Simple ways to make college cheaper

By Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine

Julie Davis is one college student who knows the value of a dollar. Davis is working three part-time jobs this summer to pay for her fall semester at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. She estimates it will cost her almost $7,000 in tuition, apartment rent and miscellaneous expenses.

To save money last year, Davis rarely ate meals on campus (too pricey) and sometimes borrowed textbooks from friends rather than shelling out $125 or more for new ones. "I buy stuff, but I make sure it's what I really want," says Davis, 19, a health-administration major who saved the money to buy her 1999 Pontiac Sunfire.

Not every student needs to be as thrifty as Davis, but every family can trim college expenses beyond tuition and housing. The College Board estimates that a moderate budget for miscellaneous expenses (excluding transportation) is $4,800 per school year, or $3,280 for a low budget.

In a survey by Zogby, students and parents said car upkeep was their biggest expense other than tuition, books, and room and board. You'll save a bundle if your kids hoof it or follow Bianca Glenn's example: She buys a monthly bus pass for $50 to attend Oakland Community College, 13 miles from her home in Detroit.

How to get the books

Cars may cost more, but the price of textbooks is the most shocking expense to many. The College Board estimates students spend an average of $988 per year on books. To save money, students like Davis share texts or try a Half Price Books store. Others set up more formal systems for cutting out the middleman. At the University of Michigan, for instance, students auction books at TheDiag.com, an online marketplace in Ann Arbor.

The Internet is fertile ground for textbook bargains. Before you start shopping, get the title, author and international standard book number (ISBN) of each book you need. Then head to sites such as Craigslist.org, eBay's Half.com and PIRG's CampusBookSwap.com. BigWords.com will search the Web for the best prices on textbooks.

Take a look at return policies before buying. Some sellers give a full refund if a book is returned within 30 days -- a boon if the student decides to drop the class. Keep in mind that textbook prices are highest online in August, September, January and February, according to Half.com. So if your kids know they will be taking a class the following semester, they should confirm the text with the professor and buy it online in mid-semester.

Sell gently used books

Students can recoup some money by selling their used books informally or online. But if they plan to do so, they should use their books gently, says Marie O'Malley, of Nellie Mae, the student loan-financing agency.

"Bookstores and students don't want books that are heavily marked, or that have torn pages or broken bindings."

Watch that cell bill

The Zogby survey reports that 89% of college students have cell phones. One dad complained that the most shocking cost he encountered was "that darned cell-phone bill." To avoid surprises, compare cell-phone plans at sites such as BillSaver.com and MyRatePlan.com. And check sites such as Cellreception.com to make sure there's good service on campus.

Some carriers entice students with special discounts or enhanced service.

Above all, let your kids know that if they exceed their plan's allotted minutes, they'll pay the extra charges.

This story was reported and written by Vickie Elmer for Kiplinger's.

Updated Jan. 11, 2008