily discounts or specials, since those can be a great deal. Start eating rice and pasta dishes at least twice a week. Try to plan your meals before going to the store so you'll know what you want specifically, and you'll be less likely to splurge. Cereal in bags is just the same as cereal in boxes, just easier on your wallet. Sodas and bottled water cost far more than lemonade powder or a water filter. Carrollton's water is nasty, but a filter usually takes out most of the metallic taste. The biggest saver of all is cutting back on dining out. Try only once a week, as a splurge more than a regular dinner.
Gas is the worst way to waste money. While the following suggestions might be uncomfortable, think about paying for gas with spare change. It's not pleasant. Turn off the AC. Drive slower. Avoid heavy traffic and stop lights. Fill up at night and park in the shade to reduce gas evaporation during the day. Carpool. Park and walk between classes or buildings. Get all the heavy or extra stuff out of your car to cut down on weight. Don't top off the tank. Gas is statistically cheaper on Wednesday, but that's not true of every week, so look for deals. Take care of your car with oil changes, air filters, and checking tire pressure. Turn off the car in heavy traffic or long lights. Any one of these tips will help conserve gas, but all of them together would have the best effect.
As for entertainment, you can still see movies every week and go out. Try Netflix, which offers multiple plans are very low prices and can be cancelled at any time without a fee. Limit trips to the movie theatre to twice a month and bring your own snacks and drinks. When out partying, go during Happy Hour or buy simple tap beer. As always, drink responsibly and pay taxi fare if you need to. This will save money as well, since paying a cab is much cheaper than totaling your car (or someone else's).
Following any of these helpful hints will improve your funds as well as your money skills. These are things to keep in mind even after graduation, since you'll more than likely have some two-bit job that won't cover the rent. So embrace your allowance from your parents now, and learn the tricks of saving money so you don't have to eat Ramen for the next decade.
After learning not to spend so much, try saving a little more. The next piece in this series will cover the pros and cons of credit cards, banking practices, and managing debt.
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