EDUCATION
Cost-of-living expenses at colleges and
universities can be considerable, but
savvy students can fi nd various ways
to save money.
How college students can cut living expenses
COURIER LIFE, J DT AN. 25–31, 2019 35
The cost of college tuition is a
concern for many college-bound
students and their families. The
cost of a college education continues
to rise, but it’s not just tuition and
room and board that students and
their families must account for.
College students may underestimate
cost-of-living expenses when
planning their school-year budgets.
But such expenses can be substantial,
catching even the most wellprepared
students off guard. Fortunately,
there are several ways for
college students to save money on
living expenses and still make the
most of their time on campus:
Venture off campus. Local
businesses, including bars, restaurants
and entertainment venues
like mini-golf facilities or bowling
alleys, may offer student discounts
to entice kids to leave campus. Students
can take advantage of these
offerings to save on food and entertainment,
which tend to be among
the more pricey cost-of-living expenses
college students contend
with.
Buy secondhand furnishings.
Rather than purchasing brand-new
furniture they are likely to discard
after moving out or graduating, college
students can purchase secondhand
items from local thrift stores
or used furniture retailers that offer
sturdy furnishings at low prices.
Become a resident advisor.
Resident advisors, often referred
to as “RAs,” typically receive free
or reduced room and board in exchange
for living in the dorms and
monitoring the f loors they live on.
Competition to be an RA can be
competitive, but students can save
thousands of dollars on room and
board costs over the course of their
time at school.
Make your own meals. Meal
plans may be ideal for college students
during their freshmen years,
when students may still be adjusting
to campus life. But older college
students can skip the meal plan in
favor of preparing their own meals.
Doing so can save students substantial
amounts of money, and some
students may even prefer the variety
available at the local grocery
store over the more limited offerings
available at dining halls or
other campus eateries.
Move off campus. Some schools
do not permit freshmen and sophomores
to live off-campus, but older
students may find that private housing
is more affordable than on-campus
apartments or dormitories.
Cost-of-living expenses at colleges
and universities can be considerable,
but savvy students can
find various ways to save money.