Whether you are getting your college student a back to school gift or birthday present, the best gifts for current college students must be practical (just like the best gifts for grads).  College is another step towards independence and learning to function in the real world, therefore practicality is essential for getting by.

Here are my top 5 picks for the best gifts to give current college students.

Gas Card

Whether your college student has to drive to campus or likes to come home to visit their family frequently, a gas card (i.e. Shell, Exxon, or Arco) is a great gift to give especially since the price of gas is going up.  Does your college student not have a car or go to school too far from home to drive home?  Get them an Amtrak gift card or get them a gift card to a major airline (i.e. American Airlines, Southwest, or Delta) to help ease the financial burden of making the trip home.

Grocery Store Gift Card

Everyone has to eat; there is just no getting around it.  So why not help your college student with the cost of food?  Most major grocery store chains (i.e. Albertsons, Ralphs, and Vons/Safeway) offer gift cards.  Giving the gift of food is one of the best gifts you can give and your college student will thank you when their fridge is well stocked with late night study snacks.

Cell Phone Gift Card

It seems most students today have a cell phone.  However, cell phone bills tend to take up a huge chunk of a college student’s budget.  Find out what service provider your college student uses and get them a gift card to use towards their next cell phone bill.  Most major carriers (i.e. Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T) offer gift cards.

Contribute to Their Tuition Costs

We all know that tuition prices are going up, making it more difficult for students to afford to pay for all the classes they need in order to graduate.  No matter how much you can afford to give, every little bit helps and a gift that helps your college student pay for their education is one of the most generous gifts you can give.

Amazon.com Gift Card

While it isn’t always necessary to buy books for classes, most college students end up paying an arm and a leg for textbooks.  Get your college student a gift card to Amazon.com to help them pay for some of their books.

You will notice that actual money or gift cards that can be used like cash did not make this list.  I left them off for a reason.  Most college students have not had a class in budgeting and therefore do not completely understand how to manage their money.  As a result, simply handing over cash to them (or a gift card that can be used like cash) may not result in them purchasing what they need to get by.  It is not uncommon for college students to spend more money than they should on things they don’t need (i.e. booze at the liquor store or another pair of jeans at their favorite clothing store).  By providing them with any of the above gifts, you are ensuring that they are purchasing the items they need while helping them see where their money should go.

As a recent graduate, I know I would have been thrilled to get any of the above items as gifts.  I’d be willing to bet your current college student would be too!

Have any great gifts for current college students not listed above?  Share them in the comment section!

Personal finance author Zac Bissonnette of AOL Money & Finance has done just that.  A senior at the University of Massachusetts, Bissonnette has put himself through college without taking out loans, getting help from his parents, or being awarded scholarships.  In his book, Debt-Free U, Bissonnette explains how he pulled off this incredible feat and demolishes the conventional truths surrounding the financial realities of college.

Debt-Free U is a candid exposé of all financial aspects and stigmas associated with college.  While this book is beyond useful to anyone who is going to college or sending their kid to college, what makes it truly unique is it’s readability.  Bissonnette’s conversational writing style makes the book easy to read and his humor will make you laugh so hard you cry.

The book exposes FAFSA for what it really is (an inaccurate evaluation of how much parents should contribute to their child’s education), explains how scholarships are completely “overrated,” and then goes on to clearly and unarguably lay out how you can pay for college without loans, scholarships, or pulling money out of your savings.  This information is GOLDEN!

“…for families who can find fifteen dollars per week in cost cuts…and students who are willing to work hard-thirty hours per week, on average, including vacations—college is affordable: without any savings, student loans, Parent PLUS loans, retirement looting, organ sales, or heroin dealing.”

Bissonnette reveals that taking out student loans will financially set you back for years, proving that if you want to be somewhat financially stable after college, you shouldn’t take out student loans.

“The average graduate will spend about $200 per month on student loan debt for twenty years before she’s finally free.”

Bissonnette also convinces readers of the unconventional but honest truths that:

• It actually doesn’t matter where you go to college, what matters is the effort you put in to succeed
• Public colleges give you a higher return on investment than private universities
• Community college is truly the smartest way to start your college career and that the stigma behind attending community college is complete nonsense
• It is perfectly possible to work while in college without having affect your grades AND it makes you look awesome to prospective employers

The book also reveals some key things to remember in terms of protecting your money when it comes down to expenses you will encounter in college and why investing in college real estate is an ingenious idea.

“…of all the real estate investment opportunities out there, student housing is one of the best, offering low risk and the potential for a strong upside.”

The only thing I disagree with in this book is that it shouldn’t be read by people with the financial resources to send their child anywhere or parents with students who are pretty much guaranteed a full ride to the college of their choice.  Simply put, Debt-Free U is a must read for anyone who is going to college, in college, or sending their child to college.

My Grade: A+

Debt-Free U goes on sale on August 31^st and is available for pre-order at Amazon.com.

Here are some of the survey’s findings:

37% are unemployed, but close to 90% say they have enough money or are close to meeting their long-term financial goals

In 2006, half of Gen Yers were employed.  Three years later, only 40% said they were working in a full-time job.

Only 31% said they earn enough money to live the life they want, but 88% believe they will make enough money in the future.

More than a third of respondents said they rely on their parents for financial support.

13% of 22 to 29 year olds moved back in with their parents because of the recession.

55% stated they are watching their spending “very closely” because of the recession.

77% are concerned they aren’t saving enough.

So it seems that even facing the “great recession,” Millenials are more positive and optimistic about their financial future than their elders.  In an overview of the study, the researchers described this demographic in five characteristics: “confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat, and open to change.”  This definitely seems to fit the mold.

However, what is alarming is that more than two-thirds feel that they aren’t saving enough.  And that employment rates for Millenials dropped 10% in three years.  Having a healthy dose of optimism is important, but so is facing reality. Gen Yers are already dealing with student loans and credit card debt, and adding the economic recession into that mix could lead to consequential long-term effects.

If any Gen Yers are reading this, I would highly recommend to check out Ashley’s “frugal student” blog posts.  She’s provided some great tips for people our age, like this one on how to create and stick to a budget, or this one on how to shrink your cell phone bill.

What do you think about this story?  Tell us in the comments section!

I’ve never been one to pay much attention to the graduation hoopla.  But when a family member of mine mentioned they would be getting me a gift, I started thinking about what would be most useful for me as I leave college and enter “the real world.”

While things like gift certificates to clothing stores or a new DVD are nice gifts, these are not the things that make sense to give to a soon to be/recent college graduate.  They are fun, but not practical.

Here are my top 5 best gift ideas to give to college graduates.

Money
Chances are your graduate is pretty much broke and overwhelmed by the amount of bills that will soon be coming their way.  From stressing about how to pay for rent to how they will be able to afford groceries each week, money is probably the one thing that is constantly on their minds.  No matter how much you can afford to send their way, every little bit helps and guaranteed, they won’t be disappointed when they have a little extra money in their pockets.

Bill Pay
This is kind of like giving them money, but a little different.  If you want to be generous, offer to pay their cell phone, health insurance, car insurance, or grocery bill for a short duration of time.  Helping out with paying the bills is SO helpful especially when the graduate is waiting for their first paycheck to come in and doesn’t have enough money to pay their bills.

Job Search Help
We have all heard the saying that it’s not what you know but WHO you know.  Given the current state of the economy and unemployment rate, the job outlook for recent grads is pretty grim.  Most of us are overwhelmed by the task of finding a decent job.  So help us out!  Tap into your professional network and find out if anyone you know knows of any job openings.  Then get our resume to them and help us get an interview.  I for one would be so happy if I had a family member help me with my job search.  The best part about this gift?  It’s costs the giver NOTHING.

Something for Their Apartment
If you know we are moving into our own apartment and are lacking a key piece of furniture, you think we could use a toaster oven, or even just want to buy us some toilet paper, these are all great gifts!  Toilet paper may sound like a completely ridiculous gift to give a graduate, but like a toaster oven, money, or your old couch, it is practical and useful.  Which is exactly what we need at this stage of our lives.

Financial Planning Help
Most college grads really have no clue how to manage their money.  So help us plan!  An awesome gift to help any grad with this would be a subscription to GreenSherpa.  Yes, I may be a bit partial (at least I’m being honest), but before using GreenSherpa I, like most students, had NO idea how to manage my finances or see what my financial picture looks like.  Now, I have a clear picture and a plan to make sure I stay afloat financially after college.  And that is peace of mind that many college students want.

Any soon to be college graduate that I know would be beyond happy to get any of these gifts.  Whatever you decide to give your graduate, just make sure it is practical!

Have any great gift ideas for grads not listed here?  Share them in the comment section!

What the future holds, what one leaves behind and what one carries with them are just some of the thoughts and realities surrounding graduations. I would like to tie these three together.  It’s not a romantic notion but a way to look at past, present and future in financial terms.  We’ve all heard the saying “Time is money.”   I like to think that choices are money as well.  The choices one makes dictate the way one spends time and the way one spends time dictates the amount of money they accumulate.  The three are intertwined.  Graduations give us pause to reflect on these simple three.

In my financial tales blog I wrote a tale called A Twenty Million Dollar Tale that speaks directly to the topic of college education and tries to answer the question of whether a college education is worth it or not.  If one reads it they will learn that from a purely financial perspective I don’t think college is a worthwhile investment in most cases and what it offers is a non-pecuniary reward.  In fact the tale gets its title from the fact that if instead of spending $25,000 per year for 4 years of college one instead invests it at 12% per year, by the time the student reaches age 65 it will be worth almost $20 million dollars.  College and the ultimate graduation from college is a decision that too many families have taken too lightly for too long.  The common selling point is that college graduates make more money than those that don’t.  However, it does not reflect on the fact that not only is college expensive but the student loses many years of earnings.  In most cases, the higher income for college graduates vs. non-graduates does not compensate for these two factors.

Time and money are complex subjects.  While money is a man-made creation used to facilitate trade.  It is also a measure.  As a measure, money is the most efficient way for societies to monetizing time and choices.  Generally speaking, the more money one has the better choices one has made.  The more money one has means time well spent.  When money is taxed, time and choices are taxed.  Fortunately, the value of money today can be mathematically translated to the value of money tomorrow.  This magic is performed through the process of compound interest.  I suggest the reader also read A Compounding Tale from my blog to fully understand how money today can translate to money tomorrow.  This of course means that time today or choices today are directly linked to money tomorrow.  If we save money today and invest it we will have more money tomorrow.  Learning how to invest wisely is time well spent and a choice one will never regret.

So this month of graduations, I encourage all graduates and attendees to reflect on the hidden meaning of the milestone event.  Those that are furthering their education need to understand that the next few years means time not earning money as well as time spending money.  Use it wisely because the cost is much more than it appears on the surface.  Those launching careers should invest time in understanding money and how it works.  You not only want to work for money but you also want your money to work for you.  Those that will soon be paying or have finished paying for education, should recognize the gift they have given either themselves or a loved one.  You have given the gift of money, the gift of time, the gift of choice.  Cherish it.

Ditch Your Car
Stop driving your car and use other modes of transportation.  From carpooling to public transportation to biking or walking, you can save thousands of dollars each year by using other transportation methods instead of your car.

Check out the article here- The Frugal Student Part 2: Ditch The Car

Beware of the Bookstore
Try to avoid buying your textbooks from the bookstore whenever possible.  You can save hundreds of dollars each year by buying online, renting your textbooks, or buying used books instead of buying new.

Check out the Article Here- The Frugal Student Part 3: Beware of the Bookstore

Don’t Be a Starving Student
Eat well without spending a fortune on food.  Never shop on an empty stomach, make a list of what you need before you go to the market, and only buy food that is on sale to save money each time you go to the grocery store.

Check out the Article Here- The Frugal Student Part 4: The Starving College Student

Save Money On Housing
Reduce your monthly rent by researching cheaper neighborhoods to live in, having roommates and using utilities sparingly.  Also, save money on furniture by buying used or taking unwanted furniture off your family members hands.

Check out the Article Here- The Frugal Student Part 5: The Roof Over Your Head

Have Fun Cheaply
Remember to make time for fun, but make sure to not spend too much money having fun.  Use your student ID to save money at the movies, take advantage of free events put on by your college, and learn how to have a good time with friends by simply staying in instead of going out.

Check out the Article Here- The Frugal Student Part 6: Let The Good Times Roll

Shrink Your Cell Phone Bill
Don’t pay a ton of money each month on your cell phone bill.  Do your research before committing to a cell phone plan and cut back on your monthly voice and messaging usage by utilizing email, instant messenger services, and Skype.

Check out the Article Here- The Frugal Student Part 7: Shrink That Cell Phone Bill

Vacation Frugally
Take advantage of time off from school, but when you do go out of town, do it as cheaply as possible.  Travel with a group or visit friends and family in order to save money on hotel fees.

Check out the Article Here- The Frugal Student Part 8: Spring Break Savings and Deals

Start Your College Career at a Community College
While you complete your general education requirements, attend a reputable community college to save at least 50% off normal four-year university tuition costs.  There is no reason to spend twice as much on classes at a four-year university when you can take the same courses at a community college for less.

Check out the Article Here- The Frugal Student Part 9: Community College Perks

Try to Get Free Money
Fill out as many scholarship and grant applications as you can get your hands on.  With so much federal and state aid available for college students, there is no reason to not try to get your hands on some of that money.

Check out the Article Here- The Frugal Student Part 10: Free Money

Create a Budget and Stick To It
Actually create a budget and stick to it.  Better yet, use this budget to create a savings plan so you have a head start on paying off loans or paying for a graduation trip after you graduate.

Check out the Article Here- The Frugal Student Part 11: Budgeting 101

I sincerely hope this series has been helpful in finding ways to cut back on the common expenses many college students face while attending school.  If there are any tips I have missed, please feel free to share them in the comment section!

Budgets are vital regardless of your financial status, age, or occupation.  As a college student, it is especially important to know how to create and stick to a budget.

Here are the 5 easy steps you need to follow in order to create your budget.

Step 1: Identify How Much Money You Make Each Month
Look at all your sources of income.  This includes whatever money you make from your part time job, internships, scholarships, financial aid, loans, and family contributions.  Add it up and determine how much this equates to both monthly and weekly.  Make a spreadsheet that shows you your sources of income.  If you don’t want to create a spreadsheet, use web-based personal finance software to help you keep track of your income.

Step 2: Identify Your Expenses
Look at everything you spend money on.  This includes tuition, rent, utilities, food, books, school supplies, transportation, insurance, entertainment, fun, gifts, car payments, etc.  Make another spreadsheet with each expense listed at the top and calculate how much you spend each month and week on these individual expenses.  Again, if you don’t want to use a spreadsheet, use web-based personal finance software.

Step 3: Determine if Your Income Equals Your Expenses
Using your spreadsheets (or the software you chose to use), look at how much you are spending versus how much you make.  Does your income equal or exceed your expenses?  If your answer is yes, fantastic!  If your answer is no, you have one of two choices:

Choice 1: Add Another Source of Income
Pick up an extra job.  Take out another loan.  Apply for more scholarships.  Find an internship or job that pays better than the one you currently have.  Ask your family for more financial help.  Whatever you do, just find a way to bring in more income each month (and make sure it’s legal).

Choice 2: Find Ways to Cut Expenses
Go back through the Frugal Student Parts 2 through 9 and look at the money saving tips I laid out in each of those articles.  Using those ideas, figure out ways to cut down on your monthly and weekly expenses.  Whether it is using public transportation to cut down on your gas expense, only buying food on sale to cut down on your food expenses, or getting a roommate to cut down on your rent, find ways to save money so that you are not spending more than you are making.

Step 4: Write Out Your Monthly and Weekly Budget and STICK TO IT!
Identify how much you can spend on all your individual expenses each week and month.  If you have $400 to spend on groceries each month, you can spend $100 each week on groceries.  When you head to the market each week, go to the ATM first and pull out $100 in cash.  Leave your credit cards at home and only use the cash you have.  This way you will be sure to stick to your weekly grocery budget and not splurge.

Step 5: Use Choice 2 Under Step 3 and Start Trying to Save Money
Now that you have a budget, figure out ways to cut back on your expenses.  Breaking even each month/week is fantastic, but having a little extra money to put away in a savings account at the end of each month/week is even better.  Chances are you have goals you would like to achieve after college (such as buying a house, taking a graduation trip, or paying back loans), and starting to save money now will help you accomplish those goals sooner rather than later.

Creating and sticking to a budget is key to financial success.  Figuring out a way to add a savings plan to your budget in order to keep extra money in the bank for your future financial goals is vital as well.  By using these 5 simple steps, you can easily create a budget, stick to it, and save money.

To see how GreenSherpa can help you create your budget and plan for your financial future, try it now for free!

Most students know that there is free money available to college students.  However, it seems like many students have no clue what free money is available or how to get their hands on it.  There is $3 billion in state aid alone available to college students.  This number does not include federal aid or the insane amount of scholarships available to students.

So what are the free money options available to college students and where can you find them?

Scholarships
There are thousands of scholarships available to students.  You never have to pay them back and they are awarded to students upon completion of an application, which sometimes includes writing an essay or submitting some sort of special project.  Some are needs based, others are awarded on academic merit, some are given based on having career goals that coincide with the field the corporation or donor works in.  You can get scholarships for playing sports or for having a parent who works in a certain career field.  There are so many different scholarships out there that you are bound to find at least one or two that you meet the criteria for.

But where can you find scholarships?  Here are my recommendations:

Your College Website
Run a search for scholarships on your college website.  Many colleges offer scholarships solely for students who attend their university.  There are also many major departments (i.e. sociology or communication) that offer scholarships for students studying that particular major.

The Internet
Google “scholarships” and you will get millions of hits.  This is overwhelming.  My top 3 choices for scholarship websites are Scholarships.com, FastWeb, and College Scholarships.  While you have to create an account to use these sites, it is free and the questions asked of you while you create your account help the search engine on these sites identify scholarships that you would be a good candidate for.

Your “Network”
I was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship my first year of college because my mom works in a school district that offers a special scholarship in memory of a former teacher to kids of parents who worked in that district.  Ask your parents or other family members if the company they work for has a scholarship program for kids of employees of that company.  If they do, ask for information on the scholarship and if you qualify, apply for it!

Grants
Grants are like scholarships in that they are free money that never have to be paid back.  However, grants are given by the federal and state government.  There are two primary types of grants: need based and merit based.  Need based grants are for students who would not otherwise be able to go to college without financial assistance.  Merit based grants are for students who have done well academically at the previous school.

So where do you find grants?

FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal and State Aid should be filled out regardless of your economic standing or GPA.  You fill this form out once a year to see if you qualify for federal or state aid to help you pay for your college expenses. Go to the FAFSA website to fill out an application online.

The Internet
Simply googling “college grants” will result in millions of hits.  I would recommend checking out EducationMoney and (again) College Scholarships for information about grants.

There is no harm in applying for scholarships or grants.  The worst thing that can happen is that you get no funding and you are right back where you started.  But if you do apply and get your hands on some of the billions of dollars available to students, the minimal time it took to fill out a few scholarship/grant applications will have been well worth it.

In part one of this series, I discussed the rising cost of a college education.  Recall:

“With new fee hikes approved by UC regents, UC students will face fee increases of 32% over the next couple years.  Currently, tuition fees for California residents attending UC schools are close to $10,000.00 per year.”

This reality was highlighted last week by protests across California, made up of teachers and students not only in college but also in grades k-12.  Many teachers and students (myself included) walked out of their classrooms to protest budget cuts.  Everyone throughout the state is feeling the pain of budget cuts to education.

For college students, the budget cuts mean higher tuition fees.  This has sparked a debate as to whether or not a college education is actually worth the insane amount of money it now costs.  To me, this is a logical debate to have, as rising tuition fees will increase the amount of debt many students will face after graduation.  More debt means a harder time getting your feet under you and being financially successful after graduation.

My take on the college is this: if you plan right, a college degree is well worth its price.  While tuition fees cannot be avoided, a big part of doing college right involves doing whatever you can to cut back on tuition fees.

This is where community college comes in. Most high school students scoff at the idea of spending two years at a community college instead of going straight to a four-year university.  However, this is by far one of the smartest, most economical choices any future college student can make.

What is community college? It is where students can complete their general education requirements that ALL colleges mandate students complete before graduation then transfer to a four year university to complete the requirements for their chosen major.  Some community colleges have Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) agreements with four-year universities so if you complete the requirements to get into the major you hope to pursue with a pre-determined GPA, you get an automatic acceptance to that college.

Let’s take a look at the financial picture. Each year, community college students spend at least 50% LESS on tuition than students at four-year universities.  With such substantial savings on tuition alone, it seems completely idiotic to go straight to a four year to take the same courses you would take at a community college.  If you knew that Best Buy was offering a TV at half the price as Circuit City, wouldn’t you buy the TV from Best Buy?  This same logic should apply to college courses as well.

Another financial perk to community college? You can find one close to home so you don’t have to pay for rent or food.  You can still live at home and eat home cooked meals on a nightly basis.  Two years of free food and free rent is something NO student should pass up.

An additional, non-financial perk is that community college gives students time to become more mature, learn to manage their independence, and figure out what they want to do with their lives.  We have all heard of freshmen going crazy at college and focusing on partying and their new found independence instead their studies.  This ends up being a HUGE waste of money as many students end up failing a class and having to retake it.  Community college is a fantastic stepping stone for kids to prepare for the independence attending a four year university bestows upon them as well as allow them to gain insight into what they want to do with their life and what major they should pursue.  Let’s face it, most 18 year-olds have no idea what they want to do with their life after they graduate high school and even if they think they know, chances are they will change their mind about 100 times before their college career ends.  Because of this, Harvard even encourages their admitted students to defer acceptance for a year to travel or pursue their interests.  Instead of taking a year off from school, utilizing community college gives kids an extra couple years to figure out what they hope to do with their lives while continuing their education.

One thing to keep in mind: when enrolling at a community college, be sure to choose a school that has a good reputation for sending its students to prestigious four-year universities after they have completed their general education requirements.  Find a school with TAG agreements so that while you are finishing your general education requirements, you can rest easy knowing that your college career will continue at a fantastic four-year university.

When done right and planned for, the cost of a college education is well worth the value.  Avoid the rising tuition fees at four-year universities for as long as you can by utilizing the cheaper alternative of community college for a couple years.

For those students who decide to take advantage of their week off by getting out of town, the worry of being able to afford a week (or even just a few days) away can be stressful.  So how can college students get the most bang for their buck over Spring Break?

Here are my top seven tips for having a fun, affordable Spring Break.

Last Minute Deals- If you are willing to wait until the last possible second to make plans for Spring Break, travel websites often have some great last minute deals on hotel accommodations, car rentals, and flights.  Check out the deals on Expedia, Hotwire, Travelocity, and Priceline to save some money on hotel and travel costs.

Do Your Research- There are many companies that work specifically with college students to help them create fun, affordable travel plans for Spring Break.  Doing a simple Google search can help you find a company who will help you stretch your dollar over Spring Break.  Here are a few of my favorite sites:

• StudentCity.com- This is an easy to use site that let’s you create your own Spring Break trip.  Check out the Hot Spring Break Deals section for awesome, cheap Spring Break getaways.

• SpringBreakTravel.com- This site boast the best deals on Spring Break trips.  They back this statement up with a promise that they will pay you 150% of the difference between their trip and their competitors if their competitor sells the same trip for cheaper.

• STSTravel.com- This is a great site with some fantastic Spring Break resources including planning tips, a blog, and a list of awesome events going on at Spring Break hotspots.

• SunSplashTours.com- This site offers deals for groups of students traveling together.  It also has a fantastic “hot deals” section with great package deals.
  

The More the Merrier- If you insist on going somewhere where you must stay in a hotel, be sure to travel with friends.  While many hotels can be sticklers about how many people are allowed in one room, the more people you squeeze into a hotel room, the cheaper it is per person to stay at the hotel.  Also, some travel sites offer group discounts for students who travel together.  Check out Triporama, Group Travel Directory, and  GroupTravel.com for great money saving deals and tips for students traveling in a group.

Don’t Stray Too Far- In California, we are fortunate to have the beach and mountains extremely close to each other.  And we are fortunate to have major tourist destinations close to each other as well.  Instead of booking a flight somewhere and paying a ton of money, stay close to your college by venturing a couple hours away from wherever your college is located.  This may put you in the mountains or at another gorgeous beach town.  There is no need to pay an arm and a leg for a trip to Hawaii when there are beaches in California that are beautiful.  My picks?  San Diego, Newport Beach, and Pismo Beach.  If you are a mountain person, check out Lake Tahoe, Mammoth, and Big Bear.  Don’t live in California?  Check out some tourist destinations in your state to save money.

Amtrak- If you insist on traveling farther than you want to drive, use Amtrak.  I can speak from experience when I say that if you hop on the Pacific Surfliner the Friday of finals week to head wherever you are going for Spring Break, it will be one of the highlights of your break.  You get to sit back, have a beer or two, enjoy the view of the ocean, and hang out with 400 other college students who are headed out of town for spring break.  A roundtrip ticket from Goleta to San Diego costs $68.00, $57.80 if you have a student advantage card.  This is WAY better than a flight from Goleta to San Diego, which runs at least $287.00 roundtrip.  Also be sure to check out Greyhound or other bus services for cheap travel.

Visit Friends- This is a great way to have a vacation without having to pay for accommodations.  If you haven’t seen your friends from high school in awhile, call them up and tell them you want to come visit them over break.  Not only will you have a free couch to crash on, but you will have great company and a guaranteed awesome time reconnecting with an old friend.

And Finally, Just Go Home- Most students might disagree with me when I say that heading home for break is a vacation, and that is their prerogative.  But where else are you going to know you will have great home cooked meals, a nice bed, and the company of your hometown friends?  Pretty much nowhere.  The best part of going home for break?  Free accommodations AND free meals.  Good luck finding that anywhere else.

With all these money saving, cheap vacation options for Spring Break, no student has any excuse to stick around campus.

Have any suggestions for Spring Break travelers not listed here?  Share them in the comment section!

Being able to stay in contact with your professional and social network is vital to success.  Be it contacting a classmate in regards to a homework question, making plans with your friend to see a movie on Saturday night, calling home to talk to your parents, or returning a call for an interview for your dream job, having a cell phone is absolutely essential.  But when you are trying to save money and you must have a cell phone, how can you cut costs on your monthly bill?

Here are my top five tips for saving money each month on your cell phone bill.

Do Your Homework: Before you sign up for a cell phone plan, make sure you have researched EVERY cell phone company and plan on the market so you get the best plan for you.  If you know you text more than you talk, make sure your plan reflects that.  If the majority of the people you talk to are in your network and you talk to very few people outside your network, don’t get an unlimited talk plan.  Compare your options and find out what is the cheapest option for you.  Sites like billshrink.com and myrateplan.com can help you do your homework.

Know Your Plan: Completely understand your cell phone plan.  If you don’t know what your overage charges are, if you don’t know how many texts you get each month, if you don’t know when your free nights and weekends start, you will have overages and pay more money on your cell phone bill.

Instant Messaging Services: There is NO excuse for texting when you are sitting in front of your computer especially when you have Internet access.  Texting costs money.  Instant messaging does not.  The majority of people you text have one or multiple instant messenger services, be it Yahoo Messenger, AOL Instant Messenger, Windows Live Messenger (formerly MSN Messenger), etc. Get the cheapest text messaging package you can on your cell phone and download these instant message for free.  Save your money, limit your texts.

Skype: Skype is a free online messaging service that is not only like normal instant messaging services but can be a substitute for your cell phone.  You can make calls to other Skype users and have real time voice conversations with them.  All you need is a built in or attachable microphone on your computer.  If you have a webcam or the person you are “skyping” with has a webcam, you can see each other while you talk.  The cost for this service?  FREE.

Email: For conversations that aren’t urgent or don’t need to be done in real time, use email.  Almost everyone has an email address nowadays.  All college students get a free email address from their school and most employers will give employees a company email address.  You can sign up for a free email address from Yahoo, Hotmail (from MSN), and AOL if you don’t have a college email address or your employer doesn’t give you a company email address.  Don’t waste your valuable cell phone minutes on conversations that aren’t urgent.  Save your minutes, use your email.

There is no reason to spend an arm and a leg on your cell phone bill when there are many other options out there for communicating with friends, family, classmates, colleagues, etc.  Utilize these options and watch your monthly savings add up fast.

So how can overworked, almost broke students afford to pay for fun time?  Here are some tips for students to use to stretch their dollar and have the fun, relaxing times they deserve.

Carry Your Student ID Everywhere- Many places offer student discounts.  For example, if you were to go to see a movie, you can save a couple bucks by flashing your student ID.  A couple bucks may not seem like very much, but every dollar counts.

Take Advantage of Free School-Sponsored Events- Most universities have free concerts or events for students to attend.  While it may seem kind of dorky to attend a school-sponsored event, most of them are actually quite fun and some even have major artists or bands headlining the event.  For example, UCSB has a “Welcome Back Concert” at the beginning of each school year.  Last year the Ying Yang twins performed and the year before that it was Three Six Mafia.  The cost to attend these concerts?  NOTHING.

Two Words: Happy Hour- For those students who like to bar hop, doing a little homework on what happy hour specials their favorite bars offer can save them a lot of money.  Some bars will even designate Thursday nights as “College Night” and significantly reduce the price of drinks.  It’s a great deal for students on a budget.

“Pre-Game-” This is a favorite of many college students.  Even if you utilize happy hour, going out can still be expensive.  Instead of drinking at the bar, have a few drinks before you get to the bar.  Having a few drinks before you get to the bar can save you around $15.00.

Bring The Fun Home- Yes, staying in can be fun.  Get a bunch of your friends together for a movie night or to watch the big game on TV.  Have everyone chip in on some chips and drinks.  The cost of having a fun night in is minimal and you can have better conversations by staying in than by trying to yell at your friends over the loud music at the bar.

Take Advantage of the Outdoors- If it is nice weather, hit up the beach, go hiking, or get a bunch of your friends together to play Frisbee.  Not only are these activities free but they also get you outside and moving, which is great if you spend most of your time inside writing papers or listening to your professor lecture.

Check out Local “Secret” Spots- Many “hole in the wall” café’s or restaurants have free live entertainment on certain nights of the week ranging from poetry readings to singers looking for a break.  Check out some of your local “secret” spots and enjoy some free live entertainment.

By utilizing these tips, students can maintain some semblance of a social life and not break the bank.  College can be stressful, but that doesn’t mean students can’t have a social life and let loose every once in awhile without spending loads of money.