Back to college savings tips

Don't purchase new school items if what you have on hand is still good. This goes for everything from pencils, backpacks, to clothes. If your clothes are not worn out, remember in college students can have their own identities and don't always need the latest fashions. This is a great tip for saving money for college right of the bat.

If you must shop, shop online. If you browse the stores in person, you will be enticed by all the fancy displays and new items. College students readily give in to buying urges. Shopping online allows you to get exactly what you need.

This is a no-brainer: Buy used textbooks. Of course this means shopping early at the college bookstore or online. You should get enrolled and a book list as soon as possible. 

As a college student, you have to set a budget. And stick with it. You want to limit your purchases and save money, not live on the edge. Money you save is cash in your pocket for the future!

If you live in the college dorm, wait to see what your roommate has. No reason to buy items for a dorm room when your roommate might already have them. If you need something else, ask them to share the cost for items that the dorm room needs. This is ideal for TVs, lamps, chairs, rugs, etc.

As far as school items like pens, pencils, and paper, it is always wise to stock up early when the prices are cheap. College students should buy items in bulk packages. Don't buy one pencil, buy a pack of ten. Similar for paper and pens. You will use them, so why not stock up and save?

Look for sales. Every store has sales at the start of the school year. This can happen early, and may not run later. Savvy college students always shop during sales.

Get your student discount! If you have a college ID, many stores offer discounts for students. Take advantage of them!

The hidden costs of college can make college very expensive

When college students think college expenses, they usually think tuition. Then maybe room and board. And they think that's it. Unfortunately, many students get whacked with fees and expenses that they did not think about. Or even know about. When calculating the true cost of college, you have got to factor in the "hidden" costs of college.

Textbooks: Of all the expenses of college, this one can jump up and bit you. Hard. If you take a full time schedule, math, science classes, chances are very good that you will pay over $100 for a textbook. Four classes it is not uncommon to spend $300 each term on textbooks. Maybe more. That alone could add $600-$1000 a year to the cost of college.

Fees: Many colleges charge a fee for all sorts of things. Health, student activities, lab fees, and materials fees. These are only a few. While some are known up front, you may not realize that lab class has an extra cost.

Transportation: Do you own a car and will be using it at college? You will need to pay for a parking pass. This could be as high as $40 a month. And you still have to pay for car insurance. Do you live off campus? How much is bus fare?

Food and drinks: You may think that you have a meal plan and that solves the food problem. Not really. Many times the cafeteria will be closed, or you will find yourself off campus and hungry. Purchasing extra food and drinks can add up fast. How many times do you think you will be eating fast food off campus? Or even on campus? If your meal plan is on a prepaid card, you need to watch how much you use it. If there is one expense you can't eliminate, it's food and drink.

The Dorm: You may think the dorm is done. But a dorm room is a sterile environment until you customize it. You will probably need a lot of personal items, like towels, sheets, pillows, and accessories to make it livable. Not to mention personal items like soap, shampoo, deodorant, make up, and more.

Remember, if you have never lived on your own, you have no idea how expensive it can be to maintain your lifestyle. So before heading off to college in the fall, factor in the hidden costs of college.