What follows is the handout from a presentation I gave to all the students enrolled in freshman orientation class at the 4-year, public university I work at.  I spoke to all the new freshmen in the College of Education about how to "Go to College Cheaper" 

How to Go to College Cheaper

School/Tuition

• Take CLEP Tests - @ $80 vs. over $250 per credit hour in tuition
  
• Take non-major related courses at a community college
  
• Take courses via Independent Study (often don’t charge out-of-state tuition)
  
• Don’t over-enroll, flunk or drop classes
  
• Establish in-state residency (if applicable)
  
• Get out of school as soon as possible – no 12 hour semesters, use summer school, etc.
  

1 more year of school costs (tuition figures from 4-year, public university in Oklahoma):

            in-state tuition, room, board, books, expenses = $21,810
            out-of-state tuition, etc. = $33,020
                        (housing and food alone costs $8,500+)
            lost wages (from the job you would have had if you’d graduated) - $35,000 +
            TOTAL = $56,000 – 68,000 – That’s an expensive year!

Textbooks

• Comparison shop – not just the lowest total price, but the lowest for each book
  
• Shop online if you have enough time to wait for shipping
  
• Buy used books – if you prefer new books, shop early and buy nearly new books (barely used, used books)
  
• Ask professors before buying “optional” texts
  
• Find someone in your major, but a semester or year ahead of you.  Make sure the books will be the same next semester, and if so, offer to buy their books from them.
  
• Consider an older edition of a book, but ask your professor first.
  

Groceries

• Shop where prices are lowest, not where it’s most convenient to shop
  
• Use coupons.  The Sunday newspaper has coupons you can use
  
• Buy store brands when you won’t notice the difference – salt, sugar, cake mix
  
• Check out all the free samples available at grocery stores
  
• Buy in bulk, but check prices first
  

Eating out

• Don’t!  Cooking and eating at home is cheaper.
  
• Eat where you don’t have to tip or get takeout 
  
• You shouldn’t feel the obligation to be a big tipper.  Wait until after college when you have a job!
  
• Eat where they give student discounts
  
• Sign up for e-mail lists and “Like” favorite establishments on Facebook
  
• Share the appetizer sampler or split dinner for two with a friend
  

Other Strategies

• Receipts!  Keep EVERY receipt for EVERYTHING you buy for an entire month.  At the end, go back and see what you spent money on – you’ll be surprised how much goes to some things…
  
• Know that late night pizza is adding an extra meal to your budget (and your waistline).  This 1/3 increase in spending can be significant.
  
• Become a MOOCH!
  

1. Let others pay for things if they want to
   
2. Get free samples (grocery stores, on campus, anywhere…)
   
3. Attend events with free food
   
4. Test market products
   

• For those of you with a drinking problem…
  

1. buy a coffee machine and reusable, washable insulated cup
   
2. buy a water filter and cool looking water bottle
   
3. buy cokes by the case and a refillable plastic cup, refill the ice for a few cents and carry a coke to campus with you…
   

With the start of this new web site in late October of 2012, we've moved the College Money Blog here because it makes more sense.  Well update often and post new suggestions you can use immediately to spend less and save more on the cost of college.  Please give us feedback and comment on posts we make.  We'd also love it if you would add some suggestions of your own - things that work for you to pinch those pennies or save a few bucks.

Thanks for visiting, and come back often!

Lance