118 ways to save money in college

I signed up for ReviewMe a while back. The first review I turned down because it wasn't really on topic for this blog. This list of 118 ways to save money in college, though, is right on topic for a personal finance blog, and it's quite good, so I'm more than happy to do this sponsored review, and I encourage you to check it out if you are a college student or know someone who is.

Scholarships Around The US has put together a list of good personal finance advice targeted for the college student. As advertised, there are 118 tips, broken down as follows:

• Managing the money you have. The tips in this section cover getting a good checking account, paying attention to the account's fees, avoiding the “gotchas” associated with the account, using credit wisely, and tracking what you spend.
• Alcohol. The writers didn't forget the 3% or so of college students who'll admit that they've had something to drink at college. (But these 3% spend maybe $2.5 million each on alcohol; check out the site for the aggregate amount. 😉 ) All I can say is think (a) economies of scale or (b) brewing or bringing your own.
• Books. I really missed the boat on this one; I paid retail for most of my college books. They're now worth a total of $6.79. For all of them. Even the expensive ones. Granted, Amazon, eBay, and the like weren't everywhere like they are now, but I certainly could have done better. The “international versions” of certain textbooks that they mention in the article aren't quite the panacea for textbook costs that they appear to be, because the paper quality and binding can be pretty bad and the books may not be legally printed. “Not for distribution off the Indian subcontinent” might be a clue. But the rest of the tips are fine.
• Food. Ramen is mentioned — how could it not? — as well as a number of other dining-on-a-dime tips, like not buying into coffee shops, passing on the bottled water, and smart restaurant tips. (But I really don't want to know what that guy with the peanut butter on his finger is up to.)
• Computer hardware and software. Student discounts are a good tip here. It's usually the same software, just a whole lot cheaper. Unless you can get it free, which is even better.
• Entertainment — music, movies, arts, culture. There are seventeen tips in this section, and five of them basically encourage not spending money on these things. Good idea! Getting into the habit of going out to a movie or buying a CD can get costly if it's the only way you know to blow off steam. It leads to other, more expensive “escape” expenses later. Aside from these, sharing the expense, buying used (which I recommend) and looking for free entertainment dominate the remainder of the tips in this section.
• Off-campus apartment living. Man, it was a shock to see how much living expenses cost. Ouch. Anyway, the first tip is a good one, which is to split the rent. Especially if you're paying for it yourself, like I did in grad school on my meager stipend.
• Shopping. These tips are good for more groups than just college students, but the ones that stand out as student-only deal with patronizing stores that do student discounts and pitching in for a warehouse-club membership.
• Transportation. It was probably a blessing in disguise that I didn't own a car until I was 25, but with gas getting more expensive it's a lot cheaper to do without one, and to arrange your housing so that you don't need one.
• Travel. Tip #87 was one that I did pretty often since I was in-state and could find a handful of people who were within 20 miles of where I live.
• Keeping in touch. There are many more free options for keeping in touch available today than there were when I was in college. Take advantage!
• Personal. I knew a friend in college who said “every shower is an adventure” but it doesn't have to be a press release. Seven good tips to avoid this particular adventure and keep as clean as you need to.
• Exercise. Twelve-ounce curls aside, there should be a number of low-cost exercise opportunities available for students, several of which you can get credit for. (A few were required at my college.)
• Making a few bucks. I was an accompanist for vocal and instrumental students and worked as a tutor, but there are many web-based revenue generators now. Ones similar to this blog (tip #114).

This is a good list — a nice mix of practical tips and general personal finance wisdom. I hope that you'll read the rest of the tips!