By Katy Marie
Every dollar counts for college students who must pay tuition and various other college-related expenses. College success requires access to computers in a technologically-oriented world, but you can save money by weighing how you use the electronics you already have.
1. Sell old electronics. If you have a broken iPhone 3G, cell phone, computer or any other electronic device, get rid of it by selling your electronic gadgets online for some cash. Online companies will take your electronics whether they work or not, mail you a check or transmit funds via your PayPal account and then recycle your electronics.
2. Hold off on the iPhone 3G or Blackberry. Between my freshman year in college to graduation day, I went through four different cell phones. I dropped two cell phones one too many times and the other two simply broke. I know friends and family to damaged their pricey iPhone in a moment of carelessness. With a disheartening crack, the iPhone met the floor or cement and the advanced iPhone 3G becomes a worthless bit of plastic. If you're salivating over the new iPhone 3G or Blackberry Bold, think about acquiring a basic cell phone until you have more funds. Getting the cheapest (sometimes free) phone instead of an iPhone or Blackberry with a two-year contract can save you up to $199 in upfront costs. Consider getting a phone with only a local coverage area or a pre-paid phone that you use only for emergencies or for finding your classmates to get that group project done.
3. Limit your text message usage. It's easy to get carried away when text messaging. Almost 80 percent of college students use text messages with the average student sending and receiving 115 messages each month, according to Campus Media Group. If you're obligated to a cell phone service contract, then save a chunk of money by limiting your text messages or eliminating your text message package altogether. Assume you pay $10 per month for sending and receiving 75 messages. Slashing that expense could save you $120.00. The alternative to "texting" brings us to our next tip.
4. Communicate with your friends by using social networks more often. What do you do if you want to save money on text messages? Get on MySpace, Twitter, Facebook or the social media network of your choice whenever you pass by the school library or computer lab. Students can still keep in touch in real time through these sites without having to pay 20 cents per text message.
5. Ditch the cable TV. In the last 13 years, cable rates have increased 122 percent to a current average of $49.65 per month. Cancel your cable services and legally watch cable TV shows, such as South Park, on the Internet for free on sites like hulu.com. Stop paying those monthly cable fees by watching your must-watch shows on your computer and save an average of $560 per year.
Be creative with trimming your expenses. Your iPhone, Blackberry, laptop, game consoles can help you with your finances. Sell what you don't need and save the money you don't need to spend to pay for college expenses.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Katy_Marie
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