Article by Katy Marie
For a college student, every dollar you can scrape helps toward textbooks, tuition, miscellaneous student fees, parking fees and the list runs on and on. Having the right technology is important for a successful student, but you can save money by making thoughtful choices about your technology use.
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. Delay your iPhone 3G or Blackberry Purchase. 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 have known friends and colleagues who broke their delicate iPhone in a careless moment. 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 replacing your phone or just drooling over an iPhone 3G or Blackberry, consider purchasing a basic phone until you’ve graduated. Getting the cheapest (sometimes free) phone instead of an iPhone or Blackberry with a two-year contract can save you up to 9 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. Let’s say you pay per month of a text message package up to 75 messages. Slashing that expense could save you 0.00. 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 .65 per month. Phase out your cable services and legally watch TV shows on free sites such as hulu.com. Stop paying those monthly cable fees by watching your must-watch shows on your computer and save an average of 0 per year.
Be creative with trimming your expenses. Your iPhone, Blackberry, laptop, game consoles can help you with your finances. Sell the stuff you don’t need and choose free over paid services to save some cash for college expenses.
About the Author
Based in Reno, NV, Katy Marie is a freelance writer. She graduated from University of Nevada, Reno and is no longer a starving college student. Get more information at http://www.cashforiphones.com
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