Make the Most of your Winter Break!

It can be tricky to figure out what to do between semesters. So much time and so little motivation! It may be tempting to do absolutely nothing, but that isn’t always the wisest choice. So what makes the perfect recipe for the best winter break possible?

Be Productive!

Apply for Summer Internships

Even though the days are short and (if you live somewhere cold) it’s puffy winter jacket weather, now is the time to apply for summer internships. If you’re hoping to get some insight into your future field, use this time to make some connections:

• Visit – If you’re hoping to take a peek into your future, try scheduling an office visit. Pick a few companies that you might be interested in working for in the future and ask them if you could drop in one day during the week. Make sure you ask a ton of questions, dress the part, meet as many people as possible, and follow-up with everyone!  You can find more info on “winternships” here.
• Shadow – Try shadowing someone who does what you want to do for a day. An arrangement can usually be set up on your own, through your school’s career services center, or even through a family member or friend. Use the opportunity to figure out what a typical day is like and to see if – at the end of the day – you still want to do this type of work. Read this to find out how to rock your winternship.

• Get some info – Set up an informational interview on your own or through the career services center at your school with someone in your hometown. Think of it as a stress-free opportunity to find out more about a potential career in your field. Ask questions, take notes, and don’t forget to send a thank you note afterwards!
• Be prepared – Spend a day or two working on your résumé and writing some general letters of introduction that can be handed out to potential employers. Have a few handy if you plan on going on office visits. Check out this article for advice on creating your first resume.

Make Some Money

Not the counterfeit kind. Try getting a part time job if you still have a few weeks left. Hit up the neighbors for some babysitting gigs, shovel snow (if there is any where you live), or offer some tutoring sessions. Or offer your skills to local businesses and family friends. And lots of stores hire people over the holidays—check out job search sites like careerbuilder.com or monster.com  for listings!  And here are 15 more ways to make money over winter break.

Get Organized

Do a little bit of winter cleaning – out with the old and in with the new.

“Instead of spring cleaning, clean out your closet to make room for your holiday gifts,” Kayla, a junior at Yale suggested. “And give those clothes to the Salvation Army. Good Karma may result in awesome gifts.”

You can do the same with your old books – sell as many as you can and toss or donate the rest. Make sure you go through everything first so that you don’t throw away anything important.

Original Post: http://www.hercampus.com/life/make-it-count-how-make-most-your-winter-break

11 Ways to Save Big on College Textbooks

Most college students will be returning to campus later this month, and they’ll spend an estimated average of $655 on textbooks for the school year.

That sounds low to me – more like what I’d spend in a semester as an English major a few years ago.

The National Association of College Stores says today’s prices are less than two years ago ($667) or four years ago ($702), but it’s still a lot. And $47 in savings isn’t all that comforting when you consider the average total cost of college has jumped 28.6 percent – almost $4,000 – over those same four years, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

Anything you can do to offset costs counts. So here are some strategies to save on your textbooks. Also, check out how to make the most from selling your books.

Now let’s add more details and tips…

1. Contact your professors now

Class may not start for weeks, but chances are your textbooks are already decided – professors have to give college stores advance notice so they can order copies. So email your profs and ask for the syllabus or required textbook list so you can snag the cheapest copies before your classmates get the chance.

If you know students who have had that professor before, talk to them. They might still have a copy for cheap. And the professor might say you need a certain book, but your friend who had him might tell you they only used it in class once, and there was nothing from it on the tests. But either way, before you buy…

2. Visit the campus library

Why pay anything when you can borrow it free? If you’re quick enough, you may be able to get one of the library’s precious few copies. If it’s checked out, see if you can reserve a copy that’s due back soon.

And don’t forget digital libraries. As Stacy mentioned in the video, many out-of-copyright works are available on sites such as Project Gutenberg and Bartleby.

3. Buy used

Used books have to be in decent condition for stores to resell them, so that’s not a concern. The savings can be significant, especially on an older edition. On several occasions in college, I bought used books online for less than $10 (including shipping) when the new price was $60 or more. None had significant defects (sometimes a little highlighting or writing) or were missing anything essential for the class.

4. Check rentals

Companies like Chegg, BookRenter and CampusBookRentals helped create an active market for textbook rental. Now many college bookstores offer the option, which can save a third or more over buying. (If you rent from an online store, shipping is usually covered.)

Just be aware that if the book is relevant to your major and you might reuse it, the savings might be greater by buying. It can be hard to tell whether you’ll need a book again, but if it’s by an author important to the field, the odds increase you’ll want to own. I had books overlap in different English classes, and I also reused a few books from undergrad in my graduate courses.

5. Look for digital

As the number of tablets and e-readers grows, so does the selection of digital textbooks. And you can also rent digitally. Last year, The Chronicle of Higher Education found an accounting textbook that “retails at $197 in print and $109 as an e-book, [but] would cost $57 to rent from Amazon for three months,” with the option to extend the rental or purchase it later. Amazon suggests you can save up to 80 percent with its Kindle rentals, and you don’t even need to buy a Kindle – there are compatible reading apps for computers and smartphones.

6. Compare prices

Prices can vary widely among both new and used copies, and online isn’t always cheaper. You can easily save 20 percent even on new books by comparison shopping.

At a minimum, I would suggest checking at Half.com and Amazon.com in addition to your school bookstore and any nearby off-campus competitors.

BookFinder.com, DirectTextbook.com, and TextbookPriceComparison.com can help you compare.

7. Make sure you get everything

Sometimes books are packaged with software, codes for required online access, digital content, study guides, or workbooks. If the course requires any of that stuff, make sure your copy includes it – or that you can still save by buying it separately.

8. Know the rules

Understand the refund policy when you buy, so you don’t get burned if you end up not needing a book or drop a class. Being in a hurry to open it can hurt you – unwrapped or marked books might not get you a full refund.

9. Keep receipts

Not only will you need these for returns, but you might want them for tax deductions.

10. Pay smart

Your school may offer textbook advance loans to ease you into the semester before financial aid comes in. You might also be tempted to charge books to your credit card. Both those options risk extra fees and possibly interest, so read up before you swipe or sign.

On the other hand, credit cards are smart to use for online purchases, in case there are any disputes. Just pay off the balance as quickly as possible.

11. Sell back

Digital books and rentals may save you money up front, but until they dominate the market, most textbooks will still have good resale value. For now, you ultimately keep more money in your pocket by buying used and reselling before a new edition is released. (When a new edition comes out, the value plummets – which is why you can buy old editions for so little.) But notice we say “sell,” and not “trade in.” Selling to your college store after finals is fast, but it’s not the way to get the most money back.

If you have the financial flexibility, reselling is the way to save the most. In May, we did an in-depth post on how to turn your textbooks into cash. Here’s a sample of Money Talks News writer Ricky Michalski’s analysis…

I found Chegg sells [my chemistry book] for:

• $165.49 new
• $155.49 used
• $117.99 as an e-book
• $50.99 for a rental copy

But I bought the same book used on Amazon for $75 – and when I was ready to sell it, one bookstore near my campus offered me $72 for my copy. Final price: $3 for a textbook!

Bottom line? There are tons of ways to save on textbooks, some mutually exclusive. But a little legwork can mean really big savings.

Original Post: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/11-ways-save-big-college-153713865.html;_ylt=Al9VeeZER3ffUbAOkle6_YzA34dG;_ylu=X3oDMTRob3RuZjBrBG1pdANQZXJzb25hbCBGaW5hbmNlIEVkdWNhdGlvbiBDb3N0cwRwa2cDODBiZWFkMmUtZTU2NS0zNmYxLWIxMTktMzQ2YjgyZWJjMDdhBHBvcwMzBHNlYwNNZWRpYVNlY3Rpb25MaXN0BHZlcgM5NmFiZGNjNy1lMTdlLTExZTEtOWZkZC00MjVkNzg4MWNkNjY-;_ylg=X3oDMTJlMGdwa2VtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANwZXJzb25hbGZpbmFuY2V8Y2FyZWVyLWVkdWNhdGlvbgRwdANzZWN0aW9ucw--;_ylv=3

5 Ways to Earn and Save Money on College Costs

Graduate with as much cash as possible in your wallet.

Hey readers, check out this quality post from www.thepennyhoarder.com about earning and saving in college.

If I’m lost in thought, odds are I’m thinking about how I can hoard a few extra pennies.
I try and monetize my whole day. I want to make money on my drive to work, while I’m brushing my teeth and even as I shop at the grocery store. I even try and find ways to make money while paying bills – and if there is one bill where there is money to be made, it’s with your college tuition.

Put it on a Rewards Card

Don’t use cash or a check this coming college semester. Instead, make sure you are paying with your rewards card. The average cost for public college tuition is $12,804. By using a credit card with 1% back, you’d earn nearly $130 every semester.
Even if you don’t have the money in your wallet to cover tuition, you can still take advantage of this opportunity. Most federal loan programs will refund tuition fees, even after you’ve paid them.

Pay Through a 529 Plan

529 plans are state-run investment plans that allow you to save money for college. Most states provide a tax advantage for participation by allowing you to deduct contributions from your state income taxes. They are a great way to save for college. However, you can also use them to make money while paying for your college tuition.

If you have money to pay your tuition, but have no 529 plan, it’s not too late to benefit. Simply open the account with your tuition payment and then make a withdrawal to pay tuition. By contributing any amount of money for any length of time – even a day – you should be able to claim the tax benefit and pocket the tax savings.

 

Rent Those Textbooks

We all know that visiting the college bookstore is a horribly overpriced adventure, so try renting your textbooks this year. Sites like CampusBookRentals.com can save you up to 90% on your textbooks. Plus, you won’t have to go through the hassle of trying to sell your books at the end of each semester. Truthfully, college bookstores seems to buy back fewer and fewer books each semester as many of the textbook companies have begun to churn out new additions on a yearly basis.

Most of these sites also offer free shipping, so there aren’t any fees to send your books back at the end of the semester.

Take a Federal Tax Credit

The American Opportunity tax credit was established in 2008 to help offset some of the high costs of attending college. It provides a reimbursement of up to $2,500 on your tax bill. It is even 40 percent refundable, should you owe no taxes. That translates into a potential to earn $1,000 for paying your tuition bill.
You don’t have to pay your bill out-of-pocket to claim the credit. Utilizing student loans, a 529 or plan or your rewards card will all qualify you to receive the credit.
There are a number of other Federal credits and deductions that may be taken instead of the American Opportunity tax credit. You can directly deduct up to $4,000 in tuition expenses from your taxable income. Also, there is the Lifetime Learning credit which reduces your tax bill by $2,000 to $4,000 so long as tuition is paid.

Use Student Loans and Invest Your College Savings

This option has plenty of risks of potential loss, so please consider cautiously before following this option. Given the low interest cost of government student loans, there is the opportunity to take advantage of interest arbitrage by investing your tuition savings in the stock market.
Government loans are currently set at 3.8 percent and interest is tax deductible, which lowers your interest rate by your tax rate. The stock market traditionally earns far more in capital gains. If you have money to pay your tuition bill, you can make money by putting that money in the stock market and paying your tuition with student loans. If you could earn 7 percent in the stock market and loans cost 3.8 percent, you can earn 3.2 percent in interest by investing, instead of paying your college tuition.
By going to college you stand to earn a much higher starting salary, but there’s no reason why you can’t start earning more money while paying for tuition.

Be Money Smart in College

J.D Roth, the author of getrichslowly.com, wrote this article for college students looking to make money and get rich. Enjoy.

School’s back in session, and with it come life-lessons in money management for students. But personal finance can be easy, even if you’re just starting out. You just have to know how it works. All of the following are concepts I wish I had known before heading to college.

Money Management
Now that you’re on your own, you might be tempted to spend money on all the things your parents wouldn’t let you have before. Go slow. If you play it smart, you can avoid the sort of money troubles that plague many young adults.

• Join a credit union. Don’t just sign up for a random bank giving away t-shirts or frisbees at registration. Track down a credit union in town, or do some research into online banks.
• Don’t get a credit card unless you absolutely need one. Don’t be a sucker. Those guys sitting behind the sign-up table are not there to help you. They’re there to make money.
• Avoid non-academic debt. It might seem like a good idea to put that Xbox on a credit card, but it’s not. Focus on developing good money skills with cash. Worry about credit later.
• Save and then splurge. If you decide you must have that Xbox, then save for it. Wait until you can pay cash.
• Pay your bills on time. Basic advice, but it’s surprising how many people lose track of things. If you pay your bills as they arrive, you won’t have to worry about forgetting them.

Organization and Planning
Some minimal organization will keep your finances in order. Each of these is an important adult financial skill.

• Track your spending. Use a notebook, or use Quicken if you have it. Good records will prevent you from getting overdrawn at the bank or charging more than your credit limit. This habit also allows you to detect spending patterns.
• Make a budget. It doesn’t have to be fancy. At the start of the month, estimate how much money you’ll receive and decide where needs to go. Remember: you don’t need to spend it all.
• Save your receipts. Put them in a shoebox under your bed if you must, but hold onto them. You’ll need to be able to compare them with statements at the end of the month. And some you’ll need to keep for several years.
• Guard your vital stats. Don’t give out your social security number or your credit card info except to known and trusted sources.

Campus Life
It seems like there are a hundred thing competing for your money. It’s hard to know what to do. Here are some smart ways to save money on campus.

• Buy used textbooks. You’re just going to sell them back at the end of the term. (Or end up wishing you had done so five years from now.) You don’t need new textbooks.
• Skip spring break. Forget the long road trips. You can have a lot of fun for cheap close to campus. (My college used to organize economical group trips; yours probably does, too.) You might be surprised at how fun it can be to stay on campus, too.
• Live without a car. Cars are expensive: gas, maintenance, insurance, registration, parking. Stick close to campus. Learn to use mass transit. Find a friend who has a car.
• Don’t hang out with big spenders. Some kids have parents with deep pockets. Other kids are well down the road to financial trouble. Hanging out with them can lead you to spend more than you can afford.
• Take advantage of campus activities. There’s always something to do. Attend free movie festivals. Pay a few bucks to see the local symphony every month. Support the sports teams. Attend lecture series. Get the most from your student ID!

Personal Life
Take care of yourself. Your mother isn’t around to remind you to brush your teeth. Nobody’s going to scold you for eating three bowls of Cap’n Crunch. Self-discipline is more important now than it ever has been in your life.

• Go to class. You’re in college to learn. Everyone skips now and then, but don’t make it a habit. What you learn and do now will have a profound impact on the rest of your life.
• Get involved. Staying busy staves off boredom. It also helps you build skills and form social networks that will last a lifetime. Try out for a play. Join the astronomy club. Write for the school paper. Find something that sounds fun to you and do it. Take risks!
• Stay active. A healthy body costs far less to maintain than an unhealthy body. You don’t have to do much to avoid gaining weight in college. A walk around campus each day will probably do it.
• Eat healthy. It’s possible to eat well on a small budget if you know what you’re doing.
• Limit vices. Beer, cigarettes, and pot are expensive. They also screw with your body and mind. Take it easy on the vices. There’s nothing wrong with a drink or two on Friday night, but don’t go overboard.
• Learn the art of the Cheap Date. The student’s guide to cheap dates suggests:
  • Take advantage of mother nature
  • Go for coffee
  • Use CitySearch to track down cheap food and activities
  • Attend campus events
• Have fun. Your college years will be some of the best of your life. It’s trite, but true. Make the most of them.

Decision Making
Get in the habit of making smart choices now, and you’ll develop a pattern of behavior that will stand you in good stead the rest of your life.

• Make smart choices. You can do anything you want, but you can’t do everything you want. Decide what’s important to you, and pursue that. And remember to leave time for yourself.
• When you want to buy something, ask yourself “Do I need it?” If you think you do, then wait. Don’t buy on impulse. Write the object of your desire on a piece of paper and pin it to the wall. Look at it every day for a week. If, at the end of the week, you still think you need it, then consider purchasing it.

Making Money
I’ve saved the best for last. If you can master even one of these, you’ll have a head-start on your friends. Master all four, and you’ll be on the road to wealth. No kidding.

• Spend less than you earn. Don’t earn much? Then don’t spend much. If your spending and income are roughly even, you have two choices: earn more or spend less. When I was in college, I worked as many as four jobs at once. This gave me a lot of spending cash. (Unfortunately, I didn’t do a good job with the spend less part of the equation.)
• Be an outstanding employee. Good work habits can pay enormous dividends, leading to recommendations and contacts that you can use after you’re out of school. Several of my classmates turned work-study jobs into launching pads for future careers.
• Start your own business. Can you install a hard drive? Can you strip a computer of spyware? Can you perform minor car repairs? Do you have a pickup truck you could use to haul furniture? Are you a passable guitar player? Charge cheap rates and exceed expectations. Word will spread. When you’ve built up a customer base, you can raise your rates a little. This is an awesome way to make money.
• Learn to invest. Find a discount broker and begin making regular investments. Sharebuilder is a great choice for college students. It costs only $4 to make a scheduled stock purchase, and you can invest any amount of money, even $20. Don’t obsess over the details yet. You can worry about high returns and low fees later. Right now the most important thing is to develop the investment habit. (Ad: Buy Stocks for $4 at ShareBuilder.) Ten years from now,you’ll thank yourself. If you can find a way to invest $1000 a year for the next ten years, you can set yourself up for life. No joke.

Make the most from Selling your Text books

You can quickly turn a pile of used textbooks into a pile of cash.

One of the sometimes forgotten joys of the semester ending is getting some money back by selling textbooks. However, many people don't go about this the right way. Here are some simple do's and don'ts to maximize your return from selling your textbooks.

Never sell to the campus bookstore!
The bookstore is a business looking to turn a profit from the books you sell them, they will low ball you. While it is convenient to sell to the campus bookstore, avoid it and sell directly to other students. By cutting out the middle man, you can get more of your money back on your books.

Sell offline when you can
Find out who you know is going to need your text books and try to sell directly to them. You avoid paying commissions or listing fees to any website, and the buyer avoids paying shipping.

Sell early
Timing is everything. The longer you wait after school ends to list your books online, the more other people have already listed theirs. The higher the supply of books listed means the lower your price will have to be. Listing early can also mean that summer school students will have the opportunity to buy your books. This gives you a whole group of potential buyers that you would miss if you listed your books too late. Also, you can always re-list your books for lower prices later in the summer if they don't sell immediately and other sellers make prices go down.

Sell your friends' books
Whether they are too lazy, or just don't know how, many students choose not to sell their books online and instead sell them to the school book store, and this is an opportunity for you to make some extra cash. Find out what books they have to sell, do some quick research on how much they go for online, and offer to buy each book at a price that you feel confident you will be able to make a profit. Then, when they are selling their books to the bookstore, they will hold on to any that you made a better offer on, and sell them to you instead. While this method requires some capital and taking a few risks, it requires very little of your time.


Hopefully this helps you earn a greater return on your textbooks. If you don't know how and would like to learn how to sell your textbooks online, comment on this post and I will personally walk you through it.