1.    Save money on phone calls

Communication with friends and family via cell phone can run you into excessive monthly expenses if you are not cautious about your spending. Check all phone plans in your area and choose the most suitable and budgetary one. Join the “pay as you go” plan if you use your phone on a minimum basis. Moreover, try to collaborate with your classmates and professors via email, Skype and other free instant messengers. While with friends and family, use WhatsApp and Viber.

2.    Move closer to your campus

Try to get a room near your campus, it will significantly help to reduce your transportation costs. If you mull over about taking a car, then find someone who has the same schedule as you and share your expenses on parking and gas. But walking, using a bike, skateboard or roller-skates will be cheaper and healthier if you live close to your school.

3.    Avoid snacking between meals

Food is one of the top priorities in a student’s life. Learn how to spend your money smarter and track your daily expenses by the Daily Cost app. Make sure you have healthy and affordable food in your fridge. Avoid fast food, coffee shop forays and late-night delivery. Furthermore, write a weekly or monthly grocery list. Ask yourself if there is anything you can live without and follow weekly sales at the grocery stores.

4.    Buy used textbooks

Before you run to a bookstore and pay huge bills for the new textbooks, check if somebody else on your campus can lend them to you. If there is no opportunity to borrow it, buy used textbooks. In other words, browse eBay, Amazon or used bookstores on your campus. Cover your expenses by selling your own used textbooks to the college bookstore, local garage sales or online.

5.    Save a few bucks on weekends

If there are tennis courts, gym or swimming pools around your campus, it will be cheap and an easy way to have fun with your friends and to stay in shape meanwhile.  If you like to watch movies, go to the cinema on special days to get sizable discounts. Also, don’t forget to browse deals and coupons on Groupon from time to time to diversify your free time.

Do you know any other handy ways to save money in college? Feel free to share them in the comments below.