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College Success Tips that Save Money Too!

It’s that time of year when students head back to school. For millions that means college and a whole set of new challenges as students attempt to balance both their work load and their check books. Succeeding in college often has a lot to do with managing both, so we’ve compiled this list of College Success Tips that offer benefits to both your education and your cash flow.

Tip Number 1 – The more you study, the less you spend.

It’s true! If you stay in and study at night instead of running off to the nearest club, you’ll be doing yourself a favor in two ways: you’ll not only get your work done and improve your grades, but you’ll avoid spending that limited cash that you really should hold on to.

Tip Number 2 – Use study breaks to exercise instead of as an excuse to visit the candy machine or your corner coffee bar.

You may not realize this, but if you spend a dollar a day in a candy machine, you’re spending hundreds of dollars a year. A basic coffee drink at one of the major chains will run you nearly four bucks, which can add up fast over time. Exercise is actually a better way to refresh and revive after a long day of classes or studying, so skip the chocolate and caffeine and head outside for a walk instead. (This tip might also help you avoid that other pitfall of college life: the Freshman Fifteen – the average weight students gain during their first year of school.)

Tip Number 3 – Guard your valuables.

Students tend to be trusting souls, which makes college campuses a great place for opportunistic thieves. Keep an eye on your text books (they can easily be resold with no questions asked), and safeguard your cell phone, music player and computer. If you live in a dorm, lock your door even if you’re just heading to the restroom. Replacing your valuables can get expensive, and it only takes a second to turn the lock. Besides, it’s hard to ace a class or get a paper done if your text book and computer have been swiped.

Tip Number 4 – Get involved in campus activities, especially the ones that are free.

College campuses are great places to take advantage of free entertainment, which is the perfect way to meet people with like interests. Most campuses have dozens of free activities every week, ranging from special lectures to intramural athletics, to free movies, plays or concerts. Attend the events your professors recommend, and be sure to say hello to them when you’re there. A little “face time” with the prof certainly can’t hurt if you’re on the line at grading time.

Tip Number 5 – Avoid going home too often.

If you live within a couple hours of your home town it can be tempting to jump in the car on Friday night and head home. The thought of clean laundry, your old bed, and a home-cooked meal can be enticing. However, every weekend you spend back home partying with your friends is one less weekend you have for getting a jump on a term paper or studying for that Monday test. Gas isn’t cheap either, so unless you have access to inexpensive public transportation, those trips home will certainly add up (and take away from valuable study time).

Tip Number 6 – Choose your friends wisely.

Be careful of both borrowers and spenders. Friends who are quick to borrow money are often slow to pay it back, and if you hang out with a fast crowd of spenders, your money won’t last long either. College is a time when you’ll be exposed to a lot of different types of people. Find friends who are serious about being in college and who enjoy inexpensive entertainment or long walks around the Commons.

Tip Number 7 – Join a study group in your dorm or apartment complex as a way to meet the kind of people who will help you succeed in school.

Being a part of a group, even an informal group, can be fun, and it also will encourage you to focus on studying during certain set periods of time. Besides, studying alone may lead to boredom – the kind that will have you wandering the halls or grabbing your car keys to go look for companionship and fun.

These college success tips are simple enough, and easier said than done. But if you follow them (or even a few of them), you’ll not only do better in school, you’ll spend less money too. That’s something every college student (and their parents) can get excited about.

Thank you to Connie Holubar for this "College Success Tips" article.