Ways to Save Money in College

The cost of a four year degree keeps going up. It's getting to be very expensive to go to college and many families are feeling the pinch. There are a few ways to save money on college expenses and make getting that degree a little more affordable.

If you are still in high school, start thinking about college now. Many junior colleges allow you to take college classes while in high school. Some are even taught on high school campuses. Take some classes before you graduate. If you are up to the challenge, take AP classes and pass the AP exams. This will give you college credit. Any classes you take will make the overall cost of a degree cheaper.

In fact, virtually all college degrees require the same first two years of general education requirements. Taking these classes at a local community college can save big bucks. Then transfer. You will only have roughly two years of four year college expenses. Staying at home, going to a JC, can be one of the biggest ways to save money on college. Resist the urge to get a federal student loan while at a junior college. Try and pay cash. Your loan will be much bigger than the expenses if you are living at home. Save the debt for the four year college or university.

Speaking of staying at home, are you attending college close to you? No reason to spend money on a dorm or apartment. Staying at home cuts that expense down to what your parents are already paying--your room and board now.

What is your plan? Do you have a major picked out? You need to pick one soon. Taking classes that you don't need is a waste of time and money. Choose a degree wisely, and stick with it. If not, you probably will spend longer than four years getting a degree because you need different classes. Take only the classes you need. You can also be a dual-major, using the some of the same classes for each degree.

If you live on campus, get the cheapest meal plan first. This will allow you to test the food to see if you like, and more importantly, will actually eat it. No reason to get a meal plan that you will not use.

Sometimes an off-campus apartment is cheaper than a dorm and meal plan. Check this option out.

Yes, college is expensive. Checking out ways to save now is a good idea. Also, it is very important to graduate without a staggering amount of student loan debt.

College student's budget busters

There is more to a college budget than books and tuition. In fact, those will be more manageable than the costs of other things that most college students want or need while in college. Many things are not thought of and can bust any college budget.

Here are just a few costs of college that are normally no in your budget.

Outfitting a dorm room. Shelves, bedding, and other accessories to make your dorm comfortable will add hundreds to your costs. Shop wisely and think used.

College Parking fees. This can add up to $50 a month. Leave the car at home if you can help it. Do more things on campus. Like study. Car insurance can be expensive. 

Students and Electronic gadgets. Cell phones, a new laptop, maybe an ipad or ipod. These are budget killers. Students should make an effort to acquire these items before college, or better still, just go for a laptop. The others you may not need.

College outerwear. From school sweatshirts to college team hoodies. You may feel the need to show some college pride. Choose items that you could wear on a daily basis. Get it to do double duty, not just school sports attendance. Sometimes the college bookstore sells these items for a lot less than brand names.

College students love snacks. Even if you have a meal plan, you will need snacks and food in the dorm. Most students do not know how expensive food is, as their parents supplied it for free. Buy bulk items and put in snack bags to lower the cost. Avoid single pack snacks. They are expensive.

Off campus activities. You will want to get away from campus. Movies and coffee shops for example. These can be college budget busters. Be sure and ask for local student discounts.

Expensive college dorms may not be worth it

Dorm rooms can add quite a bit to the cost of college. Many times, especially at public colleges and universities, the cost of a dorm can be more than tuition. Costs can be as much as $10,000 a year, with about one third of that being the cost of the meal plan.

There ways of saving on the cost. When choosing a college, price may be on the top of your list. The difference between what some colleges charge for dorm rooms can be quite dramatic. Shop around and find colleges that offer cheap dorms. If you are set on attending one college, check the different prices of dorm options. Sharing a dorm room is much cheaper than a private one. You are not going to spend that much time oin your dorm, and most colleges allow you to pick compatible roommates.

Remember that colleges with cheap dorms also will have the least amenities. Most will offer internet and wi-fi, but not air conditioning.

Some colleges allow you to even share with more than one extra person, lowering the cost of dorm again.

If your college has the option, investigate how much of a discount you can get for campus work.

Meal plans are another cost. Getting the cheapest available plan, or even no plan, may be an option for many students who will not be eating cafeteria food much. However, some schools do insist on a meal plan. Also, many colleges will offer a bundle of dorm and meal plan for less if bought separately.

If you want the most expensive dorm room, you should look into nearby housing and see if it is cheaper to live off campus. Especially if you can get roommates to share the costs.

Remember that just because a dorm room is cheap, does not mean the tuition will be cheap as well. You need to look at the total cost, room, board, plus tuition to get an overall feel as to how expensive your chosen college is.