It’s no big secret that college life can be really expensive. There’s tuition and books and all kinds of extras that just seem to keep piling up. If you’re lucky enough to have mommy and daddy foot the bill for anything and everything you might need, that’s great. For the rest of us, though, who are struggling to get from one semester to the next with our sanity and the $5 left in our pocket, a little sympathy would be nice. So would something besides Ramen Noodles.

If you want to enjoy college and not be completely broke here are 27 different tips, just to get you started:

1 Join a credit union- they have great benefits.

2 Don’t get a credit card unless you have to – you’ll spend more if you pay with plastic.

3 Avoid debt not related to your education.

4 Save for things and wait until you can pay cash.

5 Make sure you pay bills on time.

6 Track how much you spend.

7 Make a budget and then stick to it.

8 Save all your receipts to make sure you’re prepared for anything.

9 Guard your vital statistics against identity theft.

10 Buy your textbooks used.

11 Skip spring break and save money by not traveling.

12 Live without a car. Yes, you really can do that!

13 Stay away from ‘friends’ who are always spending a lot of money.

14 Take advantage of activities on campus – they’re usually cheap or free.

15 Go to class. After all, you’re there to learn.

16 Get involved with clubs, etc, to stop yourself from being so bored.

17 Stay active.

18 Eat right so you don’t get sick.

19 Limit vices. Beer and cigarettes cost a lot. If you want to ruin your lungs and liver, wait until you can afford it.

20 Learn how to date cheaply.

21 Have fun. Make the most of your college years. They’re important.

22 Make smart choices. You can’t do everything all at once.

23 Consider how much you really need something you’re considering buying.

24 Spend less than you make.

25 Be a good employee. People notice that.

26 Start your own business – get paid for something you can do for your
friends like fixing their computers or some other talent that you have.

27 Learn to invest. It’s never too early, and you can really start with just a few dollars. You’ll thank yourself later.

Following these tips will get you a long way toward having a better college experience on a shoestring budget. The great thing is that those aren’t the only tips. There are literally hundreds more that you can use. Searching for them can give you all kinds of ideas. Not all of the tips will work for you.  Each person and his or her situation is different. However, there are a lot of tips that you can pay attention to. Some of them you might not be able to use as is, but you’ll see how you can adapt it for what you need and your unique situation. That will teach you not only to be frugal but also to be smart about decisions in general, and that’ll help you a lot all throughout your life.

One of the problems with a lot of people who are in college today is that they don’t really know how to save money properly. They might go along in some little fits and starts, but overall they flounder because they get confused. Or worse yet, they get complacent. Simple little things can derail your money-saving plans. For example, consider how much money you spend on food. Most colleges have meal plans, but they aren’t all the same. And you don’t need the most expensive one. You can still get plenty of food on a lower meal plan, because you always have options to purchase something extra if you need it. You can save a lot of money by being careful about your food purchases, and you can still eat well.

Even people with scholarships, grants, and loans struggle because there are a lot of things that none of those money offers actually cover. And there are so many expenses that people often don’t think about including. Young women usually wear makeup, and many of them get their nails done. Both genders need to get their hair cut, at least sometimes. You have to have soap and paper towels and bathroom tissue. Maybe you have a pet if you live off-campus. Well, little Fluffy or Fido has to eat, too. You can get these kinds of things in lots of places, and many of them offer student discounts and frequent shopper cards. Take advantage of those kinds of things so that you save even more. Being cheap and being frugal aren’t the same thing. If your friends make fun of you for spending money, they really aren’t your friends.

Other things you can save money on are things like cell phone plans and gym memberships. Most campuses have a gym. You may be able to use it for free. If you have to pay to use it, it’s still going to be cheaper than going to a gym in town. And you’ll save on gas and time, too. By doing that you can stay in shape and so can your finances. If you call home a lot, look for a cell phone plan that’s unlimited, has free incoming calls, or that has a lot of minutes for a great price. There are good options for students out there, but sometimes you have to look for them. Don’t be afraid to ask for something that you want. You might get told no, but you might get told yes, too. You’ll never know until you ask, and if it can save you money, it’s worth a shot.

This week’s new discount codes: