Going Back to School?

Top Five Ways to Save Money

Getting a higher education is one of life’s most rewarding experiences. But the rewards often come at a high price. If you are going back to school this semester, you’ll need some creative ways to save money.

Here are five great savings ideas:

Try Not to Eat Your Money

If you are living away at school, chances are you have a pre-paid meal plan. With food prices constantly on the rise, this is a wonderful way to save. The catch is you have to actually eat your meals in the student dining hall. Students who get caught up in the fun of socializing and eating in restaurants often skip the free meals right on campus. It pays to try to eat most of your meals where you don’t have to shell out any extra cash.

Don’t Pay Full Price for Textooks

Often, when students get a list of required textbooks for college, they run to the campus bookstore and buy beautiful brand new books. This is an unnecessary expense. Used books are perfectly good and offer a significant discount.

You can purchase used books at your college book store if you get there before the limited quantities are sold. If you want to save even more money, try shopping for used books online. Many websites are available which offer deep discounts on used books.

Your best savings option for textbooks may be to buy international textbooks. These books have the same content as those intended for sale in the United States, with a much lower price tag. The only difference you may notice is in the quality of the paper, black & white only printing, and a paperback cover.

If you are thinking about buying or renting your textbooks, a great way to save money, is to use a comparison website like Affordabook and BookByte. These websites will search for the best prices online for you in seconds. No need to visit all the online bookstores one by one.

Sell Your Old Books Privately

At the end of each semester, you’ll probably only want to keep a few of your favorite books. It is easy and convenient to sell them back to the campus book store, but you will only receive a small percentage of what they are really worth. If you take the time to sell your books privately, you stand a much better chance of getting a fair price.

Enjoy Yard Sales and Thrift Stores

Furnishing your dorm or college apartment needn’t be expensive. Yard sales and thrift stores often yield beautiful and affordable treasures. Look for moving and estate sales where people are looking to quickly get rid of furniture, window treatments, and even linens. The prices are often practically a steal. And don’t forget to check out the Salvation Army and local church and synagogue thrift stores.

Take Advantage of Student Discounts and Free Events

Part of the college experience is getting out and having a good time, and that can be hard on a budget. But sometimes the best things in life really are free. Take the time to check out free concerts and events offered locally. In addition, there are many places which offer student discounts, such as museums, movie theaters and even restaurants.