My 3 Favorite Tips for Saving Money on the Most Annoyingly Expensive College Essentials

Though tuition is an obvious cost of going to college, there are so many other things I have to spend money on as a college student that I didn’t think about going into my freshman year. From a list of textbooks for each class to a laptop that can keep up with your workload, college costs can really add up over four years. But, as a graduating senior, I’ve had some time to do the research and finesse ways to save on all sorts of college essentials. 

If you too are not a fan of overpriced textbooks or can’t afford the latest MacBook, trust me, I’ve been there. Here are three ways to save money on those pricey college items (maybe you can save up for that spring break trip instead!).

When you get access to your syllabus and the list of books you’ll need for a class, your first instinct may be to go to your college’s bookstore and stock up. But if you plan ahead a little bit, you can probably get them much cheaper online. Grace Khan, an English and secondary education double major at Merrimack College, says she always shops secondhand for her textbooks. Sites like eBay and SlugBooks are great for finding preowned textbooks, though you can also ask in person at your local used bookstore. 

Renting your textbooks rather than buying outright is another smart way to save some money. For this, visit sites like Chegg and eCampus. You can also check with your school’s library to see if they have copies of the book available to borrow. 

If you don’t need a physical copy of your textbook, you might even be able to get the text for free. Online sources like OER Commons or Project Gutenberg (especially great for English majors reading the classics) offer free digital access to textbooks.

Truthfully, I couldn’t survive college without a laptop. No matter what kind of classes you’re taking, your laptop is your best friend. Though the new MacBook Pro can run you a cool $1,500, there are plenty of more affordable options that work really well, too. 

I have the Lenovo Chromebook, and it’s held up beautifully for the past four years. It gets great reviews (a 4.5-star rating on Target from over 100 reviews and a 4.6-star average rating from over 800 reviewers on Best Buy at the time of writing), and you can buy it for less than $200 at Target right now. And I have friends who use the HP 14-inch laptop, which also has strong reviews (a 4.6-star average rating from over 1,200 reviews) and sells for about $190.  

Another way to save some money on a new laptop or tablet? Chase those student discounts. Back Market is a popular site for college students looking for refurbished electronics (think: everything from phones to tablets to smartwatches), and they offer a discount of $20 off of everything for students and educators — just make sure you use a valid college email address. 

Big name brands are also known for offering some amazing student discounts on laptops. Apple’s “education savings” deals give college students special rates on Mac products, and if you are unable to pay the full price upfront, they also have 12-month payment plans. For Microsoft lovers, students are eligible for a 10% discount on select laptops and tablets.      

I use all kinds of software on a regular basis, from Canva for creative projects, to Google Workspace for assignments, to Outlook for school emails. Though lots of the tools students use are free, there are also paid services that you can get for free or cheap thanks to your college status. 

As a communications student, I have to stay on top of the news, so I’m always looking for ways to access various publications. Many colleges have a subscription that grants their students free access to The New York Times (check if yours does here!), and you can speak with your library’s reference desk to see if your school has other subscriptions, like newspapers and digital databases. 

When I’m working on a creative project, I usually turn to Canva, which provides a free basic version for everyone, but some colleges are part of Canva for Campus, which lets you access all of the cool Pro features, too. If you’re a design or visual arts major of any kind, chances are you’ll need to use Adobe; if your school doesn’t offer a subscription (always check!), Adobe offers a hefty discount to students: 65% off, or $25 per month (that includes Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, and so much more). 

And of course, for my study music needs, I use Spotify Premium for Students, which gives you a first free month and $5.99 monthly rate after that. Apple Music offers the same rate for students for four years, so you can pick your preferred streaming service and get into the zone feeling good about having saved some money.

Find out how to handle your finances as if you’re a Personal Finance major with Dorm Therapy’s Don’t-Stress Guide to Saving & Spending in College.