Tips for Saving Money on Textbooks in College

Don’t Buy Books: Do you really need to buy books? In some classes you may, but for many others you will be able to get by with just researching the things your teacher talks about on the internet and at your library. Most teachers do not require you to do assignments that are textbook specific, though some courses it may be inevitable, such as a math course.

Rent Textbooks: There are many programs now that let you rent textbooks instead of purchasing them. This can offer significant savings for some courses.

Share Textbooks: This is risky for some students as some are more responsible than others, but if there is someone you trust and you both are taking the same class, you can split the cost of the book and then make copies of it. (this by the way is illegal as it is copyright infringement, but it’s an idea)

Buy Textbooks Online: Books online and used are always cheaper than the ones in the campus bookstore.

Your Dorm Room & Living Expenses

Research Meal Plans: Most campuses offer meal plans and flex accounts that can help you save money on eating. Research which one best fits your needs and gives you the most options. If you hate the campus food though, you may instead want to try a different option.

Buy Cheap But Nourishing Food: Potatoes, eggs, and frozen vegetables are all super cheap and nourishing foods you can eat in school. Avoid junk food which is expensive but offers little to no nutritional value.

Drink Water: Soft drinks and energy drinks can add up and deplete your budget very quickly. It’s okay to treat yourself occasionally, but drinking free tap water in a reusable water bottle will save you more in the long run. If you absolutely do not like water, consider brewing your own tea or coffee or making drinks yourself.

Share Groceries With Others: Buying in bulk at stores like Sam’s Club or Costco can be helpful, though you need to be careful to not overspend. Splitting a case of Ramen noodles or energy bars though can help you and your friends reduce costs. You may also want to consider sharing and splitting up things like bars of soap, shampoo, etc. etc.

Be Energy Conscious: Most dorm rooms don’t charge extra for utilities, but if you are renting an apartment you will want to make sure you do not go overboard on heating and electricity bills.

Think Reusable Instead of Disposable: Paper plates, cups, towels, and other disposable items sure add up quickly – so if possible go with reuseable items. For example, use a BPA free water bottle instead of buying bottled water, wash your own dishes, and try to resuse things more than once.

Dress Like a Dork: Haha, no not really. But you don’t need new clothes or to stay on top of fashion. No matter what you wear today, you will look back at yourself in photos 10 years from now and laugh. Might as well save money now!

Shop at Thrift Stores: There are tons of thrift stores to buy cheap furniture, clothes, and other items.

Shop Online: There are a number of different ways to shop online to find the things you need. Check online classifieds sites and auction sites to see what you might be able to find for less than what you would pay new.

Entertainment

Look for Free Events: Most colleges have free concerts, seminars, and clubs you can join. Check local fire departments, libraries, and churches for other things going on around town.

Stay Home: Instead of going out with friends, look for free things you can do on or around the campus. For example, you could organize a scavenger hunt, play board games, play frisbee, or watch movies.

Get Rid of the Car: Having a car at college is a nice luxury, but most times is not really necessary. Not only will you have to pay for gas and insurance, but you’ll also likely have to worry about parking fees and fines and if you have a car payment how you will find a way to pay it.

Get Exercise: Going for a walk or jog around campus is fun to do and gives you a good workout also – for free! No need for a gym membership while at school (unless it is included free as part of the tuition).

Don’t Drink Alcohol: Alcohol is just not bad for your or a poor academic decision, it can be very expensive as well! Skip the parties with a cover charge and don’t be tempted by $1 draft nights every week either.

Savvy Financial Advice for College Students

Don’t use Credit Cards: Avoid them as much as possible, only using them for absolute emergencies.

Refinance Student Loans & Start Paying Now: Paying off student loan debts as you incur them can help you save on interest charges and owing over $30,000 later down the road. Pay more than the minimum monthly payment to help reduce the amount of debt sooner.

Don’t Go to College if You Don’t Know What You Want to Do: If you’re not sure what type of career or life calling is for you, then maybe you should wait to go to college or take community college courses first. There’s no sense in paying $30,000 in college tuition if you’re not even sure you like the subject you will be studying!

Don’t Borrow Money: Borrowing money from family or friends is no better than racking up credit card debt, and it could hurt your relationships as well!

Get a Job: A Part Time job can help you stay on top of your finances by having income. If there are not many employment opportunities near you, consider finding work online by becoming a freelance writer or offering other services you can do over the internet.

College is a big expense, but there are hundreds of ways to save money while you are getting your education. For more money saving tips, visit Simply Save Money for even more ideas on ways to save!

If you’re looking for a footlocker storage trunk, you’re going to love our finds below:

Collegiate 30″ Footlocker

This 30″ storage trunk from Dormco is by far one of the best values we have found online, and you get three nice color options to choose from: black, navy, and pink. Best of all, it has wheels! (They can be quite heavy once filled!) It also locks, which means no worries about room mates or visitors disturbing the contents inside. And even better than that – the price – this is the only locking trunk with wheels that we found online for less than $80. When you think about how much use you can get out of a trunk like this, it is really quite a value. You can use it as a coffee table, a bench, a place to store those sweaters and coats or books – if you bought those pieces separately not only would it cost three times as much or more – but it would take up a lot of space! At 30″ long, it’s big enough to hold things, but not too big that it will crowd your style. Click Here for The Collegiate Footlocker Trunk.

Stainless Steel College Dorm Trunk

Made of stainless steel, you can be pretty confident that this trunk is one that can withstand the test of time in college, as well as the use and abuse it will likely get. While it’s a little more expensive and doesn’t offer the wheels, this is definitely a piece that can compliment just about any style. Available from Dormco.com

Wicker Woven Trunk

If you want your room to have an upscale and adult look, the Redmon Designer Antiquated Trunk does exactly just that. While it may be missing some handy features like wheels or a locking latch, it certainly will look good in any room. Available in four color styles (cream, sage green, mocha, and nutmeg). From Amazon.com.

Whether you’re looking for the classic collegiate storage dorm trunks or want the durable and statement making stainless steel college dorm storage trunk, there’s one available out there to fit any budget and style. Which one is your favorite dorm room storage footlocker? Tell us in the comments section below!

While it’s important that school be a source for getting an education and not a free for all pass to party, you’re still going to want to make some friends. In fact, having good friends can even cause you to do better in school – they can help you learn how to find things on campus, let you borrow their stuff if you need it, get classwork or take notes for you if you’re ever sick, and can give you a shoulder to turn to if you ever have a bad day (which we hope won’t happen, but sometimes you’ll get those days that are just plain awful). Of course, if you have a friend who does all these things for you, you should be a good friend in return and do the same for them if you can!

If you’re a little nervous about how you’re going to make friends in school, here are some ideas and tips to meet new people in college:

1. Get to Know Your Neighbors ASAP: If you are living on campus, the first place to start is with the people you’ll be living with and seeing the most on a regular basis. The people who are living on your floor is a great place to get started. No one is going to think you are a total weirdo for stopping by and introducing yourself on the first day. If you don’t talk to them or acknowledge them for three weeks though and then decide its time to say hi, that might be awkward.

2. Find Other Freshmen: The best part about being in college and not knowing a single person is that neither does anyone else who is new. There are likely thousands of other freshmen in the exact same boat as you.

3. Talk to People in Your Classes:  Around campus and in every class you go to you’ll likely see some familiar faces. A simple “hey, aren’t you also in my xyz class?” can open up the door for conversation. Don’t be shy about talking to those sitting around you in the first few minutes before class begins or after the class is over.

4. Join a Club or Group: There are many different clubs and groups in just about every university that offers many different activities. You might feel like a dork at first, but it’s true that if you find something you like and enjoy, you’ll also meet some great people that have similar interests as you.

5. Get a Job: Not only can you make money while at school, but getting a part-time job can be another great way to meet new people and make friends.

6. Be a Designated Driver: Don’t be afraid to go to a college party or two. While binge drinking and driving drunk are serious problems amongst college students, you can avoid the problems associated with it but still get to know new people. Offering to be a designated driver not only will help keep your friends safe but help you avoid getting into trouble as well.

7. Stay True to Yourself: Don’t fall into the potential trap of trying to be or becoming something you’re not. In the long run, you’ll make much more solid friends and be a lot happier with who you are if you stay true to yourself.

8. Get a Workout: You don’t have to be an all star athlete to make friends you can exercise with. Not only will it help you avoid that dreaded freshmen 15 (sadly, no, it’s not just a myth!) it will also help you find others interested in positive and healthy activities. Whether you work out at the gym, start a jogging group, or find something else you enjoy, fitness and sports activities are a great way to make friends.

9. Don’t Get Hung Up on Old Friends From High School: Your old friends from high school can be a major vacuum when it comes to meeting new people if you give them all of your attention, constantly go home to see them, or spend hours online chatting with them or on the phone. While yes, it is certainly worth it to keep those friendships alive and well, it can make it even more difficult for you to venture out and meet new people if they get the majority of your free time. Trust us, the “real friends” will still be there even after college.

10. Find Positive People: You’re going to meet a ton of different types of people as you go through your years in school. It’s not about the quantity of friends that you have, but the quality. Even if you only have one friend, if that person is trustworthy, loyal, and there for you throughout the whole experience, that is worth more than having 100 friends who you never really get to know.

Meeting new people and making friendships in school isn’t the easiest thing in the world. A lot of people have struggled with it, especially if this is the first time you’ve ever been really pushed and forced out of your comfort zone. The good news is that almost everyone who attends college eventually finds others they can relate with and have a good time with, even if you are away from home.

Do you have any good tips for making new friends and meeting people at school? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comment section below!

Here are some tips to make it go as smoothly as possible:

1. Pack and Prepare Early: Don’t wait the night before to start packing. This is a recipe for disaster. While you might want to wait before you load up the car with boxes and furniture, in most cases it is usually best to have everything ready to go well in advance. Our dorm essentials checklist will help you with packing and preparing everything you need. In general, you’ll want to have it all collected and packed up about one week in advance, which will give you ample time in case you forget anything and help reduce that last week stress.

2. Be Familiar With the Campus Rules & Process: Move-In Day for college can be one of the most hectic experiences you can imagine. There will be hundreds of cars parked outside the dorm buildings and equally a ton of other parents and students all with bewildered looks on their faces. If you know the process for moving in, any important campus rules, and where you will be going you can save yourself a lot of grief. If possible, ask an existing student who’s already gone through it to get some helpful tips on where to park and what you’ll need to do on your first day.

3. Coordinate With Your Room Mate: If you haven’t done so already, make sure you and your room mate will be there to set up the same time. You don’t want to spend hours arranging furniture or decorating for them to show up and not like it at all. You will be sharing the space together, so it is important that you both have some input on where shared items like the fridge or the microwave belong.

4. Get Everything In Your Room Before Unpacking: Before you start unpacking boxes, try and get everything in your room first. This way you won’t be sorting through school supplies while others are bringing in different things at the same time.

5. Keep Help Around as Long as You Can: You might feel the need to hurry up and get your family out of there if they are helping you move, but if they can stay and help you then you might as well take advantage of it. Enlist in family to assemble furniture, run errands, or do other tasks. You’ll be glad to have the help when the day is over.

6. Bring Snacks and Drinks: You might not have time right away to get food, and it’s possible that you won’t have your student ID card to get campus meals yet either. Packing a picnic lunch and having drinks and snacks available can help you stay on task while you are unpacking for school.

7. Practice Stress Management Techniques: There’s a good likelihood that you will be stressed out and feel overwhelmed. This could cause you to feel angry or upset at those helping you or others moving in who are also equally stressed out. While moving into school you’ll want to consider some simple relaxation techniques like counting to 10, taking a few minutes to rest or take a break, or washing your face with cool water.

University Moving Day for College doesn’t have to be a completely stressful and crazy hectic experience. If you follow these easy tips and suggestions from us who have “been there, done that” a few times both for ourselves and helping our friends, you’ll be able to make the transition to your new home away from home easily.

Below are some ideas for different things you can use as chairs and seating for decorating your room:

The Classic Bean Bag:

Bean bags are great for two reasons: 1, they are very comfortable to sit in and 2, they are easy to store and don’t take up a lot of space. You can get them in a wide variety of colors and styles and fabrics. Some are made of vinyl, others leather. You can get them also in plush designs as well. Probably one of the best things about these is that they come in many pattern options as well, so they make it very easy to coordinate with the other furnishings that you will have. From polka dots to stripes to solid and bold colors, you’ll be sure to find something that appeals to you and your room mates as well. See More…

Folding Stools

A folding stool can be a great alternative to your typical seating and is a wonderful idea if you are short on space. Not only do they provide a place to sit up off the floor when in use, but they can easily be packed away when not in use or if more floor space is needed. You could easily fit it into your closet or under the bed when you and or your friends are not sitting on it or using it! They come in a wide variety of styles, from classic colors such as black or wood to more contemporary metal types made of steel or aluminum. See More…

Butterfly Chairs

We Love these butterfly chairs not only for their unique design and style but also the comfort they can provide. From fun to serious, they all make for an excellent place to sit and lounge while watching television or a movie or while sitting and reading your textbooks and studying for the next exam. From leopard print to bright yellow to simple black or gray, you’ll be sure to find a style and design that suits your needs if you decide to go with a butterfly chair in your dorm room design project. See All

Do you have college dorm chairs that you love in their design or practicality? Tell us about them in the comments below.

1. Determine What You Will Need: Not everyone has the same preferences for types of sheet sets and blankets or pillows. The basics include a foam mattress pad (those school issued beds are not the most comfortable!), a fitted sheet (has elastic in the corners to stay attached to the mattress), a flat sheet, and a comforter or duvet cover. You will also need pillows and pillowcases. It is good to have at least two pillows, though if you are accustomed to having more to help you sleep, you should certainly bring as many as you feel comfortable with. You will also need to take into consideration that you will likely need a back up set, just in case your set needs washed. (Even if you’re not “planning” on needing it – you never know if your roommate will accidentally dump coffee all over your bed at 2 a.m.!)

2. Get the Right Size: For some reason, most school issued beds come in an extra long twin size mattress. This means that most standard sized sheets may not always fit the way they are supposed to. Fortunately, most retailers and bedding manufacturers have realized this, and so they offer a wide selection of different types and patterns for you to choose from.

3. Choose a Comfortable Material: It won’t matter what type of design or colors or pattern you choose if the material the fabric is made out of is not comfortable. It’s very difficult to fall asleep in scratchy sheets! We love jersey knit sheet sets because they feel like a t-shirt, though you may have your own personal preferences. You may think it will be softer after washing, but that is not always the case.

4. Coordinate Colors: If you haven’t talked to your room mate yet, you will probably want to do this before you purchase a set. While it’s likely you and your room mate will have different personal styles, you’ll want to make sure that at least the choices you make don’t completely clash with one another. Try to go for similar colors or ones that compliment each other. For example, you can choose to stick to the colors red and blue, and then it won’t matter if you have blue sheets or red sheets.

5. Pillows, Pillows, Pillows: Pillows are a great way to transform your bed into a seating area. You’ll want to make sure you have enough pillows to sleep comfortably as we mentioned earlier. You may also want to invest in a body sized pillow or other decorative large pillows to help you with making your bed a comfortable place to sit and lounge and relax. Don’t forget the pillowcases – having pillowcases that compliment the rest of your dorm bedding selections can greatly help with giving your room a uniform look and unique style.

6. Extra Blankets: Having an extra blanket can be a great help for having something to snuggle up under or to provide extra warmth on cold nights. While it’s nice to think you’ll have proper temperature control in your room, the truth is there are times where your room will feel like a freezer and other times it seems like a sauna. Having extra blankets available will be a big help if you have to wait for maintenance to fix the heating or if you and your room mate disagree on proper room temperature.

Choosing college dorm bedding doesn’t have to be a difficult process – simply following these simple tips will help you find something that will be great for the next upcoming semester. You may also want to check out our articles on college dorm comforters and college dorm sheets for more tips and ideas.

1. The Classic Christmas Tree Lights: Just about 1 out of 10 dorm rooms will have Christmas tree lights strewn around the room. Some opt for clear white, others go for the multi-colored varieties. You can also find them in solid colors such as all blue, all red, all green, all orange, all purple, and all pink strands and others. They can give a nice glow to a room, but they also tend to be a bit warm, which is why we suggest using led lights if possible, since otherwise you’ll notice they add a good extra 10 degrees to your room. (Not a bad thing if you’ve got bad heating though!) You can also experiment with neat things like setting them up to a mixer so they blink with the beat of the music you play on your ipod or CD player.

2. Psychedelic Room: Think black lights and lava lamps for this theme. You can get large overhead black lights, or simply substitute a special bulb in any standard lamp you have. This one’s not for everyone, but it can be a lot of fun for the right type of person.

3. Candlelight: Chances are your campus has a rule about no candles. (Ours did at least, much to our dismay) The good news is you can now use flameless candles that can provide the same flickering light…but without the open flame and potential fire hazard. Some of them even come with a remote to operate them turning on and off, which makes them perfect for hanging on walls and setting up beautiful displays to add a little atmosphere to your space.

4. A Floor Lamp: A floor lamp provides a nice amount of light, but without it being that drab fluorescent bulb you’re stuck with. They come in all types of shapes and styles. You can get a chrome modern industrial looking one or you can go for something a little more fun. We suggest one that runs on a three way bulb or has alternative lamps so you can adjust the lighting amount accordingly.

5. A Reading Light: It is inevitable that there will be a time when your room mate wants to sleep and you’re going to need to study or catch up on a little reading. A small pocket size reading lamp is perfect for these occasions, and they are very easy to find. You can often get them in dollar or discount stores very inexpensively.

There are many more possibilities and options for different lighting options you can try. These are just a few of the most popular and common ones we’ve seen in college dorms. To help you decide on what options are best for you, you’ll want to think about the placement of the lamp, the style and colors that coordinate well with your room, and something that offers practical and functional design to your space. By giving a little added attention to college dorm lighting, you’ll be sure to have something special that makes your dorm room unique from all the rest.

Making the right choice for what types of college dorm comforter you choose will depend on several things, being mostly your personal style preferences and what types of fabric you like the best.

Color
The first important thing to consider is the color scheme of your room. If you haven’t already chosen a color scheme, it’s going to be the main guiding point in making sure things coordinate and will really help make your room feel much more relaxing and seem less cluttered or mismatched as many dorm rooms often do.

When choosing colors you’ll want to make sure both you and your room mate agree – if your room mate loves pink but it instills feelings of nausea in you, you’ll want to make sure you both pick colors you can compromise and agree on together. Maybe pink is out as a main color, but she can add a few pink touches and you’ve chosen a a baby blue and brown scheme instead, which can look great with a few pink accent pillows.

You’ll also want to factor in things such as the curtains you’ll be hanging on your windows and also what types of college dorm rugs you’ll be using. The comforter you choose will be the most important in making sure it all ties together well.

Pattern Vs. Solid
Choosing a pattern versus a solid print will also make a huge difference. If your room will likely be filled with a lot of clutter or items, then a solid print might help make it seem neater. If you’ll be going with the minimalist approach, then perhaps a decorative blanket with an intricate design may help give the room some interest and show off your personality.

Choose a Theme
Some designs are much more grown up and sophisticated, while others are more wild and crazy ranging from brightly colored polka dots to animal prints. Your room should be a reflection of who you are and the things you enjoy and the surroundings that make you the most comfortable. Some say that college is the last chance you’ll have for those crazy blankets, while others say it’s time to be “more grown up” – really it’s all a matter of your own personal choice what you decide.

Now that you have some pointers on making a decision on what type of college dorm bedding to choose, here are some of our favorite college dorm comforter designs:

See these and other New Comforter Sets at Walmart.com

What do you like for college dorm comforters? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Here are some pointers and tips for picking out college dorm sheets:

Get the Right Size: You’ll want to make sure you purchase the right sized sheets, especially since many college dorms have extra long twin beds, meaning that most standard sized twin beds won’t fit properly or be long enough. Check with your dorm office to make sure what size you’ll need – the extra longs won’t fit on a standard sized mattress either!

Choose Colors Wisely: From wild and crazy prints to the more basic and simple solid color sheets, there are a lot of options. Keep in mind when shopping for college dorm bedding that you’ll want to stick to just a couple of basic colors in your room. You’ll also probably want to stay away from lighter colors such as yellow, white, or light tan, since it’s very probable things will get spilled on your bed from time to time.

Pick Comfortable Fabrics: Everyone has different tastes and choices on fabric and softness. Typically the higher the thread count, the softer and more durable the sheet sets will be. They also make sheets that are called “jersey knit” which are our absolute favorite, because it is like sleeping in a t-shirt.

Get Enough: Typically one sheet set alone is not enough, since you’ll need to wash your sheets regularly and you’ll want to have a back up in case something gets spilled on your bed and you don’t have time to do laundry. It’s up to you whether you buy two identical sets or if you decide to get two different ones to be able to change the look and variety in your room easily.

Get a Mattress Pad: College dorm room mattresses are not exactly the most comfortable thing to sleep on. There are many different types of Twin XL Mattress Pads to choose from, ranging from quilted tops to thicker memory foam pads.

Now that you have some ideas for what you should look for and what you will need in college dorm sheets, below are some of our favorite picks.

Jersey Knit Sheets:

These knit sheets as we mentioned above are our personal favorite for softness and comfort. You can get them in a variety of colors, from green, blue to others. They are very stretchable and can fit a mattress up to 14 inches thick, which means they’ll also fit a lot of college dorm extra long mattresses also without any complications. See More

Hula Girl Sheets

Sheets don’t need to be serious or solid colors, which is proven with these whimsical hula girl sheets. The set includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and pillow case. Learn More

Dreamy Linens Sheet Set

For a more feminine touch, these sheets feature a very pretty pink and black design that gives a touch of sophistication and innocence.

Do you have any tips or favorite college dorm sheets? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Below are some tips for choosing the perfect dorm rug, as well as some of our personal favorites to give you a little inspiration.

Choose a Color: You’ve probably seen the movie The Big Lebowski, right? The classic line is “that rug really tied the room together” – and so it will hold true for your college dorm room as well. If you haven’t already decided on a color scheme, you’ll want to pick a few basic colors and choose a rug that really anchors them all together. Another thing to consider is that light colored rugs will be the least forgiving for showing dirt and attracting stains – darker rugs may show lint but hide dirt. Neutral tans and greens tend to hide the dirt the best if you’re a neat freak heading off to school. (And if your parents are helping you choose your furniture or decorations, they’ll probably say the same thing!)

Think About Placement: You can put a rug just about anywhere on the floor, but some places are more practical than others. For example, a rug right in front of your door might help cut down on dirt that gets tracked into your room from walking in and out. A rug that goes beneath or next to your bed might make your feet feel more comfortable when you get out of bed in the morning. You’ll also want to consider how the rug goes together with placement of the other furniture as well.

Choose a Size: Rugs come in all shapes and sizes and you’ll want to make sure you have a size that looks right in your room. If possible, get the dimensions of your room ahead of time and plan for where you will be placing the rug. Another option for some students is to purchase a carpet remnant that can cover the entire floor. You can have wall to wall carpeting often for less than the price of an area rug in some cases!

Now that you have a few basic ideas on what to look for in a college dorm rug, here are some of our favorite picks you might like:

Home Circles Rug

We love this home circles rug which combines the colors of light blue and brown, suitable for either guys or girls. It also comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, which can make it easy to coordinate and place in different areas. Learn More.

Round Bath Rugs

We love these round bath rugs, which come in a variety of sizes, textures, and colors. You can choose multiple colors or stick with just a few basics and place them in different areas of the floor. They’re great for sitting on, as well as can add a fun and unique style to your room. See All Colors and Styles.

Do you have any tips on choosing a college dorm rug for your room? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.