Creative ways to save money

With tuition possibly increasing, some students are looking for new ways to save money on routine spending. The Crimson White took a look into areas where students commonly spend money and asked experts about the best ways to save money there.

Gasoline

The price of gas is constantly on the rise, and even though trading in an SUV for a small car will cut costs, it may be troublesome.

Steve Miller, a sales associate at Advance Auto Parts, said he recommends buying gas at the coolest time of day because it will be denser. Gas is sold according to volume, not density, so less gas is being pumped when it is warmer.

Miller said 147 million gallons of gas are vaporized each year in the United States. After filling the tank, make sure the cap is tight. Clicking the gas cap three times will help seal it completely, he said.

Miller said slowly accelerating from a stop, maintaining momentum and removing excess weight from the car will use less fuel. He also recommended using synthetic motor oil and using fuel injector cleaner after every oil change.

Ben Moore, a junior majoring in engineering, bought a bike to save money on gas.

"I ride my bike from my house to class," Moore said. "I didn't spend money on a parking permit this year either."

Textbooks

Textbooks can be expensive, especially for brand new books.

Communication studies professor Carol Mills said students should buy older editions of textbooks if possible.

Mills said the editions may vary in some cases, but many times the textbook companies, not the authors, are looking for ways to make money.

Mills said to compare the table of contents in the editions to see if the books contain the same material.

Participating in field trips, study abroad and internship programs can also be costly to students.

Travel

Geology professor Fred Andrus, said a tuition increase may cause students to have trouble affording trips. Trips to areas of the world such as Peru and Egypt are helpful learning experiences for students in the geology field, he said.

According to the Capstone International Web site, a semester or summer abroad will cost as much as a semester of tuition at the University.

This price does not include airfare, food or spending money for shopping and souvenirs.

Rex Carlson of the Rochester International Airport in New York said booking airfare is not always the cheapest online.

"Call a travel agent because they may know of some deals not advertised online," Carlson said. "Even though flying can be expensive, with the price of gas so high it may be cheaper than driving."

Living costs

Students who live off campus may be responsible for paying utilities, but can save money by making small changes in their house or apartment.

The Off-Campus Association helps students save money after joining. The OCA will cover deposits at Alabama Power, AlaGasCo and Tuscaloosa or Northport Water.

The OCA also provides free consultation by an attorney for members. It is $60 to join and only one person per household needs to be a member to receive benefits.

Haley Wilson, a sophomore majoring in nursing, said she tries to save money when grocery shopping.

"I make sure I am buying the cheapest brand of the item, usually the store's brand," Wilson said. "I usually save the coupons I get with my receipts from Target and use those."