Coupons for College

by Tiffany Lorente
(Miami, Florida)

College is one of the most expensive investments made in one's life. Luckily, there are many ways to stretch the money available in order to get more for less.

In the past year, I have started cutting coupons which have saved me hundreds of dollars a month! The coupons are available online through Google searches, and through inserts in Sunday newspapers. There are coupons available for everything between toilet paper to laptops. For example, on a regular shopping trip to Walmart I saved my parents twenty-dollars in coupons! Twenty-dollars in this economy are worth more than one imagines.

Another advantage to being in college is the student discounts. Many retail stores and food companies offer discounts on products for students. Dunkin' Donuts gives a ten percent discount when university identification is presented at the time of purchase.

Perhaps one of the best discounts out there has to be the discounts for books. Purchasing books at the university can be very costly. Fortunately, websites like Amazon and SlugBooks offer great deals on textbooks as well comparing the different prices at other locations.

Special name brands charge more for the name than for the actual material. Some products like toothpaste, lotion, and all sorts of pastas can be purchased from the generic, or store brand for a much cheaper price. One great example is Aim toothpaste which costs eighty-eight cents at Walmart, while Colgate costs about $2.00. Those little savings add up to bigger things.

If staying awake in college is an issue, opt for natural ways of staying alert such as apples or exercise. Starbucks coffee is a delicious splurge, but can you really afford the calories and cash? A grande latte costs about six to eight dollars, and with that same amount you can buy forty-eight cups of coffee by buying the can of Maxwell House coffee.

Some people may think that these ways of saving money are ridiculous, but I laugh all the way to the bank. College is expensive, but with research and a bit of effort it can teach you how to budget better than any financial class. Set your priorities now so in the future the debt will not overwhelm you and the vacations welcome you.
Read more College Financial Aid Tips from other students and parents who have been through process.

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Comment from your friendly team at College Financial Aid Advice

Thank you Tiffany for sharing some practical tips on using coupons for college savings. All those little expenses add up and those good habits last a lifetime. Good luck to you.

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Spending Money at College

by Taylor Hunter
(Greensburg, IN)

Know How Deep Your Pockets Really Are - I entered into college my freshman year with a couple thousand dollars I had made from working a summer job. I didn't have to worry about student loans because I was on scholarship and my parents were able to pick up the rest of my housing expenses. However, over the past four years I have learned valuable lessons about money.

The first advice that I think is important for every college student to know is to save money over the summer. Even if you are working to pay for school over the summer, put a little extra aside to give yourself some spending money for college. It is extremely important to practice self-care while in school so you don’t get burnt out. This can be something as simple as going to a local Starbucks and getting a coffee while you read. Any extra money that you can save to practice self-care will be extremely useful in helping you stay sane during school.

The second piece of advice that I would give is to cut down on unnecessary expenses. For example, if there is a nearby mall STAY AWAY. You don’t want to waste your money on a shirt that you won’t really wear and don’t need. Also, try and buy groceries at an inexpensive market that will help cut costs. I really like to shop at Aldi, because they offer everything that most Wal-Mart’s and Kroger’s do without the higher prices. I can almost guarantee that the majority of your spending money will go toward food, so it is important to keep those bills as low as possible.

The last piece of advice that I can give to college students, is to keep track of all your expenses. I was able to go through my undergrad without accumulating student loans. However, now I will be attending law school and will have to take out a large amount of student loans. Keeping track of my expenses will be vital to making sure I keep my loans as small as possible. Every penny counts!

Read more College Financial Aid Tips from other students and parents who have been through process.

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Comment from your friendly team at College Financial Aid Advice

Thank you Taylor for some good tips for managing your spending money at college. Good luck to you.

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Don't be a Victim to Money!!

by Alexandra Robinson- Norris
(Valparaiso, IN, United States)

College, it is one of the most thrilling times in a person’s life. But it is also one of the scariest times for a person, especially a young student. While doing well and meeting new people are priorities for the new college student, money is the main concern.

Many people already find it hard to keep up with bills and daily expenses. Add on college tuition, and it is enough to give a person a heart attack, figuratively speaking. So where does this leave a student who is on a very tight budget? Well for one thing, it leaves the person in a state of stress. But there is no need to constantly worry about expenses anymore. There are plenty of ways to be money smart.

Know how much your tuition and bills are ahead of time! Always be one step ahead of the game. It may help to write down costs, and include the costs of meal plans, books, etc. Once the costs of everything are known, start looking for ways to pay for it all.

A college student’s life is already jam packed with lots of work and other duties, and a job may be too stressful to handle for some. But with that said, there are on- campus jobs that are flexible with a student’s schedule. When trying to find a campus job, seek out the school’s website, or just call the institution itself.

Moreover, it is never too late to look up scholarships. Take a chance, and apply for some!

Finally, a student should watch how expenses are spent. Make a list of needs first, and then wants can be added on later. Look for the best deals and lowest prices. It may help to make a money chart or table. This way, a student can divide up how money should be spent on a daily basis. Don’t be afraid when you have to purchase a need. But make sure to spend the cash wisely! And don’t forget to occasionally put some cash in the bank for emergencies or later college loan payments.

When people hear the word money, hearts start to race, headaches start to arise, and the panic sets in. But you don’t have to become victim to money. Knowing your expenses, how much you had to take out in loans, and other daily expenses are key steps to being better off. Relax, money is just paper. But you, you are a person with a brain reading this. The reason I say this is because we have the power to better out situation and monitor our actions. College should be the best learning experience of person’s life. Don’t let money scare you away from wanting to go. Because college rocks, enough said.

Read more College Financial Aid Tips from other students and parents who have been through process.

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Comment from your friendly team at College Financial Aid Advice

Thank you Alexandra for sharing some good tips for a new college student about handling money. Best of luck.

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