Wal-mart sells textbooks,

You might also take a look at Bigger Books and since save money in college needs to be a mantra, I recommend comparison shopping by doing a search on Google search on "cheap college textbooks" or any other book search you need to do.

Another search engine I like is http://www.Dogpile.com.

$$$ Money, Credit Cards, Checking Accounts $$$

Credit Card companies are not your friends

• Discuss credit cards and other money matters with your parents before you leave for school, so you have a clear picture of your financial situation and how they will send you the money you need.

• Credit cards are seductive, and you can get in big trouble if you don't practice safe credit card:
  • You will receive scores of enticing mailings, promising great deals, and offers of attractive sums of money

  • Find credit cards with no fee

  • If you miss a payment or are late, the credit company will raise your interest rate, EACH TIME YOU MISS.

  • If you miss or are late, they'll charge you a late fee, sometimes $30.00 or more. EACH TIME YOU MISS.

  • The "free" things they offer, like travel miles, discounts, are not free

  • Look for bare-bones cards

  • Never get a cash advance on your credit card, it costs a fortune

Practice Safe Checks

• Avoid overdraft charges on your checking account, they range from $20.00 to $35.00

• Try to buy only what you need

• Checks from the bank cost more than those you buy online or through the mail with special deals

  See if your parents' bank offers free checking to the children of customers

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More save money in college stuff

• Check out your college town's public library:
  • Books, and some text books

  • Videos, DVDs

  • Magazines, as in don't subscribe, read 'em at the library

  • Internet access and programs-catalogs, ebooks, and, a growing number of public libraries are able to provide movies, documentaries, and film media as downloads to your computer. Very cool.
• Walk places. Not cool, but fuel with fast approaching $4.00 a gallon, walking gets more attractive. Most campuses have restrictions on cars

• If you are on a bike campus, many people will use bikes all the time, so you won't be alone

• If heading off to a bike campus, take an old but reliable bike. New shiny ones are more attractive to thieves, even with the staunchest of security devices

• Use public transportation

• Look for free campus events such as concerts, theater, lectures - and, sometimes they have food

• Get a public library card in your new town. You can check out videos, DVDs, and books you might like to read, but don't need to buy

• Use your own bank, or grocery stores for ATM money, not other banks

• The cell service you use at home may not work as well, or at all, in your college town. Shop around for best prices

• Buy generic food, cosmetics, shampoos, prescriptions

  Visit an accountant or tax expert
  and ask about:

  • HOPE credit

  • Lifetime Learning Credit

  • Other possible tax breaks

  • Differences and distinctions between spending your money or your parents' money

  • Deductibles - again your money/deductibles, your parents' money.

  • Tax ramifications of student loans and interest

  • Tax status of scholarships and grants

  • For free tax advice visit the IRS (Internal Revenue Service), or call them at 1-800-829-1040 with any questions.
    • Call your local office to set up an appointment for a one-on-one with an IRS advisor.

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      Other pages about money

      Earn money from your dorm or apartment

      Learn About Financial Aid

      Everything about scholarships

      Jump to the top of save money in college

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