Pursuing a Higher Education

Saving while studying

• Flash that card. Many places offer discounted student rates with proof of student ID.
• Buy used or go online. Textbooks are expensive and most students sell back their books. If you don’t mind a few notes or pre-highlighted pages, you can save money purchasing used textbooks instead of new. eBooks also offer tremendous savings – sometimes hundreds of dollars less than traditional textbooks.
• Work-Study programs. These on- and off-campus jobs are a great way for financial aid that you don’t have to pay back and although highly-coveted, don’t have the same competition as grants and scholarships. Check with your Financial Aid office for more info.
• Credit cards for better or worse. Your first credit card can help you begin your credit history BUT you don’t want to fall into the easy habit of charging everything. That morning latte may seem innocent but one a day for a month can add up and now you’re also paying interest. College grads get lots of offers for cards; look them over, get the one with the best rates and whenever possible, pay off the balance at the end of the month instead of just the minimum. It’s a great way to start establishing that credit history.