7 money-saving tips to keep college costs in check

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Get used to hearing this one—college is expensive. You’re either feeling the effects now (oh hey, double shifts at the library and attending lots of irrelevant events for free pizza), or you’ll be feeling them later, when it’s time to start repaying your loans. Either way, we could all use some help keeping our expenses low and our account balances high(er). Here are some tried-and-true money-saving tips that can keep college costs in check.

Who knew books could be so expensive? Fortunately, most textbooks are now available as e-books, which are often cheaper than hard copies. You can even rent digital textbooks to save more. The downside? Formatting and functionality in certain e-books are not ideal, and it also means more time staring at a screen—which can mess with your sleep. 

If you like reading your textbooks in book-form, try buying used, renting at a lower cost, or borrowing your textbooks for free from the library.

Pro tip: Offer to buy from students who’ve already taken the class and still have their books. It’ll likely be a better deal for you and them, since selling used books back to the school will only get them a fraction of what they paid.

Those picturesque bedrooms you see on Pinterest—complete with coordinating sheets, lampshades, and curtains—are lying to you. You can get just as much use out of a Craigslist lamp and Grandma’s throw pillows, and they’ll give your room more personality. Best of all? Thrifting is an eco-friendly art form. 

In addition to Craigslist, try shopping around on sites or apps like LetGo, OfferUp, Karrot Market, and Facebook Marketplace—just be sure you’re putting safety before a good deal when you meet in-person with online sellers. Try to meet in a neutral, public location and take a roommate, friend, or family member with you. 

Your school might also have a marketplace for students looking to buy, sell, and trade their used items. Look for notices on your campus bulletin boards (physical or digital) to see if there is an on-campus location for used item swaps.

“My first couch was threadbare and hideous, but it was free, and a neutral slipcover made it work in my apartment,”
—Emily, recent graduate, University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada

If you can swing it, hold off on buying supplies—sans the essentials, of course—until after the semester starts. A lot of stores put office, desk, and room supplies on sale after the big back-to-school rush, and that means you can get more goods for your green.

Ordering takeout three times a day adds up fast, and campus meal plans can be expensive. You still have to eat, though—and if you haven’t mastered your cooking skills yet, there’s no time like the present to learn some basics like pasta, tacos, or roasted veggies. You don’t even need an oven to get started. Check out these five recipes you can make in a microwave.

Is this your first year? You might be hanging out with roommates in a residence hall, or maybe you’ve decided to spring for your own apartment. Either way, your current living situation might not be the most financially savvy option for your entire college career. “Depending on where you go to school, living off campus with a few roommates could be less expensive,” than living in a residence hall or on your own, according to Amy Marty Conrad, managing director of insights and impact at the National Endowment for Financial Education, which includes programs like CashCourse that help students plan how to pay for college.

Bottom line: Do your research. The default option isn’t always the most affordable, and you owe it to yourself to figure that out. Check with your school too—some colleges require students to live on campus for a certain amount of time. And don’t forget you can live at home. It may not be your fav option now, but the financial freedom you’ll have after graduation could get you closer to the life you want. 

“Bulletin boards on the school campus always offer different options for housing like renting a room, needing a roommate, and cheaper apartments or studios.”
—Alexander, recent graduate, College of the Desert, California

Your student ID is so much more than a close-up of your face on your first day on campus. It’s essentially a multi-purpose coupon that can save you money on everything from streaming services, to car insurance, to museums. Companies want your business any way they can get it, and that usually means that they’ll cut you some slack in your student years. Some retailers might not advertise discounts, and others might only grant them to the brave few willing to ask for them. So, it’s worth it to ask, even if the answer is no.

Use your student ID as much as you can before you graduate—the next time you’ll be eligible for discounts like these is when you reach senior status (senior citizen, that is).

While we’re here, be sure you’re sticking to your budget by having one in the first place. It’s OK if you’re new to tracking your finances; in fact, that’s the best place to start. Try a budgeting app like Mint and see where you can make adjustments. 

Remember, small tweaks can mean big savings. You got this.