9 Ways to Save Money in College

(Flickr 401kcalculator.org ) 

When paying for a college education, every penny counts.  Use these 9 Ways to Save Money to keep your piggy bank growing!

1. Buy or Rent Textbooks NOT from the school bookstore 

(Flickr Wohnol)

Online sources like Amazon, Chegg, Abebooks, or Bookrenter are websites that have most books for a lot cheaper than the bookstore.  I personally like searching for books using Allbookstores.com, this site complies a list of sites you can buy your books from according to price.

2. Ask for Student Discounts 
Students often forget about this perk.  Even if a venue does not advertise that they have student discounts, it's never a bad idea to ask.  Restaurants, movie theaters, electronic stores, and even some clothing stores give these discounts.

3. Apply for Scholarships 
Believe me, there are more out there than students know about.  A simple google search for "Scholarships in ____" or "Scholarships for ____" will yield tons of results.  Of course, use your best judgement to select credible sites before applying for anything.

4. Shop at Cheaper Stores
Sometimes it is hard to get away from the brand name food or clothing you've been used to while growing up, but you can save a lot of money by shopping at places like Wal-Mart, Aldi, or Goodwill.

5. Use more Cost-Efficient means of Transportation
If you live close to campus, ride a bike or even walk instead of driving your own vehicle.  Gas is expensive! If a bus route loads near your home and stops near campus, take the bus.

6. Cook your own Meals 
Eating out may be a time saver, but it eats up your wallet.  When purchasing ingredients from a store, you get more bang for your buck (meaning, you can buy more and make more food).

7. Only take out as much Money in Loans as you Need

If you take out more money in loans than you actually need, you'll be paying back the extra money....with interest.  

8. Plan and Evaluate Major and Minor Programs 
Explore your major and minor options at your higher education facility early and weigh those options.  Determine what programs are for you and if you can see a future in it.  Students spend a lot of extra semesters (even years) in college slowly trying to figure out what they want to pursue.  Added time in college means added costs.

9. Make a Budget 
Don't spend more than you earn.  Dedicate your earnings to savings and some earnings as spending money 

Anddddd if you get really desperate for money, write a letter to your family and friends telling them how much you love them...Including closing comments like "Please send cash" or "Any monetary donation helps"