Paying for college can break the bank, or at least put a serious hole in your wallet.
According to the College Board, students at four-year universities spent an average of about $12,500 for the 2009-10 school year on things not related to tuition and fees.
So, to help out, here are five areas folks can cut college costs:
- Room and board: Basic living costs can surpass tuition. Save yourself some major cash and live off campus. Sophomores can volunteer to be a resident advisor, often schools will trade room and board for the service.
- Books: Textbooks can run $200 a pop. Stick with used copies, older edition or rent your textbooks. University bookstores and websites such as Chegg.com and BookRenter.com allow users to rent textbooks, typically for 65 to 85 percent off the price of a new book.
- Printing: It’s a good idea to pay for a good computer, but printers can be bought cheap. Sometimes, printing at the school’s library, student union or in certain classrooms is free.
- Transportation: Leave the car at home; you’ll save on gas, repairs, parking and insurance.
- Health Insurance: Thanks to the new health-care law passed earlier this year all young adults up to age 26 to stay on their parents' insurance.
Source Article: The Wall Street Journal