Student Loan Dodgers

Yes, you can save money as a student! At the beginning of the semester, when you’re being hit with tuition bills, fees, books, supplies and household expenses, it’s hard to believe that you can actually save. One trick to saving money involves not spending it in the first place.

Books: The campus bookstore isn’t the only place to get your books. Find out what books your professor wants you to get and see if you can find a cheaper copy online. One caveat: take into account the shipping fees. Saving $10 on the cover price doesn’t help when shipping runs $15.

Transportation: Pare down your transportation costs by using mass transit, ride sharing, bicycling or walking. Take transportation into account when deciding where to live and work.

Food: Don’t eat out when you can avoid it. Make food at home. If you’re going to be on campus during lunch, bring food with you from home. It’s a lot cheaper and you can save hundreds of dollars each month by not eating out.

Cash: Save it when you get it. Save at least 10%-15% of your monthly spending money and forget about it. Someday, you’ll need it.

Credit: Bad idea if you’re not really familiar with how credit cards work. They open up a lot of buying options, but if you haven’t developed a keen sense of self-control, you’re going to be hurting in just a few short months. Figure out how much money you can safely pay back each month and don’t overspend that amount, no matter what the spending limit on the card is. Your goal should be to pay off your balance in full each month. If you like horror stories, check out the Frontline program The Secret History Of Credit Cards. You’ll never look at your credit cards the same way again.