Comments on: Frugal Tips for College Students http://almostfrugal.com/2008/12/19/frugal-tips-for-college-students/ Learning about frugality Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:11:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Mike Lopatahttp://almostfrugal.com/2008/12/19/frugal-tips-for-college-students/#comment-3774 Mike Lopata Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:20:24 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2017#comment-3774 Great tips that we can use for students viewing our site. Thanks! <abbr><em>Mike Lopata´s last blog post..<a href="http://collegeplan101.com/blog/?p=37" rel="nofollow">The Changing Landscape of Flagship Universities</a></abbr></em> Great tips that we can use for students viewing our site. Thanks!

Mike Lopata´s last blog post..The Changing Landscape of Flagship Universities

]]> By: Tinahttp://almostfrugal.com/2008/12/19/frugal-tips-for-college-students/#comment-3257 Tina Mon, 29 Dec 2008 07:51:24 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2017#comment-3257 I am a married student with a 2 year old. Here are my tips: - get a roommate. We live with a single 25 year old male coworker of my husband's. Helps a lot with the rent and utilities, and food , since they contribute $$ to the groceries. - Take online classes. Though not cheap, they generally let me study during times that kidlet is napping and / or someone else is home to watch him. - use drop in childcare. Ikea has up to and hour and a half, if you can study in the restaurant, many bookstores and libraries offer storytime - there are a few chains of drop in childcare centers (a local one is kidspark please note this is not an endorsement or anything just a suggestion). The centers offer up to five hours a day and up to 15 hours a week of activities and such for about $8 an hour plus a yearly registration fee. - use a high school or middle school student to supervise and play with kids while you are in another part of the house doing homework -- you can generally pay a bit less or trade out tutoring. - food - use smart and final stores. These are restaurant supply stores. Cheaper than costco and you don't have the yearly fees. - food - if you are in the northeast or midwest you can shop at Aldi's. Cheap. I am sure others have more suggestions. Hope these help. I am a married student with a 2 year old. Here are my tips:

- get a roommate. We live with a single 25 year old male coworker of my husband’s. Helps a lot with the rent and utilities, and food , since they contribute $$ to the groceries.
- Take online classes. Though not cheap, they generally let me study during times that kidlet is napping and / or someone else is home to watch him.
- use drop in childcare. Ikea has up to and hour and a half, if you can study in the restaurant, many bookstores and libraries offer storytime
- there are a few chains of drop in childcare centers (a local one is kidspark please note this is not an endorsement or anything just a suggestion). The centers offer up to five hours a day and up to 15 hours a week of activities and such for about $8 an hour plus a yearly registration fee.
- use a high school or middle school student to supervise and play with kids while you are in another part of the house doing homework — you can generally pay a bit less or trade out tutoring.
- food – use smart and final stores. These are restaurant supply stores. Cheaper than costco and you don’t have the yearly fees.
- food – if you are in the northeast or midwest you can shop at Aldi’s. Cheap.

I am sure others have more suggestions. Hope these help.

]]> By: Beckyhttp://almostfrugal.com/2008/12/19/frugal-tips-for-college-students/#comment-3237 Becky Sat, 27 Dec 2008 07:12:54 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2017#comment-3237 This is so awesome! I am a single mom who is back in college with a ten year old I am homeschooling. I am currently unemployed, though I am trying to change that. Doing it has been a huge challenge both financially and mentally since as you mentioned many of my peers are going out having a great time most weekends. My best tips are- -make from scratch whenever possible (We make homemade breakfast sandwiches with the toaster oven and microwave, very little effort, much cheaper and healthier) -make stuff and freeze it -clearance and mega sales are your friends- if you are patient you can find nearly anything on clearance -entertainment- make use of free college concerts and cheap music fundraisers, this year we had X amount of fun money we discussed how we wanted to spend it and what we decided was a zoo membership and a DS. The kid already had one so now we can play on games. The zoo membership paid for itself in two visits. (Check for special rates our local attractions have a plus one feature which is an adult plus one person and is about half the cost of a family membership.) -don't carry cash (this may just be a personal thing) -Used bookstores are awesome. There is a regional chain which clearances out books and videos for 1-3 dollars. We get a few videos (on VCR tape) and we have new movies to watch. Personally I have never had to leave my kid in paid care. Until this semester my sis watched him (she is disabled and can't work) while he did his school work. With a turn in her health he has come to class with me or gone to the school library where one of the librarians will keep an eye on him for a bit. It has worked out really well, This is so awesome! I am a single mom who is back in college with a ten year old I am homeschooling. I am currently unemployed, though I am trying to change that. Doing it has been a huge challenge both financially and mentally since as you mentioned many of my peers are going out having a great time most weekends. My best tips are-

-make from scratch whenever possible (We make homemade breakfast sandwiches with the toaster oven and microwave, very little effort, much cheaper and healthier)

-make stuff and freeze it

-clearance and mega sales are your friends- if you are patient you can find nearly anything on clearance

-entertainment- make use of free college concerts and cheap music fundraisers, this year we had X amount of fun money we discussed how we wanted to spend it and what we decided was a zoo membership and a DS. The kid already had one so now we can play on games. The zoo membership paid for itself in two visits. (Check for special rates our local attractions have a plus one feature which is an adult plus one person and is about half the cost of a family membership.)

-don't carry cash (this may just be a personal thing)

-Used bookstores are awesome. There is a regional chain which clearances out books and videos for 1-3 dollars. We get a few videos (on VCR tape) and we have new movies to watch.

Personally I have never had to leave my kid in paid care. Until this semester my sis watched him (she is disabled and can't work) while he did his school work. With a turn in her health he has come to class with me or gone to the school library where one of the librarians will keep an eye on him for a bit. It has worked out really well,

]]> By: Amandahttp://almostfrugal.com/2008/12/19/frugal-tips-for-college-students/#comment-3219 Amanda Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:42:02 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2017#comment-3219 Not that I would advocate more student loans, but most loans only require half time attendance to get "living expenses." So you may be able to qualify for the same amount of excess loans as with full time attendance. <abbr><em>Amanda´s last blog post..<a href="http://sexfatandstigma.wordpress.com/2008/12/23/assumptions/" rel="nofollow">Assumptions</a></abbr></em> Not that I would advocate more student loans, but most loans only require half time attendance to get "living expenses." So you may be able to qualify for the same amount of excess loans as with full time attendance.

<abbr>Amanda´s last blog post..Assumptions</abbr>

]]> By: Jerryhttp://almostfrugal.com/2008/12/19/frugal-tips-for-college-students/#comment-3204 Jerry Mon, 22 Dec 2008 04:41:45 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2017#comment-3204 These are great tips for students and parents alike. Most students don't think about budgeting while in school but it's really important. Good habits now will lead to more financial stability in the long run. Since there's no insurance everyone will be make gobs of money out of college, knowing how you manage what you already have will pay dividends in the end. Jerry www.leads4insurance.com These are great tips for students and parents alike. Most students don’t think about budgeting while in school but it’s really important. Good habits now will lead to more financial stability in the long run. Since there’s no insurance everyone will be make gobs of money out of college, knowing how you manage what you already have will pay dividends in the end.
Jerry
http://www.leads4insurance.com

]]> By: Emmahttp://almostfrugal.com/2008/12/19/frugal-tips-for-college-students/#comment-3197 Emma Sat, 20 Dec 2008 06:50:34 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2017#comment-3197 Lucie, thanks for these tips - some of them are very useful even to a non-student parents. Especially the babysitting in shifts one, that's a great money saver. We have accepted a lot of hand-me-downs and that was a great help, I barely had to buy anything during the first year when my baby was born. Kelly, you've got great guest-posters on your blog (present company excluded, he he he :) )! <abbr><em>Emma´s last blog post..<a href="http://www.baby-log.com/my-baby-day-by-day/link-love-posts-about-kids-and-parents-that-made-me-think-this-week/" rel="nofollow">Link Love: Posts about kids (and parents) that made me think this week</a></abbr></em> Lucie, thanks for these tips – some of them are very useful even to a non-student parents. Especially the babysitting in shifts one, that’s a great money saver. We have accepted a lot of hand-me-downs and that was a great help, I barely had to buy anything during the first year when my baby was born. Kelly, you’ve got great guest-posters on your blog (present company excluded, he he he :) )!

Emma´s last blog post..Link Love: Posts about kids (and parents) that made me think this week

]]> By: Lucie @ Unconventional Originshttp://almostfrugal.com/2008/12/19/frugal-tips-for-college-students/#comment-3196 Lucie @ Unconventional Origins Sat, 20 Dec 2008 04:03:25 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2017#comment-3196 Megan - good luck going with nursing school! My mother went back to school and became a nurse when I was in the 4th grade - it can definitely be done. Something I didn't mention in my post is that no matter how tough things get, you are doing something to make life for you and your family better. That's worth it! <abbr><em>Lucie @ Unconventional Origins´s last blog post..Guest Post at Almost Frugal</abbr></em> Megan – good luck going with nursing school! My mother went back to school and became a nurse when I was in the 4th grade – it can definitely be done. Something I didn’t mention in my post is that no matter how tough things get, you are doing something to make life for you and your family better. That’s worth it!

Lucie @ Unconventional Origins´s last blog post..Guest Post at Almost Frugal

]]> By: Green Pandahttp://almostfrugal.com/2008/12/19/frugal-tips-for-college-students/#comment-3195 Green Panda Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:51:16 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2017#comment-3195 Wonderful post. My mom went to school with me and while it wasn't easy, it was a great experience. My mom had me in day care part time and got her degree. Having a support system of family and friends helped. Sometimes you can tutor someone and an class hour of babysitting with a trusted friend. <abbr><em>Green Panda´s last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/greenpandatreehouse/jLQG/~3/488823287/" rel="nofollow">Tactics of Time Share Tours</a></abbr></em> Wonderful post. My mom went to school with me and while it wasn’t easy, it was a great experience. My mom had me in day care part time and got her degree. Having a support system of family and friends helped.
Sometimes you can tutor someone and an class hour of babysitting with a trusted friend.

Green Panda´s last blog post..Tactics of Time Share Tours

]]> By: Kellyhttp://almostfrugal.com/2008/12/19/frugal-tips-for-college-students/#comment-3192 Kelly Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:57:29 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2017#comment-3192 I think that my favorite tip is the last- be content to live as a parent, not a student. I was single, footloose and fancy-free when I was last in school. Now, with three kids and a small class of only 18 students, I have to admit that it sometimes hurts to feel on the outside. But they go out with each other after class, and I can't go with them, or rather, choose not to. It's OK, and I'm happy with the way things are, but as Lucie said, it took some accepting. I think that my favorite tip is the last- be content to live as a parent, not a student. I was single, footloose and fancy-free when I was last in school. Now, with three kids and a small class of only 18 students, I have to admit that it sometimes hurts to feel on the outside. But they go out with each other after class, and I can't go with them, or rather, choose not to.

It's OK, and I'm happy with the way things are, but as Lucie said, it took some accepting.

]]> By: Christopher, Louisvillehttp://almostfrugal.com/2008/12/19/frugal-tips-for-college-students/#comment-3191 Christopher, Louisville Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:39:03 +0000 http://almostfrugal.com/?p=2017#comment-3191 Lu, I saved about $300 this semester by finding friends who don't typically sell their books, but who were happy to loan them to me for the semester. I snagged 3 of my 5 texts for the semester that way. <abbr><em>Christopher, Louisville´s last blog post..<a href="http://christophertradingfaces.blogspot.com/2008/11/put-on-your-big-girl-panties-and-quit.html" rel="nofollow">Put on your big girl panties and quit your crying!</a></abbr></em> Lu, I saved about $300 this semester by finding friends who don’t typically sell their books, but who were happy to loan them to me for the semester. I snagged 3 of my 5 texts for the semester that way.

Christopher, Louisville´s last blog post..Put on your big girl panties and quit your crying!

]]>