As many students find themselves cash-strapped and time-pressed, they are always looking for the quickest, most cost-efficient way of doing things, that’s where textbook rentals come in.
According to eCampus.com, one of the pioneers of online textbook retailing, nearly one in five of all college textbook purchases online today is a rental. Two years ago, online textbook rentals accounted for just 1% of all sales.
“We’re finding that textbook rentals appeal to students because (more…)
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
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No matter how you educate your children, it is pretty hard to miss the start of the new school year. While parents of students going to traditional schools are saving money on school supplies, parents of homeschoolers, like me, look for ways to save money on curriculum.
There are as many different ways to homeschool as there are homeschoolers. But in general it breaks down to either following traditional academic age/grade appropriate guidelines on what a student should know (so that you can pop your kid back into a traditional curriculum at any time and they wouldn’t be behind) or following a child-led curriculum, called unschooling in some circles.
If you are following a traditional curriculum,
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I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.
Before hitting the sun this summer, find out why you need to stop being frugal with sunscreen and stop wasting money on sunscreen with Vitamin A. (Wisebread)
Learn how to read an electricity meter to avoid paying a higher electricity bill. (Compare Electricity Bills)
The latest trend for smartphones and tablets is mobile shopping. Stay ahead of the curve by finding out the latest on shopping technology trends. (The Digerati Life)
Should parents be responsible for their kid’s college education bill? Jason used to think his kids should pay for college, but has since changed his mind. Find out why. (Frugal Dad)
Are you overspending on sites like Groupon and Living Social? Keep in mind that impulse purchases are not a deal. (Suddenly Frugal)
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This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Buying textbooks online may be cheaper than buying in store, but searching for inexpensive books takes time. Slugbooks.com cuts your search time by allowing you to compare book prices from your campus bookstore, online retailers and rental companies.
To save money on college textbooks, students can also list books for free that they want to sell on this aggregating site. You can connect via (more…)
Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Reader Forrest is the winner of my review copy of “Debt-Free U: How I Paid for an Outstanding College Education Without Loans, Scholarships, or Mooching off My Parents.” Forrest is in high school and is stressing out about the college selection process. Forrest wrote:
I’ll be a high school senior this year. What stresses me most about the whole college selection process is the financial aid. I don’t know how I’ll be able to decide between a school I like and a school with a better aid package. This book would definitely help.
Forrest, I can totally relate to you. I too felt stressed about choosing the right college. I like that at such a young age you have (more…)
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz. Disclosure: Zac Bissonnette used to blog for WalletPop.com, where Bargain Babe Julia Scott currently blogs.
A quality college education does not have to cost a lot of money. That’s the premise behind Debt-Free U: How I Paid for an Outstanding College Education Without Loans, Scholarships, orMooching off My Parents
by Zac Bissonnette.
Bissonnette, a college student at the University of Massachusetts and a personal finance expert, says he wrote the book for the 90-plus percent of families that find it difficult to pay tuition at a four-year private university. He writes:
I wrote this book because I’ve met, spoken with, and read e-mails from hundreds of families who are struggling with the burden of college costs – worrying about how they’ll pay for college without bankrupting their retirement or burdening their kids with massive debt loads.
One of the tips that stuck with me is a loophole for making a student eligible for more financial aid. Bissonnette suggests getting married before heading to college. Married students are considered independent from their parents (more…)
Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Reader Gabrielle wins my review copy of “Cash, Credit, and Your Finances: The Teen Years,” for her funny comment about needing the book not only for her spoiled children but her husband as well. She wrote:
My teenager, you mean my hubby. I need this for my teenage like husband! HAHA!! No, but we have two pre-teens whom my mother-in-law has spoiled to no end & ruined any attempt I have put in to teach them about money, saving, & spending when needed instead of on any little thing they can afford.
Gabrielle, I love your honesty about your kids being spoiled. It is my hope that this book helps them learn about money and the importance of saving. Although the book is aimed at teens, I’m sure your husband will also learn a couple of things. When reading the book, I was reminded I had to set money aside from my freelancing paychecks to pay for federal and state taxes when the time comes around. I’m no longer a teen but the learning never stops.
If you missed my review of the book, author Jill Russo Foster says that teaching teens about money is the key to avoiding debt. Her easy-to-read book includes information from creating a budget to avoiding identity theft. This book is the first in a series of three books on personal finances by Foster.
Gabrielle, email me to claim your prize and include an address where I can ship the book to.
If you didn’t win my review copy and would like to get the book for your teen or you’d like to brush up on the basics, Amazon has it for $15.25.
If you are the parent of a teen and have been looking for the right time to talk to him or her about money – now is the time. Jill Russo Foster, author of “Cash, Credit, and Your Finances: The Teen Years
I’ve come to believe that financial education is the key for everyone. The sooner you start learning about money and personal finance, the sooner you can take control of your own finances. This book will start you off in the right direction and teach you how to build good financial habits.
Foster, who is now in the mortgage industry, started her financial career right out of college when she began working as a bank teller in an affluent neighborhood. She recounts that most people she saw at the bank wore designer clothes, had the latest car and were also on the overdraft list.
In the book, Foster uses examples of five teens that were given her book to read and later tells of the changes they made to change their money habits. The teens’ stories and her own – she admits to having 27 credit cards at one point – make the book easy to read. Your teen will be able to relate to the teens’ stories and learn from their success and failures.
This 84-page book will teach your teen about the basics of managing their money – think allowances and babysitting money – while thinking of long term goals like saving for college and short term goals like buying an iPod. The book is divided into five chapters that are filled with worksheets and practical examples for teens to understand. The chapters include information on creating a budget, the banking system, establishing credit, strategies for paying for college, avoiding identity theft and making major purchases.
This book is the first in a series of three books on personal finances by Foster. If you would like to win a copy of “Cash, Credit, and Your Finances: The Teen Years” for your teen, leave a comment explaining why your teen needs to read this book. If you can’t wait to get a copy, you can buy it on Amazon
Buying a copy supports BargainBabe.com.
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If you missed me this morning on Martha Stewart Living radio, I talked about reducing overall expenses and deciding what is a “need” and what is a “want” item.
Absolute necessities - Send your student packing with basic toiletries like shampoo, deodorant, and toothpaste. Basic bedding and clothes are necessities, as are a few notebooks, a pencil, and a pen.
Bedding – Use sheets and pillows you already have (no one sees them, anyway) but look for a sale on a new comforter or quilt to make everything feel new. If extra long sheets are needed, send your student to college with an extra flat sheet and they can fold the corners themselves. Or, head to Target for a $10 extra-long Jersey sheet set.
If you are worried about bedbugs, buy a mattress protector but skip a pricey mattress enhancer. If the bed is not comfortable, pick up a piece of egg crate foam, which is super cheap.
Computer – Wait to buy a computer until your student arrives at school and finds out if the college has specific computer requirements. Some schools, like Wake Forest in North Carolina, give each student a free computer and color printer/scanner/copier. Wow!
Textbooks - Your student can download a free eReader app to their smart phone or computer and find free copies of classics by Jane Austin and others in the public domain. Borders alone has more than 1 million free eBooks.
Buy used textbooks – and not just from the school bookstore but on Craigslist, eBay, and Amazon. Amazon offers students get a free Amazon Prime membership, which comes with free 2-day shipping. A Prime membership usually costs $79.
Rent a text book from Chegg.com, which has a 30-day “any reason” return policy. You’ll pay about 50-70% less than buying a book outright, and you don’t have to worry about selling your books at the end of the semester.
Try swapping for textbooks on sites like BookMooch.com, but don’t expect many textbooks.
Go digital by checking the distributor’s website to see if you can purchase an electronic copy of the textbook. They save on ink, paper, and transportation, so the cost goes down significantly. A friend once got a $115 economics textbook for $40. If you can bring it on your laptop to class, then you’re set.
Kitchen - Most frosh are on a meal plan, so they don’t need anything but perhaps a coffee maker (which every garage sale across America has). For students not on a meal plan, stock up on silverware, plates, cups, appliances at the nearest Goodwill for $15-$20.
Furniture - Are you kidding me? Dorms rooms are teeny tiny and students are required to keep in their room any furniture provided by the school.
Humidifier – Send a humidifier when temps drop (assuming your student lives in a cold, dry climate). It is hard to sleep in super dry conditions and lack of sleep may make them more prone to colds and missing class. (Just a hunch on that last one.)
Buy used - Avoid getting sucked into the mentality that everything has to be new. Going to college is a special experience, but spending a lot of money outfitting a dorm doesn’t make it so. Before you head to the store, raid the attic, go to garage sales, and search Craigslist.
Let them decide - Another strategy to save is to give your student a budget and let them prioritize what to buy. Putting them in charge – while still helping find deals to stretch their dollar – may well motivate them to become savvy shoppers and help them separate “needs” versus “wants.”
Shop the dollar stores - Your student is not going to cart a lot of this stuff home every summer so there is no point in spending money on items that don’t have a lone lifetime, like a plastic shower caddy.
Create rewards for luxuries - Reward student for good grades and similar achievements with luxuries they want, like a mini fridge if they earn straight A’s.
Use coupons - But of course! Check the retailer’s website for coupons before you shop and save the ones you receive in the mail. Make sure to get toiletries on sale and use a coupon whenever possible!
Remember, if a student really needs something s/he will keep asking for it!
