How to make your summer paychecks last through the fall, the College News way.

It’s almost time to head back to school. For many students, that means it’s also almost time to say goodbye to summer jobs. (If you have them). Chances are you’ll definitely be missing that paycheck a few weeks after you return to campus.

You’ll definitely want to save and spend wisely to make that money go as far as possible. With that in mind, we present four simple ways to save and spend wisely once you’re back in the dorms.

Buddy up and carpool

You should definitely walk or take public transportation as much as possible while on campus, but if you plan on heading outside of the city, then look into carpooling.

Not only will you save money on gas, as well as other minor up-keep expenses, you will also be able to spend more time with friends – even if it’s something as minor as a trip to the grocery store.

Additionally, you should consider carpooling when breaks and vacations roll around. If you and your friends live near one another, splitting the costs of driving home and back will save both of you money.

Most colleges also have some sort of a ‘travel board’ where students will inquire whether others will be heading their way or they will offer rides to those who live near them.

If you don’t mind splitting travel expenses and heading out on a road trip, then this could be a great alternative to driving alone or spending money on an airplane ticket.

Avoid ATM surcharges

ATMs are incredibly convenient, but they can also stick you with unnecessary fees if you’re not careful. If you use them enough those few extra dollars can really add up. In order to avoid those annoying extra fees, do some research and see what ATMs are available on or very near your campus.

If you’re able to locate one that is through your bank or credit union then make a conscious effort to use only that one. If there aren’t any ATMs provided by your bank or none that are conveniently located near you, then you might want to open a checking account – to use specifically at school – that is through one of the ATM’s providers.

Another option would be to find out whether your college is partnered with any banks. PNC Bank, for example, has recently joined with a number of colleges to provide students with services like direct depositing, free checking accounts and debit cards that can be used on campus and at local businesses. If your college has teamed up with a bank, then do yourself a favor and open a checking account through them.

Take advantage of campus provided computer labs

Sure, for the most part we all have our own computers and printers in our rooms or apartments, but if you anticipate having to use it more than normal for academic purposes then you should look into using the on-campus computer labs.

Not only will you save money by using college provided internet, – something that’s especially nice for those living in non-college housing – you will also save money by using college supplies. You probably were charged service fees in addition to your tuition at the start of the semester.

Those fees are used to buy and supply things like printer paper, ink, toner and other necessities that you, as a student, will probably be using throughout the semester. So, get your money’s worth and take advantage of them. You’ll be surprised at how much you’ll save by reducing the amount of ink cartridges you buy!

Find out about student-focused promotions and offers at local businesses

Although they may seem a bit annoyed with students sometimes, the local businesses in your campus town really rely on student-based business for most of the year.

Convenience stores, grocery stores and movie theaters all rely on campus-driven business and, often, they will offer special promotions and sales for college students.

A thrift store in my hometown offered a discount for customers who showed them their student ID and many restaurants and local businesses had similar offers.

Do some digging and find out through friends, classmates and the faculty whether any of your favorite retailers give breaks to college students. There may be more deals out there than you realize!

Similarly, some restaurants and shops will team up with colleges, allowing students to use their meal plan money towards their food. This is a great alternative to the same old cafeteria food and it won’t require any extra money out of pocket.