5 Ways To Save Money In College

We are in the heart of summer and the last thing students out there want to think of is going back to school. However it is looming in front of you and wouldn’t you rather be prepared than have that tuition payment hit you like a ton of bricks come September? As a recent grad, I wanted to share 5 ways to save money in college that have been tried and true for me these past few years. Take a look!

1) Scholarships

There are scholarships for EVERYTHING! It takes some digging but ask and the internet will provide. Think about your personal story and various aspects of your life then see if there is a scholarship for that. For example, I know how to knit so I found and received a scholarship because of that hobby.

Do you have a special or unusual skill or hobby? What is your university story? Are you a returning student? Transfer student? Have excellent grades? Military? Bilingual? There is probably a scholarship for that.

2) Live off campus

Most schools require that first year students live on campus. However look into moving off campus for your final three years. This can decrease your rent payment and increase your standard of living. (Communal showers, anyone? No thanks, I’ll pass.)

If your school is in a small college town you can easily live close to campus without the added cost of living in a dorm. However in big cities sometimes rent is expensive right around college campuses (I’m looking at your Seattle). Consider a neighborhood farther away from campus, then taking the bus or train into school. Lots of school offer services to commuter students, so do a little digging to see what your school offers. For example, I rode the bus for ‘free’  the entire time I was in university and had a great apartment in a nice part of town without breaking the bank.

3) Pack a Lunch

Buying food on campus adds up quickly (and don’t get me started on the quality or lack of nutritional content either). Whether you live in a dorm or apartment, make an effort to pack a lunch daily. This cuts down on costs and allows you greater variety and control over what you eat. While this may seem like a challenge for those in a dorm or kitchenette, there are many blogs out there that have in depth ways of making it work. One of my favorites is The Slender Student but there are tons more out there.

4) RENT, don’t BUY textbooks

Textbooks may be the second most expensive part of going to college (with tuition being the first, naturally). The average textbook generally comes with a $100 price tag if you buy it straight from the publisher. However now you can rent textbooks and only pay a fraction of the price.

I used Campus Book Rentals my entire time in college. They offer 40%-90% off bookstore prices, flexible rental periods, and free shipping both ways! When you receive the textbook, you can treat it like your own, meaning no need to treat it like a precious library book. Highlight away! Plus, they donate a portion of every textbook rental to Operation Smile

5) Ditch Pricey Habits

Accustomed to a salon visit every six weeks for a trim and color touch up? Bi-monthly mani-pedi? This would be the time to stop paying for luxury services and start hosting more girls-night-in spa parties.

If you still want to have the salon experience, perhaps get a color closer to your natural color or baylage color that doesn’t need to be maintained or touched up as often. Also look into salon schools in your area where you can get all sorts of salon services for discounted prices. And if anything, ask ahead of time if your salon offers student discounts.

Are you a college student? How do you save cents? Share your favorite money saving tips with me in the comments!

*Thank you to Campus Book Rentals for sponsoring this post. All opinions stated are my own.