Experts offer tips to help college students save
Choose your dorm meal plan wisely. Unlimited meal plans are costlier. If you'd be satisfied with lighter fare, choose a limited plan, but if you're a big eater, choosing the unlimited plan may be a better choice.
Snacks can be a budget buster. Avoid buying them from vending machines or convenience stores. Stock up on discounted items.
Avoid rent-to-own stores, pawn shops and check-cashing stores.
Track your spending by saving all receipts, so if you start to get off track, you'll know where to cut back.
Gift cards can help students manage costs. Parents might consider buying a $25 Starbucks card for their college student's latte addiction, a $200 Jet Blue card to go home for the holidays, $100 Macy's card for clothing or a $100 McDonald's or Chili's card for eating out.
Consider taking some classes at less-expensive community colleges over the summer. That's one of 995 tips in Suzette Tyler's book "Been There, Should've Done That."
Bring to college a Social Security card or other documentation needed to get a job, in case you need to.
Find the best deal for your checking account and credit card, and don't forget to check out online banking sites.
Shop at thrift stores, garage sales, or flea markets for everything from furniture to sports equipment.
Leave your credit card at home when you go out to avoid over spending.
Save up money before buying items instead of charging them on a credit card.
Compare all the costs of living in an apartment with the cost of a dorm.
Take advantage of student discounts.
Try TheClassConnection.com, a Glenview-based blog for college and high school students and teachers. Users may join online academic communities centered around individual classes.
Social networking website CollegeNET offers users to enter popularity contests each month to win scholarship money.
Bring a bike to help get around campus and town.
The greenest, cheapest choice is to not buy a TV, DVD player or refrigerator. But if you must, buy only purchase Energy Star approved appliances. They use 10 to 50 percent less energy. There are fewer option for compact refrigerators, so go with MicroFridge, Danby Millennium (DAR254, DAR482).
Mind the "phantom load" of computers, gaming systems, stereos, TVs, cell phones, cameras and iPod chargers that draw electricity even when turned off. Unplug them when not in use, or plug them all into a power strip and unplug the strip when not using them.
Flipping power switches off is probably the most important energy-saving measure you can take.
Buy only compact fluorescent light bulbs, which use 75 percent less energy and last 10 times longer than standard incandescent light bulbs.
Bring your own reusable mug/coffee cup.
Bring reusable bags to carry books, groceries and other items you buy.