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5 Tips for Saving Money in College



Attending college in the US isn’t cheap, especially if you plan to go to a top institution. At the same time, it’s important to get that expensive but necessary higher education for building a prospective career. As this is a situation that a lot of parents and students face on a yearly basis, here are five tips on how you to save money on college education.


Scholarships


Finding out if you qualify for a scholarship or some other student benefit program should be the first thing on your agenda. Depending on multiple factors such as grades, athletic prowess, achievements, etc., the USA scholarships put in place for college students can cut the expensive tuition fees down significantly. In fact, there are some scholarship programs like the one offered by Blue Sky Formations, which do not even have an eligibility criterion other than just the intention to get a college education. Contact the university you got into for more information about scholarships and student aid programs available there.


Be Careful of the Meal Plans


Colleges charge students for meal plans right from the start and unless you are absolutely certain that it would be best for you, it is advised that you calculate and compare the expenses between managing meals on your own and signing up for a college meal plan. In most situations though, you will save a lot more by managing food expenses on your own.


Get Summer Jobs


Students should get summer jobs to relieve some of the financial pressure from their parents and it will also act as some real hands-on experience in a workplace. While there are students who hold jobs throughout the school year as well, it’s not recommended as it can negatively impact the actual education and grades for which they are spending the money in the first place.


Used Books are Just as Good


There are hardly any differences between a used book and a new one except the fact that used books can be bought dirt cheap. You will find them online, on-campus, and in used-book stores. Even Walmart and Target have used textbooks section for students nowadays. The same applies to any reusable classroom materials as well. There is no point in buying firsthand when you are trying to save money and the decision does not have any adverse impact on your education.


Ride a Bike


If you can let go of the vanity for just these few years, rest assured that you will end up saving a lot of money on gas and car maintenance/repairs. Take the public transport when you must, but stick to riding your bike as much as you can. In addition to saving you money, it will also keep you fit and you will be doing your bit to make the earth a cleaner place.

Not every one of these tips will be applicable in all situations, but as long as you are able to make even one or two of these work for you, those college debts might just seem a bit lighter.

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