Because we are all college students and broke as a joke, (if you’re not, you may exit this page right now. And we hate you.) we know firsthand how difficult and almost impossible it is to (try) not get buried in this notorious money pit — also know as college. Well, maybe the five tips below can help keep you level-headed for a while — it’s not much, but every bit counts, right?
Photo courtesy of joelbert1124.tumblr.com
1) Buy textbooks from Amazon.com
I’m saying this as a senior, and I’d only wish if someone else told me this three years ago! Yes, I know “earlybird” is tempting because it saves you the hassle of looking up all the required books and their prices. But guess what, if you could spare a good 30 minutes and sit in front of your laptop to order books online, chances are you’re about to pay a quarter of what you’d pay at the bookstore. #Triedandtrue
2) Sell textbooks anywhere BUT the bookstore
Sorry, MU bookstore, I really didn’t mean to smack you twice in a row, but you rip us off like no body’s business! (pun intended?) Fortunately, downtown Columbia is blessed with many small-scale bookstores that often take your used textbooks for a good price. So in addition to online, you know where to go next time!
3) Learn how to cook
I’m not even joking on this one. As someone who lives downtown, my options are pretty limited and expensive — hello, yet again, Ingredient and your $10 salad. $10 a meal can add up to so much every month, not to mention every year. And let’s not even forget your beloved daily dose of caffeine green tea latté at Starbucks. With that said, it’s time to hit Walmart or the farmers market this weekend.
4) Go to events for FREE FOOD
Going off of #3, if you find yourself hungry but resent the idea of doing dishes, this one might be for you: Be a event crasher. Why? Two words: free pizza (and soda, if you’re lucky and early.)
5) BUDGET
In all seriousness, a lot of us probably just suck at budgeting. That’s when a website like Mint.com comes in handy. This site does all the work of categorizing all your spending so that you know where your money’s gone to! The best part? It’s free. No wonder The Wall Street Journal calls it “the best online tools for personal finance.”
© Vox Talk 2011
Students can save more by using a price comparison website such as FindersCheapers.comthat shows used, rental and new textbook prices. A price comparison website will check the inventories of thousands of online booksellers and return the cheapest deals found, along with coupons and any available free shipping offers.
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Thank you so much for your comment! I hope this article did help you save some of your hard-earned money!
It is hard to save money for higher education when the university keeps increasing tuition by 14% each year. UC Berkeley Chancellor Birgeneau ($450,000), Provost Breslauer ($306,000) pick the pockets of in-state students and their parents clean. Birgeneau’s, Provost’s tuition increases make public Cal. the # 1 ranked most expensive for in-state students (during the greatest recession of modern times). Cal. is more expensive than Harvard College. B&B’s outrageous 14% annual tuition increases (2006 – 20012) provide a shocking picture of out of touch, self-serving senior management.
Robert J Birgeneau and Provost have forgotten they are public servants, stewards of the public money, not overseers of their own fiefdom. Let’s review how B&B have handled the tax dollars they currently get.
Pay ex-politician $300,000 for several lectures; Recruit affluent foreign & affluent out of state students who then displace qualified instate applicants; Spend millions (prominent East Coast university accomplishing same at 0 cost) for OE consultants to remove Chancellor, Provost created inefficiencies but prevent consultants from examining senior management.
Sack clueless Provost George Breslauer. Wasteful Chancellor Birgeneau resigned.
Email opinion marsha.kelman@ucop.edu Calif. State Senators Assembly Members (The author has 35 years’ consulting, has taught at Cal. where he observed the culture & ways of senior management & was not fired)