College is very expensive and without money-saving tips, you can end up with a huge debt by the time you graduate.
According to CNBC, 70% of college students finish college with a lot of debt. This is heartbreaking given the fact that is it difficult for many of these students to get decent jobs after graduation.
You can save yourself from a miserable future by reducing your expenses during your college life.
In this article, I will walk you through tips you can use to save money in college.
1. Submit your college application on time
Each college program has its application deadlines. After the deadline, some universities and colleges may still accept your application for a fee. By submitting your application on time, you get to avoid unnecessary fees and charges which is a good starting point for those who want to save money in college.
Applying for your program on time also allows you to get into the best program. For example, if you find a cheap school that has a major you like, your chances of getting into that program will be higher if you can manage to submit the application way before the deadline.
2. Avoid overspending on your credit cards
It is very easy to overuse your credit cards when you are in college. The downside of overspending on your credit cards, however, is that once you use all your credit limits, it becomes difficult to pay off your credit card balances because you do not work anywhere.
As a result, your debt gets much bigger and more difficult to pay off due high to the annual percentage rate(APR) you pay on the outstanding balance.
The unpaid balance on your credit cards will wreck your credit score and hurt your credit report in the process.
To protect your credit history and credit score, make sure that you watch how much you use on your credit cards. Here is a guide to avoid overspending on your credit cards.
Staying under 10% of credit card utilization is very important to safeguard your credit and save money in college. The lesser credit utilization, the better.
If you have to use a credit card, make sure that you are getting money back in the form of cash rewards.
Some credit card issuers give you cash rewards for having a good GPA. For example, Discover has a Good Grade Reward where you get a $20 reward at the end of the year if your GPA is 3.0 or higher.
Related credit card tips:
- How to avoid credit card interest?
- 7 things you should not buy using a credit card
- Factors on which a credit score is based on
- 6 effective ways to pay off credit card debt
3. Buy used textbooks and use free eBooks when possible
Textbooks will cost you a lot of money. If you are not careful, you can pay more than $1000 every semester for textbooks.
Some of these books are only used for one semester and they are not taken back when you try to sell them.
This is a waste of money. You must be smarter than the system in order to save money in college. Saving money on textbooks is one of the best ways to lower your college expenses.
There are many techniques you can use to save money on your textbooks such as buying used books, using eBooks, getting international editions, etc. For more details on getting the cheapest textbooks to save money in college, refer to the following article.
4. Living in a cheap housing unit and getting a roommate will help you save money in college
Housing expenses are some of the biggest ones you will have besides your tuition while in college. You can expect to pay thousands of dollars every semester on housing. But, you don’t have to spend that much money on housing while you are trying to save money in school.
To save money in college, don’t live in the most expensive unit available. Instead, look for the cheapest housing unit on campus. These housing units might have small rooms, less amenities, and could be in less fancier locations. But, they will help you lower the cost of your living expenses which eventually saves you money in college.
Very often, students worry about the quality of their dorms and apartments. The hard truth is that you don’t have to worry about it. It is not yours, and therefore, you should not pay top dollar to live in it. The location of the unit you live in should not matter, as long as it does not compromise your safety and school schedule. All universities and colleges have police departments that work 24 hours a day. So, do not assume that the building will not be secure because it looks messed up.
If there is nothing on campus that works for you, you can always go off-campus and find something that is cheap. For this to work, it is better to go as a group and apply for one apartment. This way, you can save money by living together.
Additionally, find a roommate to split the rent. Usually, apartments and housing are expensive as you get closer to the university. To make it affordable, find a roommate and split the rent. This way, your rent can cost you 50%, 33%, 25%, or less depending on how many roommates you have.
If you go off-campus, make sure you live close to the university to avoid long commutes or having to get a car.
5. Instead of buying a car, use a bus to save money in college
It does not make sense to buy a car when you live on campus. It is also possible to commute anywhere on campus, and therefore, you do not need a car.
Having a car will increase your expenses by hundreds of dollars. You will pay for the car insurance, parking spot, gas, maintenance, etc.
If there is a place you can not reach on campus, you can use the campus shuttle. Campus shuttles are reliable and always on time.
If you need to go shopping, you can bike there or use public transportation. Many cities have buses that stop close to the shopping centers.
Make sure that you shop at a store where the city bus reaches.
This is how to save money in college. You must live within your means.
6. Avoid expensive cell phones and data plans
You do not need the most expensive cell phone and cellphone plan available. You just need the cheapest one possible. As long as you can call your family and friends, you will be fine.
A phone that can connect to the university’s internet will be good too. Something under $100 can do just fine.
Also, avoid paying for a cellphone’s internet. Take advantage of the university connection.
Why would you pay for a cellphone internet if you are on campus 95% of the time? You can save money in college by using your school’s free internet or the one you are already paying for in your dorm.
7. Avoid eating in the cafeteria or in restaurants. Instead, cook your own food
Buying food is another big expense to be addressed. Your eating habits will determine how much money you will save while in college. Most students eat out a lot or sign up for the meal plans provided by their universities. Usually, on-campus meals cost around $12 to $20 which is way too much compared to how much you could spend if you cooked your own food.
Cooking your own food is the best and easiest way to save money in college. Your food will be cheaper and tastier.
8. Stop drinking alcohol
Drinking while in college is one of the many ways students spend too much money, especially during stressful times. Not only that alcohol cost you money while in college, but also it makes it harder to concentrate on your studies. This is why avoiding alcohol altogether is an effective way to save money in college and stay healthy.
If you really need to drink, go to a party. You will find free drinks there.
The people you hang out with will determine how much you drink. So, make sure that you hang out with the good guys.
9. Smoking is a big money waster in college
Smoking will cost you a fortune in college. Cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and related tobacco products are not good for your pocket and your health. You can spend more than $5 on one pack.
If you smoke one pack per day and you spend 120 days at school, you will spend $600 on tobacco products per semester. This is a lot of money considering that you are not working that much. To save money in college, avoid smoking and related tobacco products.
10. Do not lose your student ID card
You heard me right. Losing your student ID card might cost you a lot of money especially if it is a repeated habit. You probably got your first student ID card for free. But, you might not get the second card for free. Most universities charge a fee to replace your card which is usually $10 to $20.
This is a lot of money for students especially when you are trying to save money in college. This money can be used to buy 2 or 3 books for your next semester.
To avoid spending this money, make sure that your ID card is in a secure place and with you all the time.
In addition, make sure that you take your ID card with you before you leave your hometown for college. Living it at home will automatically make you buy a new one.
11. Pass all your courses every semester
When you fail a class, you do not get credit for it or a refund. In other words, failing a class leads to losing money, time, and energy. To get credit for classes you failed, you have to retake the course and pass it. This means paying twice for the same course.
Another important thing to remember is that failing a class, especially prerequisite classes can push back your graduation. This will translate into buying more books, tuition and fees, and paying more money for food. Additionally, retaking a class is not fun at all and it might cause a lot of mental stress. To avoid all these issues and save money in college, try to pass all your classes every semester.
At the same time, avoid enrolling in courses that are not required. You don’t want to spend money on a class just because you like it.
12. Use your college amenities wisely to save money in college
Your college will have every amenity possible to make your campus life enjoyable and stress-free. These amenities will include fitness centers, swimming pools, parks, etc. If used wisely, these amenities can help you save money in college. If the university does not have the kind of equipment you are used to, do not panic. You can always use yours when you get back home.
Do not pay for any amenities off-campus unless you have to. Your college should have what you need. You will worry about what you want later during your break or after school. You should also remember that you are paying for these amenities already through school fees.
13. Do not pay for games to save money in college
Your college will sometimes have seasonal games such as basketball, hockey, volleyball, etc.
If you want to save money in college, do not pay for these games. Even if they ask only $10 per game, do not pay for them.
You can go for free when your university gives away free tickets. This way you will be able to explore what you have been missing for free.
14. Work in the cafeteria to eat free food and make money
Working when you are at school is always a good idea. You make money to compensate for some of your expenses.
Working in the cafeteria is even better because you will make money and get to eat for free on your shift. You heard me right. When you work in the cafeteria, you don’t pay for food. Imagine eating free food for an entire semester! This college money-saving tip can easily save you thousands of dollars every year on food alone.
15. Eat free food on campus
Eating free food is one of the best ways to save money in college. There will be endless free food events on campus. Some of these food events will be due to fundraising events, visits, anniversaries, church events, etc. Taking advantage of these events can easily help you save a ton of money on your food and eventually lower the cost of your college.
Keep yourself posted and mark each event on your calendar. Attend as many events as you can to eat free food. Do not be shy when your friends invite you to food parties.
16: Go to free movies
Never pay for movies when you are in college. Movies are expensive, especially on the weekends.
One way you can watch movies for free is to use free movie passes given by your university. Some colleges give free tickets once a month or twice a month.
If your college has a free movie program, make sure that you get tickets before they run out.
When there is more than one movie you want to watch, get another ticket from one of your friends who does not want to watch a movie in the theater. If you can’t find another ticket, wait for the movie to be available online or on streaming services such as Netflix.
