Living the life of a college student often means that you have little money to spare. Thankfully, there are some way to hold on to as much cash as you can.

• Keep track of all of the money you spend. Small purchases may not seem like much at the time, but they do add up.
• Be smart with credit cards. Charge only what you can afford to pay each money and limit the number of accounts you have to one or two.
• Take advantage of student discounts and ask around for special offers. It’s an easy way to lower your cost and often takes no more effort than flashing your school I.D.
• Avoid rent-to-own stores, pawn shops, and cashing check stores. They may give you instant gratification, but you pay a pretty penny in the long run for doing business with them.
• Steer clear of using vending machines. Spending $1 a day, every day, during a four-year degree program adds up to $1,461. Yikes!