Most forms of Financial Aid cover tuition, room/board, fees, and sometimes books. But over time, the cost of living while attending college can add up. This summer, why not create a plan to save money at school next year? Below are some frugal tips gathered from former college students:
- Buy necessities like shampoo, laundry detergent and toilet paper in bulk, before you leave home. On campus stores usually mark up these items more than bulk stores like Costco and Sam’s Club.
- Use email or web-phone/video services to stay in touch with relatives and friends while you are away at school. Long distance calls can be expensive.
- Buy used textbooks and save your reciepts in case a professor cuts a required text from the syllabus at the last minute.
- Live with roommates and split the cost of everything evenly. Consider buying food seperately though… many an arguement has been started because someone else ate all the peanut butter.
- Learn to cook. Eating out is one of the highest expenses cited by college students. Making a weekly menu, shopping strictly for that menu, and sticking to an at-home cuisine will save you a bundle.
- Pack a lunch each day and invest in a good refillable water bottle. This way you won’t have to buy high-priced items on campus.
- Make sure your apartment or dorm is near public transportation – and use it. Take advantage of your campus shuttles, too. Or bring your bike to campus and leave your car at home.
Do you have a cost-cutting tip to share? Submit a comment to this post!
