Free From Broke

A Personal Finance Blog for Regular Folks

College

10 Tricks to Get Textbooks For Less Money (Because Tuition is Expensive Enough!)

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Textbooks for less money. Now that would be helpful!

When I went back to school some years ago I expected tuition to be higher, and it was.  

That wasn’t a shock, though.  I know that tuition goes up every year and how expensive it is.  I was prepared for that.

Know what shocked me?  I was shocked at how expensive textbooks had become! Let me tell you, textbooks are not cheap! Well, not for those that don’t know the tricks for cheaper textbooks.

I found that some textbooks were easily $100+, some lots more.  I quickly realized I had to figure out how to get cheaper textbooks!  Read on and you’ll see 10 tricks that can save you a LOT on your college textbooks.

Here are some great ways to save on your college textbooks and get textbooks for less:

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Setting Up Your New Freshman: How to Decorate Your Dorm Room for Less

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There are very few rites of passage bigger than the day a grown child moves out of the house and onto the college campus. 

This is the child’s first major step toward adulthood and independence, and it can be an exciting time for both parents and children.

What is not so exciting is the expense of setting up new living quarters.

Whether college students live in the dorm or in an apartment, getting settled can cost a pretty penny.  However, there are ways to curb those costs.

12+ Money Saving Tips to Furnish Your Dorm Room for Less

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How Will Your Student Loans Affect Your Credit Score?

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You’d be hard-pressed to make it through college these days without student loans.

With the cost of a post-secondary education rising each year, most people can’t afford to attend university without the help of student loans.  Even a 529 plan and a partial-tuition scholarship might not be enough to avoid student loans.

While there are many advantages to student loans, and you can get special treatment with your student loans, it’s important to understand how a student loan can affect your credit.

Since your credit score is an important part of your financial life, it’s a good idea to consider the impact of your student loans.

Student Loans And Your Credit Score

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Your Guide to College Student Credit Cards and the Best Cards Out There

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Should a college student get a credit card?  That’s certainly a heated question.

One the one hand, it’s terribly easy for a young adult to get themselves into credit card debt they may regret years after they graduate. Students loans are bad enough without other debt looming over you.

On the other hand, a credit card can be a great tool to help a college student with their cash flow as well as be a means to build up their credit history early on.  Used wisely a credit card can help a student achieve an excellent credit history and score by the time they graduate.

Sure a student can use cash or a debit card to make payments.  It’s probably a good idea most of the time.  But neither of those options help a student build up a credit history.

Once a college student hits the “real world,” and maybe even before, they may find that their credit score can be used for things as diverse as getting a job, getting a cell phone, or renting an apartment.  Building up excellent credit early on is a clear incentive to have a credit card in college.

It’s Tougher for Students to Get Credit Cards These Days

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Is Dual Enrollment In High School A Key to Lowering College Costs?

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With the escalating cost of college as well as the heavy debt load many students graduate with, parents welcome any alternative that will help reduce the cost. 

As more and more people come to this realization, there are more and more techniques to help students graduate college more quickly with a minimal amount of debt.

One of those new strategies is taking college level classes while one is still in high school.

For years, high school students have been able to take AP (advanced placement) courses, and if they pass a test, they can often opt out of that class in college.  Some students could easily shave a year off their college education if they were very motivated and not daunted by the difficult level of AP classes.

However, now, some high schools are taking this a step farther.

High Schools That Encourage Dual High School and College Enrollment

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