Every semester students at universities and colleges throughout the country have HUGE start-up costs that come with every semester. This are sooo annoying and even more frustrating that every semester must start with the spending of large amounts of money! Being a senior and in my last semester at BU, I have found several different ways to try and avoid these costs…
1.) Buy Books Used — This is BIG. Books are probably the largest cost you will have all semster. And I’m sure that many of you have tons of classes that you are taking, each having at least 1 or 2 books. Buying books used or from Amazon will save you a great deal of money. Believe me, I’ve felt all along that the book store at BU had a monopoly on some of the books they sell us. Which is true, considering some of the books we are required to buy are “BU books” and can’t be found anywhere else. I’m sure many of you have this problem as well…but when you can — buy on Amazon or used from your bookstore! Even buying books off of your friends that had the same class the previous semster will save you money!
2.) Don’t splurge on all new notebooks and pens every semester — Although these things don’t look like they are expensive, they really do add up. Many of you probably don’t do this anyway…but when I first started school I loved getting new stuff, so I would waste money on all new pens when my old ones were just as good. If you buy three-ringed binders and use loose leaf paper, this also saves a bit of money since each semster you just need to buy new paper to write on!
3.) Use your print quota at school — When I was a freshman my parents bought me a printer…but print cartridges are extremely expensive when you run out of ink. Many schools give students a print quota. When your professors have you print all that junk at the beginning of the semster such as your syllabus and grading requirements, etc…use the print quota you are given by your still (if you don’t have one…I guess you have no choice but to print your own stuff). But although a little bit inconvenient when you have to leave your dorm or apartment to go onto campus…just make sure to print the stuff while you are already there to save you an extra trip!
4.) Don’t party too hard — haha, okay so this is the hardest one to follow…especially when you know that at the beginning of the semester there is no work to be done for classes yet. I’m not a great follower of this one, but if you can…try not to go out excessively, I mean even spending money to go out to eat will add up so very quickly! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying don’t have fun because enjoy the years that you are in college — just make sure you watch your budget. This way when you want to go out with your friends, or take a spring break trip later in the semester, you won’t find yourself without any money in your pocket! Make sure you use Geezeo to fit your other expenses for later in the semester such as spring break in order to make sure you can go on these trips! Setting goals is a great way to make sure you are staying on track with what you want to do in the future and where you want to be with your savings!
I’m sure there are many other ways that people try to save money at the beginning of the semester! These are the few that I have thought of, but if there are other ways that you guys like to save then please share with us! And don’t forget to enjoy the beginning of the semester (many of you may already be back at school…)
