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Being a college student is one of the most financially challenging times in a person’s life. Most people have to not only pay for their own tuition, but also pay for all of their own expenses while going to school, which usually only allows the time for a part-time job.
With all these challenges, it is obvious that college students will take whatever help they can get when it comes to saving money to avoid creating more debt for the future. Here are some of the best ways college students can lower their expenses.
Split some home expenses
There are a lot of home expenses that can add up very quickly for anyone living on their own for the first time. Many people become accustomed to having certain things in their home from their parents’ house, but do not realize how much those things cost until they are trying to pay for it themselves. College students can try to split some home expenses with roommates to make the burden easier to handle by using things like TV specials.
Consider being a Resident Advisor
Many students decide to live on campus, which can be a great way to experience college, but also very expensive. Anyone can look into becoming a Resident Advisor at their school to get their housing on campus paid for. Though it requires some extra responsibility, the free housing makes the job worthwhile for many college students.
Rent books
Buying textbooks can cost college students anywhere from 500 to 1000 dollars every semester. These expenses can be huge for anyone who is living paycheck to paycheck. Instead of saving for months just to buy books, students can look into renting the books they need just for the semester, which can be a fraction of the price of buying.
Use every source of financial aid
There are a lot of options for financial aid that many students either do not take advantage of or do not know about. Educating oneself on all the available options for financial aid can help anyone save thousands of dollars every semester. Look into things like grants, scholarships and work study programs.
Try a prepaid phone
Having a cell phone is essential for everyone today. Most students also want to have a smart phone, but these phones can be very expensive for anyone to buy and maintain. College students who are on their own cell phone plan can end up paying a fortune for the service that they want. Trying a prepaid phone option could be the answer for great cell phone service with data at a much lower price.
Don’t forget about student discounts
Student discounts is really where college students can begin to see some significant savings every single day. Most businesses will offer student discounts on all purchases. Never be afraid to ask for a student discount on every single purchase. Most discounts are small, but some savings is better than none.
