5 College Money Saving Tips Every Student NEEDS To Know About

I wish when I was in high school or just starting college that someone would have taught me some useful college money saving tips. Before starting college no one ever explained to me all of the costs that are involved in furthering your education and attending a college. Yes, I knew that the tuition was expensive but before attending I never realized all of the other costs associated with it like buying books, room and board, supplies and many, many more expenses.When I was in college I had to take out loans for my tuition and I worked as many jobs as possible so that I could afford to pay for my car, car insurance, gas, books, meals, clothes and the list goes on and on. And, to top it off the cost of college is on the rise. Each year it goes up a certain percentage because of the cost of living.Honestly, I do not know how the economy expects students to pay for college. Plus, once you graduate you are not guaranteed a job, but you are guaranteed debt. When I finished my bachelors degree I had more debt than the amount it cost to buy a small home in our area. Then, I decided that I was actually more interested in another field than my degree and went and got my MBA.My husband and I always joke about it because I have actually never used either one of my degrees, but we always say that my brain is worth a lot of money! Yes, I know it really is not funny, but else can we do at this point?Anyway, I have found a lot of ways that you can minimize your expenses and save money while you are getting an education. Take a look at these 5 college money saving tips so that you don't break the bank while you are getting an education. 

College Money Saving Tips:

1. Make a budget for the month and stick to it. When you know how much money you have, and exactly what you are spending on everything, it makes it easier to keep track. You may be tempted to blow your budget on a night out or a date, but when you realize that overspending has a consequence, you will think twice. Trust me, you don't want to live off of ramen noodles for the rest of the month {or, maybe you would?}.

2. The campus bookstore may be the easiest choice for buying textbooks, but it is probably the most expensive as well. You can buy used textbooks instead of purchasing brand new, or even rent the books you need for the semester and then return them. It will cost a lot less than buying the textbooks brand new and keeping them if you aren't going to need them again. This is a great option for all of the general education classes that you need to take.There are a lot of websites that will allow you to rent textbooks like campus book rentals, or if you want to own the book make sure you check sites like Amazon to get the best possible deals.3. You can also make a few dollars by selling your used textbooks when you are finished using them. Textbooks cost a lot of money and just like you, there is always someone looking for a better price on the books they need each semester. Put an ad on a campus bulletin board or even on Craigslist to reach potential buyers. Use the money you make from selling your used textbooks towards the textbooks you need to purchase for the next semester to help lower your out of pocket expense. You will be surprised how easy it is to sell your used textbooks.One thing to keep in mind though is that textbooks are always coming out with a new edition, so once you class has ended you may not be able to sell them back to the bookstore or to another person. So, renting them may be the best option for you.4. No credit cards! There are lots of student credit cards available. You may even see representatives on campus recruiting students to apply for credit cards. Don't do it. The last thing you want to do is get sucked into using credit and getting yourself into deep debt. If you do noy have the cash for something you want, wait until you have it. It may be tempting, but keep reminding yourself that you don't need to use credit because you don't want or need that extra expense.I know there are many cases where this absolutely is not possible. In those cases be sure to get a credit card with no annual fees and a low APR. Also, only use it for necessary purchases.5. There are lots of stores and restaurants that offer a student discount. Ask around to find out where the discounts are. Carry your student ID card with you so that you never miss an opportunity to save. When you do your shopping make these places your regulars so that you are saving money every time you spend money. I know that Best Buy has a special promotion for anyone with a .edu email address. Once you sign-up you can start receiving high-value coupons on electronics.

Going to college is a large expense but there are always ways to save money. You want to be able to get the quality education that you are paying for and not go broke in the process. Use these 5 college money saving tips to keep your pockets full and help you stay out of debt.