10 Hidden College Expenses You Definitely Didn’t Know About

There are many expenses you might not have realized, including books, textbooks, and gas. Even tuition is just the tip of the iceberg. You might have to buy a laptop or printer for your dorm, pay for parking passes to get around campus or eat out because your meal plan doesn’t cover enough food. The best way to handle all of these expenses is by saving money. The more money you save now, the less you’ll have to worry about later. Here are some ways to make saving easier and help you avoid those hidden college expenses.

TEXTBOOKS

-There is a way to save money on textbooks! You can buy used textbooks.

-You can sell back your old textbooks at the end of the semester or in the summer (if you’re done with them). Most schools have a textbook buyback program and will give you cash for your old textbooks.

-Buy digital textbooks – they are typically cheaper and can be accessed anywhere. They are also much more environmentally friendly than printing them out every time you need to use them.

LAPTOP OR PRINTER

Most college students need a laptop or printer because they will be doing assignments in class and in their dorms. It’s much easier to do homework if you have a computer at hand. The best way to save money on your laptop or printer is to check out the different deals online. You might find that you can get some pretty good deals online, especially if you’re willing to wait for them.

If you’re trying to buy a printer, make sure you compare different brands and types of printers. There are so many different types, it can be hard to know where to start. But this article from collegeboard.org has great advice on what kind of printer would work best for college students:

https://www.collegeboard.org/student/printing-costs

PARKING PASS

Parking passes are one of the least expensive college expenses. If you have to park your car on campus, you’ll have to pay for parking passes. These parking passes could be purchased with cash or by using a credit card that gives a discount online.

To save money on parking, use your smartphone to find the cheapest available parking lot and reserve it before you leave for school. This will cut down the time spent looking for an open space and searching for a spot that has the least amount of traffic.

If you need more help saving on parking, consider buying monthly or yearly parking passes so that you can avoid having to purchase them all at once.

MEAL PLAN

A meal plan is a set of meals and snacks that are pre-arranged by your dining hall. It includes the number of meals and snacks you’ll receive every week, as well as what they’re called and what they contain.

Most meal plans have different options for specialty or international cuisine, vegetarian options, organic food, healthy food, and more. The better your dining hall offers these options, the more likely you’ll discover something new to try!

There are some drawbacks to a meal plan: It can be expensive if your choices aren’t allowed on them (for example, if you want to eat out) or if you’re looking for extra helpings (for example, if you want to make sure your diet is up-to-date with the latest nutrition information). But overall it’s an effective way to save money in college because you don’t have to worry about planning or cooking for yourself.

APPLICATION FEES

When you’re trying to save money, one of the first places you should look is at your application fees. These fees are typically non-refundable and vary depending on school.

If your school has a deadline for submitting your application, like the University of Florida, it’s important to submit your application before that date. If you don’t have time to submit an application before then, there may be an expedited fee for completing their application process more quickly. In either case, you’ll need to make sure to submit your applications as soon as possible so that they’re not late and you’re not assessed a higher fee.

DORM ROOM FEES

Booking your dorm room early is a great way to save money. By doing so, you’ll be able to get a discounted rate on the spot and take advantage of deals that not all students know about.

Another way to save money is by looking for free events at your college or university. You can find free talks, lectures, and concerts held on campus throughout the year. And if you’re lucky enough to live in a residence hall, you might have free access to gyms, pools, and other recreational facilities that are open 24 hours a day!

Another easy way to save money is by joining student discounts websites like Groupon or LivingSocial. These sites offer discounts on various products and services from different businesses around town. These companies are constantly changing their deals to lure in more customers and make more money.

LAB FEES

If you’re a college student, you probably have heard of lab fees. Lab fees are charged for students who want to use the lab at their school. These fees can be quite hefty and vary by school, so it’s important to check with your university to find out how much your lab fee will cost.

If you’re looking for ways to save money on lab fees, consider getting a co-op job that allows you to work in the lab without having to pay the fee. For example, if you had a research project that required a lot of time in the lab, as soon as your project is done, switch back over to your co-op job and get paid for all of that time.

Another way to reduce or eliminate your lab fee is through paying out-of-state tuition rates. Many states allow students from out-of-state universities to pay less than residents for tuition costs. If this is an option for you, it might help offset some of the expenses associated with being a college student.

Other ways to save money on lab fees include doing research online and checking with other schools about their program requirements or policies. You could also ask professors about potential discounts or opportunities for students in their labs.

CONCLUSION

There are many expenses you may not have realized, including books, textbooks, and gas. Even tuition is just the tip of the iceberg. You might have to buy a laptop or printer for your dorm, pay for parking passes to get around campus, or eat out because your meal plan doesn’t cover enough food.

The best way to handle all of these expenses is by saving money. The more money you save now, the less you’ll have to worry about later. Here are some ways to make saving easier and help you avoid those hidden college expenses.