Going to college is expensive. Most advisors strongly urge all students to attend a college, but none will ever tell you that it comes cheap. Tuition prices are rising, and the cost of living is going up virtually everywhere. Parents are no longer able to give as much support to their children as they themselves have begun to struggle. However, there are many ways to save money on a college campus. We’ve compiled some tips and tricks to help you survive the college experience and to do so frugally.

The first and biggest tip is not to eat out as often as you would like. College towns are loaded with fast food restaurants because no one wants to cook, and for the most part it is hard to find the time. However, the amount of meals you can make for the same price as a meal at a fast food chain is staggering. The typical picture of a college student is him alone eating ramen in his apartment. Ramen and noodles are extremely inexpensive items. Eggs, milk, and peanut butter round out some of the cheap things you can by to stay nourished.

Another great tip is to use your campuses resources. Most offer things like free counseling, discounts on certain products, and other advantages. Some colleges even have a free bowling alley and movie theater. These places are great ways to entertain yourself without spending huge amounts of money.

A great way to save in college is to have a roommate. It may seem inconvenient, but you can save so much money versus renting a private room for the entirety of college.

Using these basic tips will get you started. There are dozens of more ways to save money on a campus. Finding new ways to save money is half the experience of college.