The hidden costs of college

• Be a procrastinator. Then again, waiting to see which books the professor actually refers to in class can help you avoid spending big on tomes that won't show up on the tests. "My advice is wait a couple of weeks to see if you really need the book (because half of classes you really don't!)," poster "ladybeans5" wrote. "And never buy in the bookstore. Get it on the Internet."

• Consider alternatives. Sharing or trading with other students can trim costs, as can your school library. "If it's a book that won't require excessive reading, check the campus library first," wrote poster "cid0926." "It may be available on reserve. Yeah you would have to do the work in the library, but it beats paying for it."

• Sell them fast. Textbooks become obsolete quickly, and you'll get the most from yours if you sell them as soon as the semester is over. As any college grad can tell you, you'll never crack those books again, and you don't need any more overpriced souvenirs of your college experience. Don't wind up like "lone_banker," who bemoans the money spent by a daughter and granddaughter on unread books: "I must have $2,500 worth of required college books in my basement that have never had a page turned in them."

Electronics

This category includes all the gear the incoming freshman doesn't already own. Your list could include an alarm clock, a cell phone, a digital camera, a DVD player, an MP3 player, a television and/or a video game player. Your spending will be much higher if you need to purchase a laptop computer (which, even more so than a cell phone, is an essential tool on today's campuses).

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• Skip the TV (and the cable bill). The dorm lounge has one.

• Skip the land line (if you can) and get the right cell plan. College students communicate mostly by cell phone, and they're likely to need more minutes than they did in high school. (There are dozens of plan-comparison sites to choose from.)

• See whether you can use a student discount to buy a laptop. (Here's MSN Tech & Gadgets' list of the top buys under $1,000.)

Dorm or apartment furnishings

You'll need to liven up the concrete or drywall box that will be home for the next several months, as well as accumulate toiletries and other sundries. That includes bedding, rugs, a microwave, a fridge, a hair dryer, a blender and a coffee maker, if you use them, plus personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies.

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• Scour yard sales or Craigslist for small appliances, furniture, rugs and other furnishings.

• Buy a carpet remnant to use as a rug (you'll find room-size remnants wherever carpeting is sold; pay a little extra to get any unfinished edges sewn up).

• Buy microwaves and small fridges, new or used, rather than pay exorbitant rental fees.

• Split appliance buying with a roommate.

• Buy "extra-long" sheets (required for some dorm beds) at a discount through a Bing shopping search or from discount outlets such as Target or Marshalls.

Insurance

A parent's health policy that includes the student might be sufficient, or you might have to shell out $1,200 to $1,500 for a campus policy, depending on university and state requirements. Check with your insurer and your college.

Likewise, a parent's homeowners policy may cover theft or damage to student possessions in a dorm. Once the student gets an apartment, though, he will need renters insurance for $200 to $300 a year. (The landlord's policy doesn't cover a renter's stuff.) Check with your insurer.

Auto insurance is even trickier. If the student is listed on the title as the car's sole owner, she'll have to get her own policy. If the parent is the owner of the car, the student typically can stay on the parent's policy, which is usually the cheaper option. The parent must notify the insurer that the car will be "garaged" at a new, college location; that may increase or decrease the family premium.

Continued: Possible rate increase

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