Being Frugal in College

It really isn’t that difficult to save money when you are in college. After all, society has a notion that most college students are completely broke anyhow. If anyone can cut costs, it is a broke college student.

Why else would they be willing to live on a floor with thirty of their closest friends and eat cafeteria food every meal (or those noodles in a microwaveable cup)?

So how can you save money while in college? All you have to do is be a bit creative.

Most college students will tell you that next to tuition, books are the most expensive thing they have to purchase. College book prices are unbelievable. You thought $25 for a bestseller was bad, wait until you see $200 for a genetics book.

Many students have found ways around this. First of all, don’t buy your books until after your first day of class. Many teachers will revise their plan over the summer, after their book requirements have been turned in. While you can return books within the first week at many schools, you don’t want to buy something you don’t have to and go through the hassle.

Don’t worry, if the store runs out of books, your teacher will probably provide copies of chapters discussed until the store gets more books in. Or you will be asked to share.

Many students share their textbooks. Especially those that are in all the same classes (freshmen or best friends). A lot of students will photocopy a friend’s book or the one in the library. Many will simply check the book out.

If the book is for a class in your major, it may be worth it to buy a used edition and keep it as a reference book. Flip through it first and decide whether you think you will really use it again. There really is no need to ever purchase a new book. The used books have the same information.

When you sell the book back, you will get very little for it. This has led to many students selling their books on their own. They sell them for more than they will get back, but less than the bookstore’s used price. This is a great way to save money.

You could also consider swapping books. Many students do this, but only do it with books you don’t intend to get back.

When you are in college you can also save a lot of money by trying not to photocopy too much. I know that I spent a lot of money on copies that eventually became scrap paper. Today, you can often simply scan the text and email the file to yourself. Then it can be used from your own computer, or printed for free at the student computer lounge. If the school charges for this, simply purchase a cheap printer and ink. In the long run, this will save you a lot of money. I personally suggest that you go the paper-free route and just keep the file on your computer. Then you can delete it when you are done or save it for a future project. This is the best way to organize research.

If you really must make copies or print something, try to avoid using the school’s printing services. If there is a print shop within walking distance, become a customer. They are often much cheaper and sometimes you can wrangle a discount based on the volume you are copying.

There are a million things you can save money on while in college, from food to clothes and eating out. The key is to be creative and really think about what you are spending. Don’t just pull out a credit card. While you may not pay for it now, you will pay a lot for it later. Carry cash, spend cash and leave the credit for buying your first home or a new car after you graduate.

Tags: Being, College, Frugal