Are you heading to college in the fall? Maybe you hope to after high school? If so, you will need some moolah! Take a look at this list of college savings tips to avoid student loan debt.
Try ACCC’s college savings tips to avoid or minimize debt.
20 College Savings Tips to Avoid Student Education Loans
No one wants more student education loans than they need. However, many students and parents don’t truly capitalize on all the money savings trick that are out there. As you prepare for college, consider these college savings tips.
List of 20 College Savings Tips
- Avoid getting a car. Save all the money from insurance, maintenance, and gas.
- Work during the school year and summertime.
- Save your birthday and allowance money as best you can.
- Pick up odd jobs around the neighborhood or for your family.
- Ask your parents to invest some of your money for you in the stock market or a CD account.
- Buy clothing from thrift stores or swap with friends to save money but still change your wardrobe.
- Complete extra chores around the house to boost your savings.
- Consider attending a community college for two years before transferring to a larger university.
- Apply for as many scholarships as you can! But do a good job on each one to make it count.
- Participate in a club or community service to earn scholarships from the school you are applying to. This is a great way to avoid student loan debt.
- Sell video games or other valuables that you no longer use.
- Borrow movies from the library instead of going out every time.
- Serve through AmeriCorps to earn money for college.
- Consider ROTC.
- Wait a few years to apply to college and save money.
- Commute from home for two years and avoid lots of extra costs.
- Argue a case to be able to live off campus to save on living expenses.
- Attend an in-state university or college.
- Put aside tax refunds and bonuses for your child’s college fund.
- Give up your Starbucks or Dunkin in the morning and stash it away.
Make sure you avoid any personal credit card debt; don’t add to your upcoming debt load unnecessarily. Additionally, make sure you and your parents are on the same page with the plan to pay for college and what is expected of you. If you have any questions, contact your high school guidance counselor and/or your college financial aid office for specific details.
If you are struggling to pay off debt, ACCC can help. Sign up for a free credit counseling session today.
