Finding college a little more expensive than you expected? Check out these tips to help you save cash during the college years—I’ve used a lot of them myself (and now that I’m paying of student loans, I’m finding even more!)
School & Textbooks
1. Try to get a tuition discount. (Fox College Funding’s founder, Deborah Fox, talks about how to do that on her Pay for College blog—look there for other good college & money saving info).
2. Check if your job has tuition assistance or education reimbursement program—if it does, use it!
3. Check to see if your 4-year college will give you credit to take lower division classes at a community college. They cost less to take, and should be basically the same classes.
4. DON’T buy textbooks from the campus bookstore! They are almost ALWAYS overpriced.
5. Buy your text books used (CampusBooks.com compares prices on a lot of sites for you), or to save even more, ask your professor if you can use an older edition—those are usually MUCH cheaper.
6. Sell your textbooks at the end of the quarter/semester. You’ll probably get more selling them online than you would selling them back to the school.
7. Apply for scholarships–and increase your odds by applying to quirky scholarships that apply to you, or to local ones. They have a smaller applicant pool, so they’re easier to win!
Groceries
8. Use meal points or other college meal credits that are built into your fees to their fullest (you probably won’t get a refund at the end of the year).
9. Buy store brand groceries for things that taste the same. For example, store brand cereals sometimes don’t taste as good, but I haven’t noticed a difference in canned goods, pastas, and salad dressing.
10. Buy bulk packages of the things you use the most—toilet paper, shampoo, soap, etc.
11. Don’t use paper plates and plastic utensils if you have to buy them, just wash some dishes instead. Little luxuries like disposable utensils add up.
12. When you go shopping, make a list of all the meals you are going to eat for the next week first. Buy ONLY what you need to make those meals.
13. Don’t shop hungry, and don’t give in to the impulse buys at the checkout stand.
14. Buy groceries that are on sale, but DON’T buy things you don’t need just because they’re on sale.
15. Learn how to eat well (as in real food, not ramen noodles) cheaply. Check out these $3 recipes from Cheap Eats for starters.
16. Buy local produce at a produce store or farmers market. It is fresher AND cheaper. In San Diego we have a store called Henry’s–you can also try to find cheaper fruit & etc. at stores like Trader Joe’s.
Transportation & Travel
17. Gas is expensive. Take the bus (a lot of colleges offer free shuttles or bus passes—check with your school’s transportation department).
18. Carpool and split the cost of gas. This is especially good if you’re taking a long road trip.
19. If you still need to buy gas, check GasBuddy.com to find cheap rates in your area.
20. Use student discounts when you travel. Check with the bus, train, or airline you are using, or use a student travel site like StudentUniverse.com.
Rent
21. Share a room. It’s tempting to pay the extra for your own room, but unless you REALLY need it, you may as well share. It’s good practice at getting along with someone, and it costs less.
22. Fight yearly rental increases if you live off campus! Landlords and apartment complexes will usually lower your rent increase if you just ask. Tell them you want to stay in the complex, but you can’t afford so much of an increase—they will usually compromise with you.
Utilities & Phone
23. Reduce your electricity bills: turn off your computer when you’re not using it, turn off lights when you leave the room, unplug appliances you aren’t using.
24. Track your cell minutes diligently so you don’t get charged extra. Better yet, cut down your cell minutes use and get a cheaper plan. Cut down on the frills (like texting or video messaging) that you don’t need, or see if you can get them for free.
25. Calling information? Don’t pay a fee! Call for free information at Google’s (800) GOOG-411, or another free service, (800) FREE-411.
26. Use free internet phone software like Skype to make free computer-to-computer phone calls (it will help cut down your phone bill!)
27. Use the internet at school, and skip getting it at home. Doing that saved me about $30/month.
28. If you’re buying software, hardware, or computers, check out Fry’s Electronics (Frys.com). They often have rebate deals that allow you to get software for free.
Shopping
29. Use RetailMeNot.com to find coupon codes for thousands of websites—That College Kid used it to save $70 on her textbooks.
30. Refashion old clothes (or thrifted clothes) into something you love. Check out Wardrobe Refashion and T-Shirt Surgery for inspiration, and get free patterns at Burda Style.
31. Make your own gifts. Check out these DIY gift roundups: for girls, for guys, for kids, & for teens/twenty-somethings. I made a gift for my brother this year that he LOVED, and it cost less than $5 (you can find it in “gifts for guys”–its the Monster iPod Cozy).
32. Buy the floor model for expensive items (but make sure it has a warranty). I got a floor model mattress for a few hundred dollars cheaper.
33. Bargain anywhere you can! It never hurts to ask for a lower price. I’ve gotten discounts on mattress box springs, a motor scooter, and my car just by talking the salesman down!
34. If you have a credit card, use it like a debit card—never spend more than you actually have in the bank.
Credit, Fees & Bills
35. Understand what your credit score is, and keep it healthy! It will help you save money later when you’re looking for low interest rates on car or home loans.
36. Pay your bills on time, always. Late fees for most credit cards START at $20—they could be more.
37. Ask to have yearly or monthly fees waived from credit cards or bank accounts. The worst case scenario is that you get a “No,” the best is that you save those fees!
Food & Entertainment
38. Check for student discounts at museums, zoos, restaurants, and movie theaters. They may not be listed. The San Diego zoo had a deal that allowed me to get a year pass for just a little more than the price of one regular admission, but I had to ask for it—the deal wasn’t listed.
39. Don’t eat out. It adds up quickly, and if you’re not getting fast food, you have to add a tip.
40. Use the gym at school, or exercise for free at parks or beaches.
41. Make your own coffee, or at least skip the $3 lattes.
42. Find free, legal music downloads instead of paying $1 per song. Ruckus.com has free downloads for students, and Librivox has free audiobooks.
43. Borrow books and movies from the library instead of buying them or paying a rental fee. Return them on time.
44. Buy discount movie tickets at Costco. They have discounted tickets for chains like Edwards and AMC.
45. Go to matinees, and take advantage of your local theater’s cheaper days—our AMC shows movies for less than half price if you go before 11 on a weekend morning.
46. Try to find a local discount movie theater. We have one on campus! The movies are a little older (almost ready for release on DVD), but still fun to watch on a big screen.
47. Avoid buying snacks at the movie theater; they always overcharge you. If you really want something to munch, pick up some goodies at a grocery store beforehand.
48. Sign up for freebies with your favorite restaurants. Two of my favorites–Pat & Oscar’s and Quizno’s–send out coupons via email, and you can get a FREE “Love It” (medium) size ice cream at Coldstone if you join their birthday club. Mmm!
49. Ask for a lower rate on hotel rooms and rental cars. Since they are travel industries, they are more likely to give you some kind of discount. Be polite, not pushy.
50. Look for freebies in your local paper or school paper: Some museums are free on certain weekdays, some bands play with no cover charge, and your college will probably have some free events for students. UCSD has at least two free concerts with big name artists every year.
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Photo: Piggy Bank 1 by Lynne Lancaster
January 28th, 2008
Chances are you don’t know your credit score. In fact, a lot of students our age don’t even know what a credit score is—or how it can affect their future. Scroll down through this credit score quick guide to make sure you’re up on your credit info:
What is a Credit Score?
A credit score is a three-digit number (ranging from 340 to 850) that helps define your credit history and reliability—basically, the higher your credit score, the more trust you receive from those who look at your score.
Who Looks at Credit Scores?
This is the “why you should care” bit—your credit score matters to a lot of people. Take a look at these examples:
- Loan Companies. Whether you’re taking out a car loan or a private student loan (remember to take out federal ones first—they have better terms!), lenders look at your credit score to help determine the interest rate to charge you—or if they will even give you a loan! If you have a high score, you will almost definitely be qualified and get a lower rate. (Another way to get a lower rate is to have someone with a good credit score co-sign your loan). Even mattress stores check your credit score before they’ll finance a mattress for you!
- Credit Card Companies. If you apply for a credit card, a low credit score (or no credit score) could mean you get denied. My first card (which I got my freshman year) was a student credit card I got through my bank.
- Cell Phone Companies. When Mom and Dad decide it’s time for you to get your own cell plan, your carrier of choice will probably run a credit check on you. A low credit score could mean higher rates or, once again, a denial!
- Insurance Companies. Car insurance companies use a lot of factors to calculate your rate. Age and car model are two of them, but guess what? They also check your credit score. Same rules apply: a higher credit score usually means a lower rate!
- Landlords/Apartment Complexes. If you’re renting off-campus, you will probably need a good credit score to rent an apartment. A low credit score—or no credit score at all—could mean you’ll have to find someone to co-sign your lease.
How to Get Your Credit Report
Want to see your credit report? The federal government created a law that allows you to get a copy of your credit report for free once every twelve months. Just go to www.annualcreditreport.com to get started. You should request your credit score from all three of these companies: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax since your credit history is tracked separately by each company and may therefore have different information on each report. If you want to see your actual credit score, you will have to pay a small fee.
The most common score is called your “FICO” score that is calculated by a company named Fair Isaac & Co. and combines your credit information from all three credit reporting agencies. In 2005, the three agencies created their own combination credit score called “VantageScore” which calculates a scale of 500 to 990.
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Photo: Tramway by Herman Brinkman
December 27th, 2007
I’ve been busy making gifts for some of my family (including the Monster iPod Cozy for my brother!), and its actually been surprisingly fun–it seems much more personal. Here is a little assortment of fun DIY holiday gifts you can give to the teens and twenty-somethings in your life:
Redesigned Suitcase Backpack. To keep this unique project inexpensive, scour thrift stores for good-quality suitcases, and embellish with cool scraps you thrift or discover around the house.
Rice Heat Therapy Pillow. Schoolwork, new jobs, and all that comes with this age can mean stiff necks and headaches. This aromatherapy rice pillow will soothe all those aches and pains. This tutorial also includes ways to change the pillow into a cold pack and an eye-pillow.
Toaster Pastry iPod Cozy. This is the easiest iPod case I’ve found yet—just a needle, thread, and a couple pieces of felt. Plus it looks just like a Pop Tart! (Also check out the other iPod cases I posted in this entry and this one. I made the “Monster iPod Cozy” for my brother–it looks great and cost less than $5!)
Lavender Bath Salts. A bottle of these can cost $16 or more in stores, but they smell just as good (or better!) when you make your own.
Paper Lantern. Take your origami skills to the next level by making this gorgeous paper lantern for your friend, sibling, or roommate. It’s very straightforward, but looks stunning when its finished!
Recipe Book. Perfect for anyone taking on the first few years of living on their own, fill this book with favorite family recipes or scour the web for recipes you can make with just dorm supplies (microwave, fridge, toaster, etc.). To cut costs a bit, you can use a regular binder instead of a scrapbook album.
Want more low-cost and DIY gift ideas? Check out my other gift entries, below, or subscribe to keep up on my latest posts!
Photo: Christmas Decorations by alitaylor
December 13th, 2007
A lot of people are pledging to give handmade gifts this holiday season (and by the way, happy Hanukkah to those of you now enjoying the first few days of it!). You may not want to give all handmade gifts, but I personally like this idea because it can be much less expensive to make your own gifts (yay!) than to try to buy for everyone on your list. If you have kids on your list, I have a few fun and thrifty ideas for you!
Build a Cardboard Kitchen. You know how parents always complain that little kids will play more with a big box than with a toy? For only $7 you can buy a pattern to build an adorable toy kitchen out of cardboard! (Check here if the first link no longer works, and check out the creator’s blog for tutorials on making more fun kid gifts, like multi-colored crayon melts).
Harry Potter Wands. Made with just paper, paint, and a glue gun, these wands are surprisingly cool-looking! Perfect for that young (or old) would-be wizard in your life. 
Glitter Playdough. Easy, pretty playdough you can make with simple grocery store items. Give them with some cookie cutters for maximum fun!
Stuffed Felt Monster. My little cousins (a pair of energetic little boys) love anything “scary”—from ghosts to monsters, and anywhere in between. This clever photo tutorial shows you how to make one yourself.
Quick & Easy Snow Globes. Leave it to Martha Stewart to come up with a way to make snow globes yourself! These aren’t super fancy, but you can customize them to include favorite cartoon characters, dinosaurs, anything your little buddy loves.
A Recycled Dollhouse. Check out this cool dollhouse you can make using things from around the house—these ideas are just a start. Get creative and see what else you can come up with!
Paper Mice. A free downloadable pattern helps you make some teeny mice and a piece of cheese for them to play in! Remember, you don’t have to spend a lot of cash to make a little kid happy–they’ll love playing with these little guys with you, so start a game of pretend.
Is there anything else you’d like to read about? More gift ideas? Finals tips? Tips on making money over the school break? More holiday posts? Let me know!
I’ve got more ideas for you, so don’t forget to subscribe or sign up for email updates if you want to keep up!
Past Holiday Posts:
Photo: fourtytworoads
December 6th, 2007
Need to give some fun gifts this holiday without spending a lot of money? Check out these fresh, fun DIY gifts for the guys in your life—be they dads, boyfriends, roommates, or brothers.
Monster iPod Case. Definitely not your typical iPod case—this one takes some sewing, but it is so worth the effort. I’m thinking of making my brother one for Christmas. **UPDATE** I made this for my brother over the weekend, and it came out great AND cost less than $5! I’ll try to post a picture soon.
Ski Cap with Integrated Headphones. Perfect for snowboarding or skiing, these caps cost about $40 to buy, but this tutorial teaches you how to make one for as little as $10!
Apple Puff Pastries. I have yet to meet a guy who didn’t enjoy free food—these apple puff pastries are a fun gift because they’re a little fancier (and they sure beat a Pop Tart). These simple directions will have you baking in no time.
Make Your Own Journal. This is my only repeat from my past DIY gift post (for the ladies on your list), but it would be a fun gift for any guy who writes or draws. Perfect for beginners, this video tutorial shows you how to make a journal using paper, glue, and some 4×6 photos.
Coin Cufflinks. Make some cool cufflinks out of coins in just two easy steps!
Hollow Hiding-Place Book. You know those hollowed-out books where people hide their most treasured possessions? Well this tutorial tells you how to make one yourself. Talk about the perfect gift! Make it even better by filling it with something fun (or delicious).
Etched Drinking Glasses. You have to be careful making these because the etchant can be dangerous, but the finished result looks really classy.
I’ll have at least one more of these gift roundups in store, so check back (or you can just subscribe via RSS or get email updates if you want to make it even easier!).
Past gift posts:
Photo: Gifts? Already? by mysza831
December 3rd, 2007
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