Want to get more out of going college campus life without the guesswork? Below we walk through the essentials in plain language, with practical steps you can use right away.
Key Takeaways
- What should I do about spending money?
- When you first get to campus, the first aspect you wish to know is how should you handle your money.
- Worth noting: i have an outside-the-box solution for you that’s fee-free.
- Picking a card Walmart formed an alliance with American Express for a partnership called Bluebird.
Is Going College Campus Life Worth It?
If you’re getting ready to head off to college or are the parent of someone who is, you might be wondering, ‘What should I do about money?’ Being on campus offers you plenty of opportunities to blow money. But it doesn’t have to be that method; there are also methods you can cut costs and avoid being ripped off. Read on and protect your wallet!
- Prepaid cards can be a excellent alternative to debit and checking accounts. They make it easier to budget your money, and you could even have multiple cards , allocating money to each one for a different purpose (gas, groceries, added spending money etc.).
- After first launching in fall 2012, this service has now been named the best banking alternative by Consumer Reports.
- More importantly, with Bluebird, you get an essentially fee-free alternative to debit and checking accounts in the form of a stored value card that has the American Express logo.
- To fill it up, you simply deposit money online, via a smartphone app, or at any Walmart cash register in the United States.
Where the Real Savings Hide
You can also write checks like you would from any regular account. About the only aspect you don’t get is limited banking hours; Walmart retail locations are becoming 24/7 banks almost all over the country!
- Remember that another nice upside of Bluebird is that it comes with no foreign currency transaction fee, so that makes it an ideal card for international travel.
- But then in the aftermath of the financial crisis, new rules went into effect that essentially banned students from getting their first credit card when they turned 18.
- Now a young person typically can’t get a credit card on their own until they turn 21. (A parent must expressly sign as guarantor on that account if you’re younger than 21.
- Certain waivers apply for economically independent teens.) That’s both solid and bad.
A Closer Look at Going College Campus Life
As a rule, solid since it limits the harm a student can do from irresponsibly running up a line of credit. And bad since it makes it slightly more difficult for a young person to establish a solid credit history.
- But with any of several college student credit card programs, you can get a card once you’re past 21, but before you graduate, and you don’t have to reveal income.
- My favorite place for you to do this is at a credit union.
- In short, visit FindaCreditUnion.org to locate one near you.
- Rent your textbooks instead of purchasing them I got my first introduction to the high-price world of college textbooks when my eldest daughter was a freshman several years ago.
What to Know About Going College Campus Life
At the time, I had to pay $135 for one book for one class! Unfortunately, the cost of college textbooks is up just under 25% over the last 4 years.
- Worth noting: that’s 4 times the rate of inflation in the U.S. economy over the same period.
- The average student spends $1,200 to apply his or her books for about 12 to 15 weeks before they become yesterday’s news at the end of the semester.
- Thankfully, the Internet has come to the rescue by offering several websites like Chegg.com and CourseSmart.com that rent college textbooks.
- The latter even provides you digital access to textbooks on an iPhone or iPad.
How Going College Campus Life Really Works
More importantly, in addition to Chegg and CourseSmart, other sought after textbook rental sites include BookRenter.com and eCampus.com. Others like CheapestBookPrice.com, AllBookstores.com, Biblio.com, BookFinder.com, ValoreBooks.com and Textbook411.com are all solid sites for this purpose too.
- Then there are some newer sites that came to my attention from an article in The New York Times.
- They include Affordabook.com, Amazon’s Kindle Textbook Rental program, LocalTextbook.com, and SwoopThat.com.
- Remember that the sooner you discover what textbooks will be used in your classes this fall, the sooner you can order them online and await delivery.
- You may also wish to try teaming up with a friend in the same class and sharing a book instead of shouldering the money all by yourself.
Getting the Most From Going College Campus Life
That’s what I did in at least one class when I was in school. Be careful you’re not getting ripped off”¦ by your student ID card!
- As a rule, you might thinking getting a student ID card is one of the most benign parts of going to college.
- But there are some dubious practices taking place on campuses throughout the country related to student cards.
- The reality is numerous colleges are in cahoots with banks to dupe students into thinking there is a upside to getting a combined student ID and refund card.
- I’ve told you before that numerous schools get kickbacks to have a certain bank be the ‘official bank’ on campus.
Tips That Make a Difference
In short, such financial institutions offer outrageous terms and conditions on their credit and debit cards for students. The universities do this to get money under the table money from the banks.
- These arrangements are technically ‘partnerships,’ according to the schools.
- But the fees on the cards are almost double those available in the general marketplace.
- Worth noting: now we have the same aspect going on with the new student ID cards.
- The University of North Georgia is just one of numerous schools doing this, so read up and be warned.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I save money on going college campus life?
Compare prices across a few retailers, look for active coupon codes, and time bigger buys around sales events. But it doesn’t have to be that method; there are also methods you can cut costs and avoid being ripped off. Read on and protect your wallet!.
Is it worth shopping around for going college campus life?
Usually yes. Prepaid cards can be a excellent alternative to debit and checking accounts. They make it easier to budget your money, and you could even have multiple cards , allocating money to each one for a different purpose (gas, g....
What should I check before buying?
Read the terms, confirm any code still works, and factor in shipping or returns. After first launching in fall 2012, this service has now been named the best banking alternative by Consumer Reports.
Smart Ways to Save More on Going College Campus Life
- Pair cashback with a coupon so you save twice on the same order.
- Stack a coupon code with an existing sale whenever the store allows it.
- Sign up for the retailer newsletter to catch first time and seasonal discounts.
- Compare the final price including shipping, not just the headline number.
- Check for student, military, or first order offers you may qualify for.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line on going college campus life: a little research goes a long way. Compare your options, watch for seasonal offers, and never pay full price when a better deal is a click away.
Originally published at clark.com.
