Students who have received financial aid in the past know the drill – the financial aid office receives the funds, applies them to the student’s account for tuition, room and board, and other expenses, then returns the remainder to the student. In the past, students have been given the option of receiving the refund by check or direct deposit, but this year, there’s a new option across many campuses – a pre-loaded debit card.

The problem

These debit cards (often endorsed by the school) may seem like a great idea up front (easy, right?) but students are warned to be cautious if selecting this method. These cards can come with high fees that can eat into your federal aid funds! Not ideal for cash-strapped students. Fees include things like “$0.50 to swipe the debit card using a PIN number, inactivity fees of $10 a month starting as soon as six months and overdraft fees as high as $38 per transaction” according to the Huffington Post.
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Saving money can be time consuming, especially in the fast-paced life of college students. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of the best money-saving smartphone apps for college students! Forget clipping coupons, these mobile deal-finders will help you stay on top of your game, while keeping money in your wallet.

The best thing about these apps? They’re free!

Chegg

Any accounting major can tell you that textbooks are expensive. But they don’t have to be. Find the books you need for class through the Chegg app and rent right there or even compare prices!

GasBuddy

Gas is super expensive, so why not save a little money when you can? GasBuddy finds the cheapest gas prices near you so you can save on every fill-up.
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Did you know that 93% of Freshmen have off-campus jobs? Paying for college and living expenses is tough, that’s why we want to help you make money during the school year! It’s not always easy finding steady employment, but there are plenty of odd jobs for college students to earn cash, such as:

• Babysitting
• Mowing lawns
• Shoveling snow
• Delivering food
• Being a bike courier
• Stuffing envelopes

The options are seemingly endless! For more ideas on great jobs for college freshmen (both on and off campus), check out our recent infographic, Freshmen Jobs: Ways to Earn & Save Much Needed Cash.

While you’re there, let us know how you make money while in school!

Welcome back readers. With college right around the corner, many of you are beginning to realize that, in a few weeks, you’re going to be leaving home to start the next chapter of your lives. For many, the idea of going to a new school by yourself is overwhelming. As excited as you are for college, you’re dreading the first few weeks of adjusting to college life. I’m here to alleviate some of that anxiety. In this article, I have compiled a handful of suggestions on how to handle your first few weeks at college, some of which I personally did, others that I wish I had done, but all of which I would do now if I had the opportunity.

Be Outgoing

Your transition to college will be much easier if you are sociable. When going to the cafeteria alone, don’t eat alone. Instead, sit with a group of people you’ve never met and introduce yourself. In addition, introduce yourself to your classmates and the kids in your residence hall.

Learn People’s Names

The first piece of advice is useless if you can’t remember the name of the person to whom you just introduced yourself. Here are some useful tips from CNN on how to remember names.

Keep an Open Door

When you’re in your room, prop the door. An open door is a way of welcoming anyone to stop by, and doing so will encourage others to come into your room to meet you.
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With the summer winding down, many of you are starting to wonder if you put aside enough money for college.  You had a great summer, but you only worked 10 hours a week, and you know that you will want to spend a lot of money in college.  Fear not, there is still hope!  With a month left until you leave for college, there are still plenty of opportunities to earn money without missing out on the rest of summer.

Be an Extra in a Movie

Lights, camera, action!  If you’re looking for your 15 seconds of fame, you can make it happen…and get paid for it!  Movie sets are in constant need of people to serve as extras in their movies, so look online and sign up with a casting company.  Signing up is free, and you’ll be notified of opportunities such as these that are close to home.  Plus, if you have any unique skills, you may be eligible to be paid extra.

Join Focus Groups

Imagine getting paid $50 to talk about Facebook and Twitter for 2 hours.  Would you believe me if I said that you could?  Focus groups are constantly in need of teenagers to discuss their views on school, social media, and hobbies to figure out how to make their product more appealing to our age group.  A quick Google search will reveal focus groups close to you.  Sign up, and you will be notified of upcoming opportunities that you qualify for.  Just show up, have fun, and cash that check. (more…)

Welcome back readers. I know many of you are working and trying to put aside as much money for college as possible. However, just because you have to conserve your money doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun this summer. Here’s a list of low-budget activities to keep you busy for the rest of the summer.

Go Into the City

If you are lucky enough to live somewhere near one, take the train into the city and hang out there for the day. With everything going on there , you don’t need to spend anything more than the train fare to have a good time. Watch the live broadcast of the Today show in New York City; observe the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.; walk through the San Francisco zoo.  A day spent walking around the city is a day well spent.

Sit Around a Campfire

With such nice weather, what better way to spend a summer night then hanging out with some friends at a campfire? The only requirements are chairs, a fire, and a few friends; s’mores, hot dogs, and music are just a bonus.
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Welcome back!  With summer vacation approaching its halfway point, many of you are probably starting to feel anxious about college.  Yes, you can’t wait to go, but you’re also starting to realize that you’re nervous about leaving home.  The best way to enter college is to enjoy these last few months at home, and here are some tips to ensure that happens.

Work Hard, Play Hard

You will want to put aside as much money as possible for spending during your freshman year, but don’t let work consume your summer.  Even if you’re working full-time, you still have the weekends off.  Use that time to hang out with your friends, or do whatever you’re passionate about.  After work, meet up with your friends instead of going home and watching TV.

Coordinate a Weekly Event

Plan an event with your friends to take place that same day every week.  This could be Poker Tuesdays, Whiffle ball Wednesdays, or anything else that you can think of.
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Thanks to Peter J. Reilly at Forbes for sharing this!

Welcome back readers.  For those just tuning in, I’m a student who recently completed his freshman year of college.

College is a blast, but it’s also expensive.  After breaking the bank this past year, I’m here with advice on how to have a great time in college without spending your entire summer paycheck.

Purchasing tickets to shows/sports events

1. Look for student discounts – When purchasing tickets to a concert, movie, sports game, etc., always see if you can get a student discount. Many such shows offer tickets at a discounted price to students.
2. Buy cheap seats - You may really want first row seats to see your favorite team, but for the price they charge, it may not be worth it. When going to shows or sports events with friends, buy bleacher seats – You’re still going to see your favorite athlete and have a great time.

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Congratulations!  You’ve been accepted to college, and, in a few months, you will be leaving home to start the next chapter of your life.  As someone who just completed his freshman year, I can honestly tell you that this past year has been the best year of my life.  However, it has also been the most expensive. I learned how expensive college is the hard way.  After having worked close to full time last summer, I had $3.14 in my bank account by the end of the school year.  My goal is to provide you with tips on how to minimize your costs without minimizing the college experience.

Purchasing books

Don’t buy books from your school bookstore unless absolutely necessary.  Websites such as Amazon.com and Chegg.com provide textbooks at a much more reasonable price.  Amazon also offers a feature referred to as Amazon Student, where students who register with a valid .edu address qualify for six months of free two-day shipping.

Before buying a book for class, check if your school library has it available.  I had to read a book every two weeks for one of my classes last semester, and I was able to find almost all of these books in my school’s library.
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