While tuition rates cannot be lowered, you or your child can control other aspects of college costs once your child is in college. Here’s a look at some college-specific savings tips:
Get Your Things Used!
Used books, used furniture, used equipment- all of these can offer you significant savings over the shiny new variety.
Textbooks: You can browse sites like Amazon, eBay, and Half.com for bargains on used books that often sell at two-thirds to one-half the price of new books. Your school may also host used book sales or rental programs- find out about them.
Furnitures: Don’t be lazy and just go to IKEA for your furniture like everyone else. Craigslist.com often has many listings for used furniture from college seniors looking to lighten their load while moving out from their apartments. Garage and yard sales, used furniture stores, and some bargain stores that your relative living nearby may know about all offer significant discounts over more mainstream options. Ask around.
Equipments: You’ll be surprised how much cheaper you can find classroom and lab equipment if you either ask around in your college or look for surplus stores.
Go Carless if Possible!
Yes, having a car is an American rite of passage for youngsters, but gas and maintenance can be expensive, and there are other options. If your college town has public transportation, waiting at the bus stop or train station isn’t that bad. If there is no public transportation, look for local carshare listings for people that are offering carpools to the destination of your choice, or just carpool with friends. If owning a car is an absolute must, then buy used cars and earn some money off it by offering rides for cash.
Earn Money on the Side!
There are a variety of ways to earn money on campus:
Your College: may be a source of funds. Campus departments often have postings for paid assistant positions. Laboratories are always looking for research subjects and are willing to pay for an hour of your time. Libraries and computer labs can always use an extra hand.
Tutor: If you constantly help friends out with homework, why not help other fellow students- for some pocket money?
Job Listings: Your college often has a student job board, and businesses on campus often advertise for positions. Be assertive in your job search.
Start Your Own Business: Most people have this image of a business being a brick-and-mortar store, but either a blog + Google AdWords, an eBay account, a t-shirt printer, or a paintbrush and canvass can also get you started on the entrepreneurial path. Plus, your college provides a built-in market base and location for selling your products.
*Tuition does not technically exist at “Publicly Funded” universities, as it is illegal for them to charge tuition, but the word is used in lieu of and interchangeably with Registration Fees.
