How To Save Money In College
Tips and Tricks for the Destitute
University life is synonymous with poverty. Whether you go to community college or an Ivy League school, tuition costs and textbook prices are skyrocketing. Sure, there are scholarships and financial aid, but few students get scholarships that cover everything, and financial aid is currently centered around loans and puny TAP and Pell grants.
Let's focus on textbooks. Do you really need to buy all your textbooks? Most people do not. Classic literature for English majors can be found in the library, of course. I know that my school has many copies of the most up-to-date editions of basic biology and psychology books in the reference section. Chemistry books here are a bit harder to access, since they aren't in the library, so it may be worthwhile to purchase them. Your school might have a different selection of textbooks in different places, so you ought to check that out before you get your books. Try not to take classes where the teacher writes his own textbooks each term and spiral-binds them, because those are extremely expensive. I made that mistake when I decided to take microbiology. If you use the library wisely, chances are that you only have to actually buy half of the textbooks you need.
College life outside the classroom is also quite expensive. If you can't pay for housing, live in a friend's dorm, because commuting costs a hell of a lot if you drive. Try to live with a quiet kid who's academically focused, because keeping your grades up is number 2 next to survival. Remember, employers look at your transcript.
Some foods are cheaper than others, but ramen noodles every day is definitely not the answer. Lentils actually cost less per serving than ramen, since a 50 cent bag has 8 servings in it, as opposed to ramen packages, which cost 10 cents each. That's a difference of 4 cents per serving, and that can definitely add up. Some other cheap and nutritious foods include cabbage, powdered milk, and potatoes. If you are declared as an independent (a difficult process, but worth it), chances that you are eligible to get food stamps. If you are, then take advantage of this opportunity.
For your wardrobe, you need a few items: a jacket, two pairs of trousers, a "nice" outfit for interviews, some shirts, socks, and drawers. Get enough of the latter two items so that you won't have to spend money on laundry too often. Two pairs of shoes- one athletic, one formal- should suffice. The "nice" outfit needn't be expensive, it just needs to be something outside the realm of jeans, sweatpants, and T-shirts. You can pick one up at Walmart or the Salvation Army. Schools tend to give out free T-shirts, so go to events and bring fewer shirts than you need. You won't look like a dork if you choose your clothes wisely.
This may sound a bit odd, but body wash, shampoo, soap, and hand washing gel are pretty much the same thing. They all contain sodium laureth sulfate or some other similar detergent salts, and, to be fair, there's no difference between washing your scalp and washing your skin. You can also bathe with dish detergent, but don't wash your dishes with shampoo. Get a small bottle of dish detergent, the cheapest you can find, and a huge bottle of VO5 or White Rain shampoo or body wash, and you're set. If your hair is processed or cannot take harsh shampoos, use a dab of shampoo mixed with tons of water.
When you're going out to party or eat with friends, do not offer to pay, and don't eat or drink a lot. Avoid places with entrance fees like clubs and movie theaters (you can watch movies at home); good alternatives include a trip to the park, going to a bar that doesn't have a cover, art galleries, and pizza parlors. There's really no need to go to the same club that your favorite celebrity attends.
The bottom line is that you should always do a cost benefit analysis whenever you make a decision like whether to go on the meal plan or not, whether to buy a textbook or not, or whether to take a certain class. Will this benefit you in terms of time, money, happiness, and future money earned? If not, then just don't do it. Saving money will make you happy, healthy, wealthy, and wise.
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