7 Easy Ways to Make College Expenses Cheaper

Ah, it's fall again. It's that time of the year when recent high school graduates usually have one thing on their minds- college. By now, scholarships and grants have been applied for, along with student loans to fill in the financial gaps. But affording college isn't just the tuition. It's paying for expenses like textbooks, rent, utilities, food, clothing, laundry and transportation too. Affording the "little things" doesn't have to be so hard if you know seven easy ways to make college expenses cheaper.

1. Textbooks
College students spend nearly a thousand dollars a year on textbooks alone, according to a study by the State Public Interest Research Groups (PIRG). That may not sound like a lot of cash, but this is one amount that can add up quickly. An easy way to reduce this expense is to check the Internet for good-used textbooks you can buy instead of buying brand new copies. Web sites like eBay.com, CampusBookSwap.com, Amazon.com and Half.com can help a student find the books he or she needs for their classes.

If you can't find good-used textbooks and you find yourself buying brand new ones, check around for the best prices before you buy. And, put covers on your books and use them gently. Don't mark in them or bend down the pages. The good news is that, after you're finished with them, you can sell the textbooks and recoup some of the original cost.

2. Housing and Rent
Affording a place to live while you attend college can be another financial headache. An easy way to help make this college expense cheaper is to find a low-rent place to live off the campus. Look for a basement or an attic apartment that's near the college so you can walk to and from classes. Consider bartering to pay for all or part of your rent. You can mow the grass, shovel snow in the winter, perform housework or do a variety of other odd jobs for your landlord.

Or, find an apartment and share the rent with at least one roommate.