That ‘back to school’ time brings with it many emotions - excitement of moving into your apartment, dread of tough classes, anticipation of new faces, regret for the lost days of Summer. For many it also brings another feeling - financial fear. Heading back to school is often a time when wallets get a work out. Here are five ways to save as you head back to school.
- Books. The average annual cost of books at a four-year college is $1,122. Ouch. Think of how many months of rent that is. Because you can’t really ’save’ on tuition (or can you? More on that later.), your book tally is probably your biggest direct school expense that you can do something about. Besides buying used books online, you can also rent books from several online outlets. Check out chegg.com and bookrenter.com. For a quarter to one-half of the price, you can rent the book, use it and mail it back at no additional cost. Very cool.
- Clothes. Okay, you aren’t in high school anymore. In college, you don’t need a new wardrobe to put on when you roll out of bed with only 10 minutes to get to class. Cross this off you list.
- Supplies. It’s not the most fun, but go through your stash from last year. It’s likely that you won’t need much. After all, you probably take notes on your computer and have pens and folders left over from last year. In addition to saving money, you are saving the environment.
- Tuition. Tuition is a set amount, right? At most schools, when you are a full-time student, you aren’t paying the credit, but rather you are paying for up to a set amount of credits per semester. If that is the case, make the most of your tuiton dollars by capping out your credits each semester. By taking the maximum of 18 credits for five semesters, you may be able to graduate a semester early. Of course, make sure you can handle the work load and take courses that you need.
- Meal Expense. Even if you live off-campus, consider whether a campus meal program will actually save you money. If you aren’t likely to pack a lunch, you may end up eating out more than you think. Some quick math will let you know whether it makes sense for you.
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