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How to Get Free Textbooks Tips for Students

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Let's start with techniques to procure 100% free textbooks, and then move on to talking about various penny-shaving techniques.</div>
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Freebies:</div>
 
Review Copies. Publishers regularly send out gratis review or 'press' copies of books to various periodicals so as to garner some (hopefully positive) publicity for the tome in question. After procuring a list of required textbooks, you can then note their publishers and proceed to find out the mailing addresses and/or fax numbers for their publicity departments (browse their websites or call/email and ask them). For instance, Harvard University Press' site states "if you would like to request a review copy of one our books, please: Fax your request on your publication's letterhead to..." (<a href="http://hup.harvard.edu/journalists/review_copies.html" rel="nofollow">hup.harvard.edu/journalists/review_copies.html</a>). 
 
Next, design a little logo for your periodical, and write a full (<a href="http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/letters/l/bl_block_p.htm" rel="nofollow">http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/letters/l/bl_block_p.htm</a>) or modified (<a href="http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/letters/l/bl_mblock_p.htm" rel="nofollow">http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/letters/l/bl_mblock_p.htm</a>) block letter, providing a brief explanation of your periodical (target audience, numbers of subscribers, etc), as well as the request for the book(s) which are to be reviewed in an upcoming issue (don't forget to include the ISBN in your request). Keep the letter pithy and short; it shouldn't exceed one page. 
 
You can then proceed to either snail-mail or fax your request to the publisher. Unless you go the full nine yards and register a domain name that matches the name of your periodical, I wouldn't recommend emailing the publisher, as a request for a professional book coming from a yahoo account may raise a few eyebrows. 
 
After receiving your book, if you want to remain on good terms with the publisher so as to be able to request more textbooks in the future, go ahead and write a small review of the book and send it back to the publisher, complete with a little personal note attached saying something along the lines of 'here's an advance copy of the review, it'll appear in next quarter's issue!' Publishers want copies of reviews (particularly those of the positive, but not fawning, variety) to use excerpts from them in their own publicity stunts, as well as in those 'Praise For...' pages oft seen in books. 
 
[A small aside: your review copy will come with a nifty 'promo sheet' providing bullet-style points of the main features of the book. These things are literally designed for reviewers who don't get around to reading the full book anyway, so feel free to use these points in your own review. In fact, if you do a search for all reviews of a particular book, you may start noticing that many of them actually say the exact same shit verbatim...now you know why ;)]. 
 
Nota Bene: Press review copies are not the same thing as professor/instructor review copies. Many textbook publishers also offer review copies of books to instructors who are considering using the books for their courses (thereby, at least in theory, guaranteeing the publisher fuckloads of that sexy green). The catch, however, is that these review copies are often time-based trials, meaning you may have to send the book back after 60 days or so, and require you to provide all sorts of fun info like your department/university, phone number, etc. Though if you're interested in testing the waters in this area, go right ahead :) (for an example of instructor review copy offers, as opposed to the aforementioned press review copies, see <a href="http://www.sagepub.com/reviewCopy.nav" rel="nofollow">www.sagepub.com/reviewCopy.nav</a>). 
 
Shoplifted Copies. Stealing (err...liberating excess surplus or reasserting use value rights of reclaimed brainwork commodities) books is easy as shit. Beginning and aspiring shoplifters would do well to start out jacking treeware to get their game down and their confidence up. 
 
Most books do not come with any sort of electronic article surveillance (EAS) anti-theft measures. For the most part, they do not have tags both on the inside/outside like CDs or DVDs. There is, however, a relatively new craze fueled by all this recent RFID noise called source-tagging. A very small percentage of books in the market today thus potentially have a small RFID chip imbedded in their spine. This is not the same thing as the blatantly obvious magnetic strip found in library book spines (and discussed in the previous section). Chances are you will not be able to determine if the book has this spine source-tagging. 
 
The good news, though, is twofold. First of all, I have never seen or heard of a source-tagged book being out in the wild, that is to say outside of being talked about in trade publications, these contraptions are apparently not actually being used in books as of yet (note that I say in books, they are certainly already being used in DVDs, CDs, and so on), but as the technology itself exists, and is clearly being marketed for the purpose of inventory/loss prevention, this may all change very soon. This then brings us to the second piece of good news: as these source-tags are based on radio-frequencies, all one has to do to defeat them is wrap the book completely in a few layers of tin foil, or place it in a bag/backpack that is also completely lined with impermeable foil. Shoplifters call this a magic bag, physicists prefer to call it a Faraday cage. Look it up in a physics textbook you just procured :-P. Alternatively, you can just run a knife through the tag to break the circuit and render the tag impotent. 
 
Aside from the 90% of books with no protection, and the 1% (I'm pulling numbers out of a hat...which is to say my ass) of potentially source-tagged books, a small percentage of books have a primitive stick-on RF barcode sticker. These puppies typically look like so: 
 
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Figure 4. A RF barcode sticker that functions as a security device, complete with a tank circuit on its back. The tag can be made useless by breaking the circuit, for instance by slicing through the sticker with a razorblade or Xacto knife. 
 
 
The shiny circuit side is usually adhesive and is either stuck unto the inside/outside covers of the book, or simply tossed betwixt the pages, without the paper from the sticky side even being removed. In case of the former, one can easily either peel the tag off or use the aforementioned magic bag technique.  
 
In case of the latter, simply flip through the book and toss out the tags (keep in mind that there may be more than one in the same book), or—better yet—stick the tags on unsuspecting consumers to help create confusion in the store as the EAS towers start beeping each time every other shopper walks out ;). 
 
Remove the tag (if any) or foil-wrap the tome you desire, and then simply walk out holding the book by your side. One may wish to use a random receipt (that nonetheless obviously resembles those given out from the store, i.e. go fish one out of the trash outside) as a credibility prop, and either have the receipt prominently sticking out of the books, or (even better) pretend to be carefully looking over the receipt—to make sure you didn't get scammed by the store, of course!—as you walk out. 
 
Nota Bene: The advantage of lifting books from a college bookstore around the start of the semester is that the places will be crowded as all hell. The disadvantage is that this may also be the time the college wastes more of your tuition on hiring special loss prevention officers (typically uniformed so as to serve as grisly, intimidating deterrents) to watch over the college bookstore.  
 
If you're therefore feeling particularly nervous, fuck the high-stress college scene altogether and go over to your favourite retail chain with minimal-to-the-point-of-being-virtually-nonexistent security (Barnes & Noble comes to mind in the US). If the retail chain store doesn't have the particular textbooks that you need (they probably wont), you'll want to be sure to go there a few weeks before you'll actually need the books for classes or whatnot, and have them place an order for you at the store. They'll ask for a name/address/phone, all of which aren't verified, so no worries there. 
 
'Found' Copies. Walk around campus. Look around cafeteria tables, libraries, student halls/commons rooms, study kiosks, and so on. Chances are you'll find a bunch of textbooks that have been forgotten.  
 
Hell, why not have a try at the lost and found as well. Books from courses you're not taking can still be appropriated and then exchanged for cash at college book buyback events at the ends of semesters, or sold online. Want a copy of the teacher's version of the book? Stop by zir office when ze's (gotta love these 'gender-neutralizing' pronouns ;)) not around and help yourself. 
 
And yes, this involves stealing shit from your "fellow students" (all of whom are marvelous, virtuous people, may we all be so blessed as to be given the opportunity to shower in their shit...that surely goes without saying), so if you've got any moral hang-ups about this particular technique, there's plenty of others offered in this text. Simply gloss over this one and spend the time fuming about it masturbating to your Mother Teresa pics instead. 
 
Other Digital Copies. Aside from scanned books, you can also check out projects like Wikimedia's Free Textbook Project (now called Wikibooks), at <a href="http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Main_Page" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Main_Page</a>. Most "classics" used in classes that are out of copyright are also legally available from Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org), which currently has 20,000+ ebooks online. You can also take a quick look through the online databases that your school may have access to (see the free ebooks and journals section above), on the off chance that a book used in the course comes to mind. The NetLibrary database may be particularly handy if your college has a subscription to it. 
 
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Discounts:</div>
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Now that I've covered a few simple methods for procuring free textbooks, there are also a couple common sense things you can do to chop a few bucks off the cover price: 
 
'Missing' Copies. After placing a bulk order from your online vendor of choice, wait a couple days after you receive all of the package(s) for your order, and then call up customer service and start complaining. "What kinda game are you sneaky motherfuckers trying to play here? Only 11 out of my 15 books showed up, planning on sending the others any time soon?" Obviously you don't want to be quite that rude, but you do want to come off as being rightly pissed off at the merchant for fucking up your order.  
 
Adding in something along the lines of "my classes start in two days!" will also net you free overnight shipping for the 'missing' copies. It should be equally obvious that you'll only be able to pull this con once from the same company, and that it is most effective on bulk orders, where a certain percentage of bungling is only to be expected. You can then return the duplicate to a bookstore for store credit, or hawk them online or to "fellow students" (there's that term again...) for a cheaper price in exchange for some good ol' cashito. 
 
Used Copies. The used textbooks at the local college bookstore are going to be overpriced as shit, no doubt there. Visit a local used bookstore outside of the college, and you're bound to find some cheaper buys.  
 
The standard big wheelers like Amazon and B&N also offer used books, as do auction sites and sites devoted to selling used books like <a href="http://www.campusbooks.com/" rel="nofollow">www.campusbooks.com</a> or <a href="http://www.urshelf.com/" rel="nofollow">www.urshelf.com</a>. But now we're drifting off into the world of the dreadfully mundane, so time to bring this section to a close :).</div>

How to Get Free Textbooks Tips for Students

Let's start with techniques to procure 100% free textbooks, and then move on to talking about various penny-shaving techniques. ...

9/05/2015

How to Find Free Books from the Library BlackHat Tricks

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Library books are often tagged with a thin metallic strip, typically found either betwixt the book's original spine and library's cover (see the accompanying images), or glued alongside the pages on the inside of the book, in the margins. In case of the former, jam a pen or a small Xacto knife into the gap between the covers, and pry the strip loose.  
 
It'll take you a couple minutes to get the strip out of there—a set of pliers or, better yet, tweezers will also be of great help to you in this endeavor. If, however, the strip is inside the book between the pages, chances are you'll have to cut out the page that the strip is attached to at the spine, and then after cutting out the strip from the page, tape the page back in. 
 
Here's some eye candy outlining the aforementioned defanging process of removing the security strip from library books: 
 
 
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Figure 1. Your everyday, run of the mill library book, complete with the standard library binding glued over the book's own cover. 
 
 
 
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Figure 2. Here you can see the metallic EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) strip between the covers. As described above, use a pen, Xacto knife blade, pliers, or tweezers to detach it. 
 
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Figure 3. And here is the security strip, post processing. It lies naked, defeated. The book is now free. 
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To locate the strip, hold a book up to the light and pear into the gap between the cover, you should see a small, slightly reflective strip. Alternatively, if the strip is between the pages on the inside, look at the edge of the book and you should see that one page seems to stick out slightly. That or simply flip through the book and look for the strip. If you feel that you've thoroughly glanced over the book and still can't find the strip, guess what, the book just might not be tagged. Not all library books are, just like neither are all of the products in stores. 
 
If you don't feel like putzing around with all of this defanging business, consider simply tossing the desired book out of the library window and then retrieving it outside. If the book is particularly fragile, wrap it in bubble wrap and/or a towel, and use some tape to seal the deal. 
 
Oh, and the library book may also have a barcode sticker on it for cataloguing purposes. The barcode/sticker won't set off the alarm by itself (that is, unless it's got an RF tag on its back, see Figure 4 in the following section, though that's uncommon for library books), but you should peel that shit off nonetheless. Fuck barcodes.</div>

How to Find Free Books from the Library BlackHat Tricks

Library books are often tagged with a thin metallic strip, typically found either betwixt the book's original spine and library's c...

9/05/2015

How to Get Free Miscellanea from Other Students

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One of the juiciest cows to milk on campus is none other than the student zirself. Spoiled (if you attend a university you are spoiled, financial aid or scholarships notwithstanding, you're still sucking on someone's tit, so don't **king kid yourself) students often leave their belongings unattended, ripe for the picking. Here are a few prime locales and situations to exploit. 
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Libraries. Find a particularly isolated and lucrative study area where a student has that nice laptop or mp3 player you want, and wait for zir to leave the goodies unattended. A trip to the bathroom, a cell phone call, a study break, or even the succumbence into a dream realm (read: taking a nap); all present the perfect opportunity to whisk away that coveted item. 
 
Dorm rooms. Dorm rooms are routinely left unlocked. To help assure that there will be no occupants at your desired time of entry, gain access to a dormitory, press the fire alarm, and then proceed to clean out the rooms, putting the gear into a backpack and leaving through a side door. Should you actually stumble into a room that's not empty, take on the authoritative role of a resident assistant and chastise the students for not evacuating the room, proceeding to explain how remaining in a room during a fire alarm is grounds for expulsion and so on and so forth in a similar vein. 
 
Mass herd gatherings. Any social clustering is ripe for pillaging. Parties, athletic events, assemblies, nightclubs, and so on, all present various opportunities to collect unattended items. A particular item of interest to look for is the ever-present unattended purse. Take one from under the seat in an assembly, left at the side of the table at a nightclub, or from under the bleachers at a sporting event.</div>

How to Get Free Miscellanea from Other Students

One of the juiciest cows to milk on campus is none other than the student zirself. Spoiled (if you attend a university you are spoiled, fin...

9/05/2015

How To Download Free Software and Be Secure

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Free Software</div>
 
Universities often offer students free maintenance and protection software (anti-virus programs, firewalls, and so on), usually with the end-user agreement being modified to say that you must uninstall the software when you cease to be a student ;).  
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Simply browse to your college's IT department website, and look around for the student software section. You may have to enter your 'name' and the course you plan to use this software in, though you don't always have to enter a username/password as long as you're already accessing the site from within the university's network (i.e., from a library computer).  
 
Download the software, along with any necessary instructions or serial numbers, and either upload it to a public file hosting site such as <a href="http://www.mihd.net/" rel="nofollow">www.mihd.net</a> and then email the link to yourself, or put it on a flash drive or whatnot.</div>

How To Download Free Software and Be Secure

Free Software Universities often offer students free maintenance and protection software (anti-virus programs, firewalls, and so on), us...

9/05/2015

How to Get Free Internet in Your Area

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Free internet access can be procured from university libraries using at least four methods: 
 
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<li>Simply find a workstation that doesn't require a university login to access, or find one from which the previous user forgot to log out of.</li>
<li>If all computers require a login, approach the librarian and ask for a guest login/password. Some university libraries routinely issue temporary logins for guest patrons, so this should be no big deal.</li>
<li>Try unplugging the Ethernet cord from one of the library computers and plugging it into your own laptop. Alas, some universities require the registration of every new MAC address with a student login/password before you can get on the university network.</li>
<li>If neither of the first three options work, you can always try the age-old technique of shoulder surfing. Just lurk behind a student as ze enters his username/password, and then login using zir credentials later on.</li>
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If you don't want to use the library computers, and the university's wired and wireless networks both require the registration of each MAC address (the hardware address of your Ethernet or wireless card) with a student's login (and you couldn't shoulder surf a legitimate student's login), what you can still do is engage in a little warwalking over by the dorm areas.  
 
Chances are that you'll stumble onto a local unprotected wireless router that someone has running in their dorm room, and that you won't need to register for, since it'll be going through the main computer of the student in question. </div>

How to Get Free Internet in Your Area

Free internet access can be procured from university libraries using at least four methods: Simply find a workstation that doesn't ...

9/04/2015

How to Get Free Photocopies

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Free Photocopies</div>
 
Unfortunately, there is no relatively straightforward way to obtain free copies as there is for free printing. There are, however, various tricks folks have done to score some free copies on different machines. Here are some hopefully helpful links and suggestions: 
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<a href="http://www.i-hacked.com/content/view/241/48/" rel="nofollow">http://www.i-hacked.com/content/view/241/48/</a> - One idea to defeat coin mechanisms is to insert the coin, quickly press the Start button on the copy machine, and then immediately hit the coin return knob. 
 
<a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/EW8JTRWKO9ERIE1UQD/" rel="nofollow">http://www.instructables.com/id/EW8JTRWKO9ERIE1UQD/</a> - Another suggestion also aimed at the coin mechanism is to short circuit the mechanism with a paperclip, MacGyver style, yo! 
 
<a href="http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/5/28/13714/7587" rel="nofollow">http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2004/5/28/13714/7587</a> - A third option is to disable the coin/card reading mechanism through the copier's software configuration interface. (Note that the interface will probably be inaccessible until you put a coin in or swipe your card the first time to unlock it). 
 
If playing around with the hardware (trying to disconnect the coin/card reader from the copier) or the software (trying to disable the copier's recognition of the reader via the configuration menus) doesn't work out, you could try searching the manufacturer's website for manuals for the copier as well as the card reader.  
 
Keep in mind that sometimes technicians leave the copier manuals inside the copier, so don't be afraid to take a quick look-see inside. As last ditch effort, call up the manufacturer of the card or coin reading mechanism and explain that you're having trouble getting the copier to interact with the device, but when you tried to disconnect it, the copier wouldn't work, and so on...Though don't expect them to just hand you the info ;). 
 
Alternatively, if you're still having absolutely no luck with the student copier, you could try to locate a different and perhaps more easily exploitable copy machine. Find the locations of various departmental offices and waltz right into one.  
 
These are surprisingly open and vacant during regular weekday hours, and it is not all too uncommon for a lazy professor to send a student to get some photocopying done for zir. It is further not at all uncommon for each department to have its own photocopy machine, complete with a departmental access card that allows for unlimited copies. Once you're in the office, simply look around for the card, which should be somewhere near the copier, if the department has one.  
 
You can take a quick glance at the names of some professors in that department from the mailboxes which will probably be nearby, so if you're questioned you'll be ready with "Professor ... asked me to copy this...zine?!"</div>

How to Get Free Photocopies

Free Photocopies Unfortunately, there is no relatively straightforward way to obtain free copies as there is for free printing. There ar...

9/04/2015

How to Get Free Printing

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Free Printing</div>
 
Many universities charge for printing by making you go through some bullshit third-party program that requires you to swipe your ID card, with the program then deducting the total cost from the account on your card. So the printing process typically looks something like this: your computer-->third-party software/payment verification-->printer.  
The obvious solution is to then cut out the middleman and make the file you want printed go straight from your computer to the printer.  
 
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This can be achieved by connecting directly to the printer in one of two ways: hooking your laptop (or the nearest library computer) up to the printer with an Ethernet cable (the one that looks like a slightly oversized phone cable), or by sending the data directly to the printer's IP address. 
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Hooking your Computer up to the Printer</div>
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Chances are the big fancy university printer will have one or more Ethernet jacks for you to plug into. Plug one end of the cord into an empty jack on the printer, and the other end into your computer's Ethernet port and on Windows the Add New Printer Wizard should pop up within a few seconds. If not, proceed to play around with the printer setup features on your operating system, as you normally would when setting up a new printer. Keep in mind that if the printer only has one Ethernet jack, and you unplug the existing cord to put yours in, you'll be knocking the printer offline and therefore others won't be able to print to it, so be sure to plug it back in when you're done. 
 
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Printing Directly to the Printer's IP Address</div>
 
The first thing you need to do is find the printer's IP address. Wobble on over to the actual printer and play around with the menu buttons on the printer until you get to a screen that says something along the lines of 'print printer configuration page,' (the exact directions vary from printer to printer, so play around with all of the menu options and you'll find it sooner or later. That, or you can always try going to the manufacturer's website and get a copy of the printer manual, which should have instructions on printing the configuration page). Once you get to the area that has the configuration settings, select that feature and the printer will print out a page listing all of its specifications. Somewhere on that page you'll see the IP address. Bingo bango! 
 
Nota Bene: Some crafty network admins (or bored students) could have password-protected the printer's menu options, so you won't be able to navigate to the configuration settings area. To get around this you can either try to reset the printer (download the printer's manual from the manufacturer's website), or you could try your luck with giving the manufacturer a call and explaining that you're locked out of the printer, so could they be ever so kind as to guide you though the reset process? ;) 
 
At any rate, after you've got the IP the next step is to setup the printer on your (or the library's) computer.  
 
On Windows systems, click on Start-->then Settings-->then Printers and Faxes-->then right-click and click on Add A Printer-->click Next-->select 'Local printer attached to this computer' not 'network printer...', and the 'Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer' should be unchecked as well-->select 'Create a new port' and under 'Type of port' pick 'Standard TCP/IP Port' and hit Next-->hit Next again (at the new 'Add Standard TCP/IP Printer Port Wizard' screen)-->Enter the printer's IP where it says 'Printer Name or IP Address' and the Port Name field should automatically be filled in-->hit Next-->hit Finish-->once the 'Add Printer Wizard' pops up, select the manufacturer and model number and hit Next to install the printer drivers-->after the drivers install, select what you want to call the printer and hit Next again-->decide if you want to share the printer with others on the same network and hit Next-->print a test page to make sure your setup worked, and click Next one more time-->Assuming your test page printed, you should now see the 'you have successfully completed the Add Printer Wizard...' screen, click Finish. Congrats, you should now be able to print directly to the printer, bypassing any third-party payment bullshit. 
 
You can find similar instructions for adding a printer via IP for Mac systems (http://itc.virginia.edu/desktop/mac/osxprinting/osxprinting.html#lpr)/*nix systems (http://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Printing_via_TCP/IP_network or perhaps http://www.inyurl.com/y4qosh) online as well. 
 
If the above instructions are too long for you (awww...:(), some manufacturers have their own specialty programs that may make the setup a wee bit easier. For instance, for HP printers you can use their Internet Printer Connection interface, located at <a href="http://www.hp.com/pond/j900a/" rel="nofollow">www.hp.com/pond/j900a/</a> (it'll require you to have Java installed, though there is an older executable file version floating around as well). 
 
Keep in mind that while your computer doesn't need to be online on the same network whilst you're installing the printer/actually printing to it, you must be connected to the internet in general in order to be able to make contact with the printer (in other words, you can do this setup from your non-university internet connection at home, so long as you actually are connected to the internet). 
 
And now that you have the printer's IP, and if the printer happens to be made by Hewlett Packard, you can play around with a little program called Hijetter (<a href="http://www.phenoelit.de/hp/" rel="nofollow">http://www.phenoelit.de/hp/</a>), which lets you mess around with the printer's environment variables, as well as change the message the printer displays (the Phenoelit folks recommended changing 'Ready' to read something like 'Insert game token' :-D). 
 
A great resource for further printer hacking (including tips on how to defeat printer passwords in some instances, as well as further instructions on setting up your computer to print directly to the printer's IP) is Irongeek's Hacking Network Printers site: <a href="http://www.irongeek.com/i.php?page=security/networkprinterhacking" rel="nofollow">http://www.irongeek.com/i.php?page=security/networkprinterhacking</a>. Give it a look. 
 
Finally, if can't get the printer's IP there may still be ways to hack the middle-man program. For instance, sandmander describes a way to transform PrintWise stations into free release station by clicking on the 'G' in the corner, entering the default login/password (admin/admin) and then manipulating the options,</div>

How to Get Free Printing

Free Printing Many universities charge for printing by making you go through some bullshit third-party program that requires you to swip...

9/04/2015

How to Get Free Furniture, Hardware, and other Crapola

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Free Furniture, Hardware, and other Crapola</div>
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Dumpster Diving. Find out when the last exams are over in the summer and all the students begin to move out. Visit the dumpsters daily that week to find heaps of discarded furniture, hardware, and other junk.  
 
Don't forget to check out the dumpsters in nearby apartments at the same time as well. (If you're interested in more info about dumpster diving, check out John Hoffman's classic The Art and Science of Dumpster Diving (as well as his sequel, Dumpster Diving. 
 
Freecycling. The Freecycling Network is a series of groups around the world consisting of folks who exchange shit that they no longer need for themselves. Members post requests or offers via online messaging boards (e.g., 'Free Couch – Come Get it!') and whoever's first to reply and express interest can come pick up the unwanted item for free. Many students are now setting up their own college-specific freecycle networks (or their differently-named equivalents, as 'freecycle' is apparently now considered a trademark or some such douchebaggery). To find out if there's a freecycle group at your local college, check out <a href="http://www.freecycle.org/" rel="nofollow">www.freecycle.org</a>. If there's not, print out a few flyers (see the free printing/copying sections below), setup a message board (like a free, albeit ad-laden, Yahoo Group), and start one the fuck up (though give it a different name to avoid any legal trouble).</div>

How to Get Free Furniture, Hardware, and other Crapola

Free Furniture, Hardware, and other Crapola Dumpster Diving . Find out when the last exams are over in the summer and all the studen...

9/04/2015

How to Get Free Schwag Tricks and Tips

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Free swag (t-shirts, hats, stickers, keychains, coupons, product samples, and other crapola) can be easily procured by writing to various companies and offering to be your local college brand whore ('product representative') for their merchandise.  
 
 
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Find a product that you have some remote interest in, then find their contact information (written on the product, or better yet, on their website), and write them a cock-slurping email about how you masturbate to their product on an hourly basis ("Gee willikers, I drink ZoomZoom energy drink like all-the-time!"), and, seeing as how you attend X university with Y amount of students, you think that it'd be a perfect opportunity for you to help promote their product.  
 
Mention that you'd therefore be all too happy to help propagate their brand by proudly sporting any t-shirts or other wearables they send you, as well as hand out samples to students. Write emails to a few companies so that you'll get more schwag, and in case some don't take you up on your generous offer.  
 
If you're sent a batch of samples to hand out, hand out a couple and snap some photos of the kids "enjoying" them to send back to headquarters, and then ask for a new batch to hand out some more. And don't fret, the address you give them to send the goodies to doesn't actually have to be on campus ;).</div>

How to Get Free Schwag Tricks and Tips

Free swag (t-shirts, hats, stickers, keychains, coupons, product samples, and other crapola) can be easily procured by writing to various ...

9/04/2015

How to Get Free Food Tricks For Student

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Let's start off by finding some shit to eat. If you can't find free food on a college campus then you really must not be keeping your eyes open. </div>
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Unfortunately, all too many schools are now forcing students into mandatory meal plans, which you can nonetheless try to weasel out of by taking one of three usual routes: a) dietary/medical restrictions (will require detailed diet plans/notes from a dietician/doctor), b) religio-cultural beliefs (will require letters from your religious/cultural 'leader'), or c) personal convictions (will require you writing a substantial letter explaining your beliefs, as well as providing supporting letters or testaments to your credibility/'the strengths of your convictions' by family members or/and former teachers).  
 
The goal of taking the third route is to point out how the food served on campus, and thus the college meal plan, is contradictory to your beliefs (perhaps something along the lines of you only supporting organic, fair trade food produced by unionized workers...). Contact whoever's responsible for your meal plans for further college-specific information. Anyway, here are a few tips on scoring some free grub, college style. 
 
Clubs. Look around any flyer boards for announcements of any upcoming club meetings. Towards the start of the semester chances are your local college will also have a club or student organization fair of sorts to get the new students interested in signing up for various clubs. Many of the clubs will have email lists on their tables, and will be all too thrilled to add your name to their spam list. Sign up for as many as possible! Each time a club meeting or activity is announced you'll then get email. More often than not, to entice more attendance, you'll also see the key words "free food." Show up, mingle, and get some free eatin'. Colleges have hundreds of different clubs, so don't worry, you'll hardly have to keep sticking to the same ones. 
 
Special Events. As long as you're looking at flyers, look for some announcing any upcoming events or speakers. Key phrases to look for include "reception to follow," "lunch to be provided," "refreshments served," and so on. Browsing to the college's website, check the online calendar for a complete list of upcoming events. There are many happenings each day, so chances are you'll stumble onto at least one that will be serving free food. Similarly, free booze can be procured by looking around for any upcoming party flyers, or the stereotypical 'wine and cheese' events (yeah, they really do have those). 
 
Deliveries. Doubtlessly you've often seen food delivery cars darting around campus from the local eateries. You've also probably noticed that many times the vehicles are left empty, as the deliver dude waits to gain entry into a dorm or is busy sprinting up the steps to the fourth floor of wherever. Simply open the car door, grab some yet-to-be-delivered goodies and take off. Can't find a delivery car around anywhere when you've got the munchies? Then up the ante a bit by trying the age old con (Abbie popularized this one in Steal This Book, available online at <a href="http://www.tenant.net/Community/steal/steal.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.tenant.net/Community/steal/steal.html</a>) of taking the liberty of calling up an order and giving a particularly inconvenient location (say, the top floor of the dorm furthest from the parking lot, or/and the address of that one kid whom you don't particularly hold in high esteem), and then raid the (hopefully unlocked) car while your dummy order is being delivered. 
 
Cafeterias. Ah, college cafeterias. Who doesn't love these delightful delicatessens serving delectable delicacies, good not only for their free food, but for free silver and dinnerware? There are essentially two types of cafeterias (pay as you enter and pay as you leave), and your techniques should, as always, be custom-tailored to suit your particular environment. 
 
Pay as you enter: If you're charged before you're allowed entry into the cafeteria, the obvious solution is to find an alternate entry point. The thing is that after eating most folks have to be able to leave, and the exits are usually left unguarded. They may, at best, be locked to anyone trying to open them from the outside, in which case you can just wait for someone to come out. If you're ever questioned, simply utter something along the lines of "I forgot my backpack," and keep walking without pause. Remember that pausing acknowledges and therefore perpetuates the illusory authority of whoever's telling you to stop in the first place... 
 
Pay as you leave. Much like you enter through the exit in pay as you enter eateries, with the pay as you leave ones you can just turn right around after getting your food and leave through the entrance. Hold an old receipt in your hand that you found lying around or in the trash as a credibility prop, and if questioned, a simple "I already paid" retort should suffice, as you once again keep walking without slowing down. You can also try to find alternate exits, such as walking through the dining hall's kitchen (don't worry about the workers in there, they (usually) don't bite) into another part of the university. Look around and explore. 
 
For both scenarios it may behoove you to find out the exact hours that the cafeteria is open, and show up in the midst of the rush hour, so as to be able to blend in with the crowd. 
 
Culinary schools. OK, not exactly free, but pretty f**king cheap. Culinary schools often offer full restaurant-quality (read: fancy as f**k), three course meals to the public for something like less than ten dollars a meal. If your local college doesn't have a culinary or cooking department, look up a specialty culinary school near you at <a href="http://www.cookingschools.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.cookingschools.com</a>, or any other similar directory you can find through your favourite search engine. Then just call them up and ask if they offer meals to the public, what times, the cost, and so on. 
 
Gardens and Co-ops. Many colleges have student-run fruit and vegetable gardens, typically being vaguely associated with the school's environmental science program or whatnot. Look around the college's website (or just keep your eyes open on campus) to see if your local college indeed has one, and then pay it a little after hours visit to get your fill of some fresh pickings. Some colleges also run food collectives or co-ops that sell organic foods, and will let you buy shit at a discount if you start volunteering for them. Though if you're interested in genuinely free co-op food, something that's not strictly college-related (and so I won't go into it in any depth), that you could check out nonetheless, is your local Food Not Bombs collective Get some cool stuff here <a href="http://www.foodnotbombs.net/" rel="nofollow">www.foodnotbombs.net</a> 
 </div>

How to Get Free Food Tricks For Student

Let's start off by finding some shit to eat. If you can't find free food on a college campus then you really must not be keeping y...

9/04/2015

How to Be Smart with Finance at Tax time

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How to Be Smart with Finance at Tax time</div>
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It's never smart to pay more taxes than you're legally required to, but to avoid doing so you need to know a little bit about the provisions of the tax laws that affect you. If you're a student or the parent of a student, there are special tax benefits you may be able to take advantage of to reduce your tax burden and put some money back in your pocket.</div>
 
 
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<li>If you're unmarried and your parents (or someone else) claim you as a dependent, you have to file a tax return if you have earned income (wages, tips, taxable scholarship and fellowship grants) of more than $4,750, unearned income (interest, dividends, capital gains) of more than $750, or if your gross income is more than $750 and exceeds your earned income by more than $250. If you worked at all during the year and had taxes withheld, file a tax return even if your income was less than $4,750. You should get back everything you paid in. Depending on how much you worked, it could be a nice chunk of change, but even if it's only a few bucks, it's yours.</li>
<li>If you find income tax returns intimidating, contact your school's business department and ask about tax assistance from accounting students, or call your local IRS office for free assistance. Call early, because the closer you get to the April 15 filing deadline, the longer it will take to get help.</li>
<li>You may be able to deduct up to $2,500 in interest expense you paid on student loans used for tuition, as long as the federal government didn't subsidize the loans. Subsidized loans are those that the federal government pays the interest on while you're in school. Be sure to use form 1040 or 1040A to qualify for the interest deduction (not form 1040EZ).</li>
<li>Check with your parents to see if they plan to claim you as a dependent on their tax return. They're entitled to do so if they pay at least half of your expenses; however, if they claim you and you also claim yourself, you'll be hearing from the IRS. Save yourself the grief by communicating with your parents about this.</li>
<li>Besides the issue of whether your parents claim you on their tax return or you claim yourself, there are other tax issues to coordinate with your parents. Because they're in a higher tax bracket, they'll benefit more from the deductions and credits that may be available to you. If that's the case, taking those yourself would be shortsighted. Why save hundreds of dollars when you could save thousands?</li>
<li>If your parents claim you as a dependent on their tax return, they receive any tax credit or deduction you may be eligible for; if nobody claims you on their return, you can take the credit or deduction yourself. Make a deal with your parents to let them take the credit but slip you some of the savings in cash.</li>
<li>If you're covered as a dependent on your parents' health insurance policy, you could be risking your eligibility if you claim yourself on your income tax return. You can't be your parents' dependent for insurance purposes and be independent for tax purposes.</li>
<li>Uncle Sam has provided three education tax credits or deductions: the Hope Scholarship, the Lifetime Learning Credit, and the Higher Education Expenses Deduction. Either you or your parents can take one of them, so read up about them so you make the choice that will save you or your parents the most money.</li>
<li>If you're eligible for the Hope Scholarship Credit, you can take a credit of up to $1,500 against your income taxes (or your parents' income taxes) for the first two years of postsecondary education (college or vocational school). You'd have to pay for at least $2,000 of qualifying education expenses with money from an account other than a Coverdell, 529 savings plan, or prepaid tuition plan, and your income (or your parents' income) must be below the threshold. See the IRS website for details.</li>
<li>If you're eligible for the Lifetime Learning Credit, you can write off 20 percent of your tuition and fees (up to $2,000) for undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree courses. To claim the full Lifetime Learning Credit on your income tax return, you'd have to pay for at least $10,000 of qualifying education expenses with money from an account other than a Coverdell, 529 savings plan, or prepaid tuition plan. Your income (or your parents' income) must be below the threshold. People of all ages can qualify for this credit.</li>
<li>You or your parents can claim either the Hope Scholarship Credit or the Lifetime Learning Credit, but not both. If necessary, consult a tax expert to find out which one will benefit you or your parents most.</li>
<li>In 2004 and 2005, if your adjusted gross income is under $65,000 (for singles) and $130,000 (for married filing jointly), you can claim your actual tuition and fees up to $4,000 under the Higher Education Expenses Deduction as long as you're enrolled in an accredited public, private, or proprietary institution above the high school level. If your income is higher than these limits, but less than $80,000 (for singles) and $160,000 (for married filing jointly), you can deduct up to $2,000.</li>
<li>To claim the Higher Education Expenses Deduction, include the total you paid for tuition and other eligible costs, up to $3,000 (in 2004) on the bottom of page 1 of your form 1040 Income Tax Return. The deduction will actually depend on your tax bracket, so your parents would probably net more of a benefit than you would, if they can claim you as a dependent.</li>
<li>If you qualify for an education tax credit or deduction, make sure you choose the one that will put the most cash back in your pocket. A tax deduction reduces the income your taxes are calculated on, but a tax credit reduces your actual tax. To help you determine your eligibility for these tax deductions and credits so you can chose the one that saves you the most money, see IRS Publication 970: Tax Benefits for Higher Education.</li>
<li>If you're still your parent's dependent for tax purposes, you're probably a legal resident of your home state, not your school's state. Make sure you know your legal residency, because that's where you'll have to file your state income tax return. If you file in the wrong state, you may end up owing taxes and having to go through the hassle of correcting and refiling tax returns.</li>
<li>Keep track of where your tuition money comes from, for tax purposes. If you take a deduction or credit on your tax return for education expenses, you can't count expenses that were paid for with money from a 529 account or Coverdell education savings account, because these accounts are already tax-free. If your tuition expenses exceed the amount paid from these accounts, you can claim the excess.</li>
<li>Know what tax benefits are available to you for education expenses. Order Publication 4: Student's Guide, Publication 508: Educational Expenses 508, and Publication 520: Scholarships and Fellowships free from the IRS and educate yourself about how to take advantage of education-related tax breaks.</li>
<li>If you're legally independent from your parents (meaning you cannot be claimed as their dependent) and earn less than the income limit, you may qualify for the Earned Income Credit, a tax credit you can receive in your income tax refund or in your paycheck on a weekto-week basis. Check IRS Publication 596 to see if you're eligible.</li>
<li>Don't overpay your taxes by claiming grants and loans as income unnecessarily. If a grant paid for room and board, it's taxable and you'll have to claim it as income on your tax return, but other grants and loans are generally not taxable. Read the fine print, and consult a tax expert if necessary.</li>
<li>If you're in a work-study program that provides a break on tuition costs, or if you work in exchange for other financial aid instead of a paycheck, the benefit to you is considered income. You'll have to claim it as income and pay taxes on it when you file your tax return. If you receive a paycheck, the income will be reported on your W-2 and taxes will be withheld as you go, so you won't have to make any adjustments on your tax return.</li>
<li>Take advantage of free electronic income tax return filing services. The IRS website has a list of providers and a description of who qualifies. Most students qualify for free use of the online software and the filing fee.</li>
<li>Don't fall for income tax refund loans, which allow you to receive an immediate short-term loan in the amount of your income tax refund, for a hefty fee. These loans typically speed up your refund by only two weeks. You can achieve the same result yourself just by filing electronically and having your refund deposited directly into your bank account.</li>
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</div>

How to Be Smart with Finance at Tax time

How to Be Smart with Finance at Tax time It's never smart to pay more taxes than you're legally required to, but to avoi...

9/03/2015

How to Get the Most Bang from Your Bank

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How to Get the Most Bang from Your Bank Tips for College Students</div>
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<li>Most banks offer four types of accounts: checking, savings, money market, and certificates of deposit. A checking account is a must for college students. A savings account is a good idea if you receive student loan money or financial aid money in a lump and will be using it over the course of the semester, or even if you just want to tuck away a little money for emergencies. Make your money work a little harder for you by choosing an account that will pay interest.</li>
<li>With a checking account, you can get an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card, which gives you instant access to your cash. Choose a bank that gives you unlimited free ATM access without any fees.</li>
<li>Some banks offer a special kind of ATM card, called a debit card, which you use to make purchases instead of using cash or a check. Using debit cards saves the expense of having checks printed and can help you control your spending. They're convenient, there are no fees, they give you instant access to your money, and they limit your spending to what you actually have in your account. This is a good thing.</li>
<li>Guard your debit card carefully, and don't leave it lying around. Some debit cards require only a signature instead of a PIN number when making a purchase. If you have this kind of card and it gets into the wrong hands, someone could forge your signature and steal your money.</li>
<li>Some banks offer free checking to students, so ask around before setting up an account. Call or visit several banks, ask about their student checking accounts, and get a list of fees, interest rates, and branch locations so you can make the choice that best suits your needs.</li>
<li>When choosing a bank, ask about fees. Some banks charge a flat monthly fee for checking accounts, some charge a fee only if your account drops below a certain minimum balance, and others charge a fee for each check you write or each deposit you make. Choose the best account based on your personal situation and how you intend to use the account. For example, if you write lots of checks, you'll want an account that has a flat fee; if you write very few, it may be cheaper to pay for each check.</li>
<li>Some checking accounts pay interest, but usually require a higher minimum balance. If you're going to have low balances at certain times of the month, it might be cheaper to pay a flat fee in order to have an account with a lower minimum balance.</li>
<li>As soon as you arrive on campus, decide on a bank and set up an account so you'll have access to your money without having to pay transfer fees from home.</li>
<li>If you're unsure how to balance your checkbook each month, record ATM transactions, or write checks, ask the bank staff to show you how. A good understanding of these activities can prevent you from making costly mistakes.</li>
<li>If you use an ATM card to access your bank account, plan ahead so you can avoid incurring ATM fees at out-of-network ATMs. Why pay money to access your own funds?</li>
<li>Don't use the ATM to check your balance or review recent transactions unless you're sure your bank doesn't charge a fee for this service. Most banks provide other methods for you to check this information, either online or through an automated telephone system.</li>
<li>If you don't have enough money in your bank account to cover a check you've written, the check will bounce (be returned by the bank for insufficient funds) and your bank will charge you a fee of $25 to $35. If you wrote the check out to a business, they'll add their fee to the bank's, for a total of up to $100 or more. To prevent this, balance your checkbook, record all your ATM withdrawals and debit card transactions, record any automatic deductions, and double-check your math in your check register.</li>
<li>Sign up for overdraft protection; then resolve not to use it except to cover you when you make an error in your checkbook. You'll be protected from bouncing checks when you do make a mistake, so you'll avoid fees for insufficient funds, which usually start at $25 per check.</li>
<li>Balance your checkbook every month. Banks do make errors. More likely, though, you'll make an error in your checkbook or forget to deduct an ATM withdrawal. Balancing your checkbook can help prevent any nasty surprises and overdrawn accounts resulting in yet more fees.</li>
<li>When balancing your checkbook, be sure to add any interest you earned to your checkbook register balance and deduct any fees so your checkbook register is always up to date. Even being off a dollar can result in bounced checks.</li>
<li>You've heard the dumb blond joke: "I can't be overdrawn on my bank account. I still have checks left!" Just because you have checks doesn't mean you have money in your account, so keep your checkbook register up to date and know how much you have in your account before writing a check, using your debit card, or making a withdrawal.</li>
<li>When writing a check, fill in all of the blank spaces and draw a line through the blank unused portion. Write the check amount as a number in the box provided, and spell it out on the long line below. These precautions will help prevent your check amounts from being altered.</li>
<li>Always sign your checks as you write them. Never sign a blank check. If you make a mistake, write "VOID" in large letters across the check or shred it so nobody else will be able to use it. Note the voided check in your checkbook register and write a new one to replace the one you voided.</li>
<li>Don't use an easy-to-guess personal identification number (PIN) for your ATM, like your birthday or part of your phone number or social security number. If you lose your card, it will be very easy for someone to drain your bank account if they can easily guess your PIN.</li>
<li>Never give your bank account number or other information printed on your checks to anyone over the phone. They can use the information to fraudulently remove money from your account by submitting what's known as an electronic (paperless) check.</li>
<li>Question your bank's fees. They may seem like small potatoes, but they're big business for banks. If your bank charges a fee for a certain service, make sure it's something you really need, even if it's only a few dollars a month.</li>
<li>If your bank charges you to talk to a live teller, change banks. Originally, ATMs were supposed to save banks money by letting you do simple banking without using a live teller; then banks started charging fees to use the ATM. Now some banks are charging a fee if you use a live teller. Never pay a fee to access your own money.</li>
<li>Online banking makes it easy to keep your checkbook register up-to-date because you can quickly scan the recent activity in your account and spot any ATM withdrawals or debit card purchases you forgot to record. Don't rely solely on your online balance, though, because checks you've written may not have cleared yet, so your balance is rarely what shows up online.</li>
<li>Don't pay bank fees for check printing. Your bank will give you a small supply of starter checks. Order additional checks from a discount check printer for a fraction of the cost. Try Checks Unlimited (www.checksunlimited.com) at 1-800-204-2244, Checks in the Mail (www.checksinthemail.com) at 1-800-733-4443, or CheckWorks (www.checkworks.com) at 1-800-9714223.</li>
<li>Avoid using nonbank ATMs whenever possible. Scammers sometimes install scanning devices in ATMs that track your PIN and account numbers. The scammers then remove all the money from your account.</li>
<li>Never write your PIN number in a conspicuous place or give the number out to anyone. It's like giving them a license to steal from you.</li>
<li>Make sure you know whether your bankcard is a debit card or a credit card. They're used interchangeably, but when you use your debit card, the money comes out of your checking account right away. If you're not aware of this, you could overdraw your account and incur a bank fee.</li>
<li>Debit cards are a great way to control your spending without carrying a lot of cash around with you, because you can only spend what you have in your checking account. This prevents the build-up of credit card debt and interest expense.</li>
<li>Just because your bank account balance shows you have enough money available to cover checks you've written or are about to write doesn't mean you won't bounce a check. Ask your bank how long they hold deposited checks before the funds are actually available to you, and then plan accordingly when writing checks or using your debit card. This will help you avoid bounced checks or overdraft fees.</li>
<li>If you bounce a check, and you've never done it before, call your bank and ask them to waive the fee. Many banks will do this for your first offense. A quick phone call is worth the potential $25 to $39 savings.</li>
<li>If you've used your credit card responsibly for at least a year, call your credit card company and ask them to lower the interest rate. Many will do so.</li>
<li>If your bank merges with or is bought by another bank, call and ask about any changes in fees and policies. You'll probably receive notices stuffed in the envelope with your bank statement, but you could easily throw these away without being aware that the bank merger could be costing you money in additional fees or higher interest rates.</li>
<li>Be sure to transfer money from your savings account to your checking account before using your debit card. If your accounts are linked, your bank may charge a fee to make this transfer for you when your checking balance is too low to cover the debit charges.</li>
<li>Keep your money in the bank, not in your pocket. It's too easy to spend impulsively when you have easy access to cash.</li>
<li>Stay away from check-cashing stores. Their fees take a bite out of your budget.</li>
<li>Take advantage of the magic of compounding. Money saved in an interest-bearing account will grow more quickly because you earn interest on both the principal and the previously earned interest. The more frequently the compounding is performed, the more money you'll end up with. Over time the difference can be significant, so don't hide your cash under your mattress or in the cookie jar.</li>
<li>Keep close tabs on the whereabouts of your ATM card and report a lost or stolen card to your bank immediately. If you report the card missing before it's used without your permission, you'll be protected against unauthorized withdrawals.</li>
<li>Before setting up a bank account in your college town, find out if there's an on campus credit union. You may get better deals on interest rates and loans, pay lower fees, and earn higher interest on deposits.</li>
<li>Bounced checks not only result in costly fees, they can show up in your credit report and may make it difficult for you to open a checking account in the future. Banks don't like customers with a history of bouncing checks.</li>
<li>By federal law, your liability for unauthorized use of your bankcard is limited to $50 if you report your card's loss within two business days, and $500 if you report the card's loss within more than two but less than 60 days. If you discover your card is missing, don't hesitate to report it.</li>
<li>"Free" checking often comes with a hidden price. The money you leave in your account to meet the minimum balance requirements for free checking could be earning interest in an interest-bearing account. If your minimum balance requirement for free checking is more than a five hundred dollars, check around for a better deal.</li>
<li>If you use a debit card, it's easy to lose track of the exact balance in your checking account unless you record the debits in your checkbook register immediately. Dipping below the minimum balance in your checking account, even for a day, can result in bank fees.</li>
<li>Don't write checks unless you have money in your checking account to fully cover them. The days of getting "float" on your money (the gap between the time you mail your payments and the time they clear your bank account) are gone, and e-checks are here to stay. Merchants send an electronic copy of your check to the bank instead of mailing it, so your checks clear much more quickly.</li>
<li>When choosing a bank, look for one that doesn't charge a fee to use any ATM or that reimburses you for fees charged by an ATM owned by another bank. This is a convenient perk because you won't have a limited number of ATMs that you can access free.</li>
<li>When choosing a bank, also compare the minimum balance requirements (if your balance falls below the minimum for even one day, you'll be charged a fee), availability and location of ATMs, hours of operation and convenient locations, availability of online banking, whether the bank pays interest on the balance in your checking account, and whether the bank is FDIC-insured.</li>
<li>If you bounce a check, be sure to record the vendor's bounced check fee and your bank's fee in your check register. Otherwise, you could get into a vicious circle of bouncing more checks and incurring additional fees.</li>
<li>Avoid using ATMs not in your bank's network. You could incur what's known as double-dipping fees, where you're charged a fee by a bank that's not in your network and a surcharge by your own bank on top of that. This can cost you as much as $4 just to withdraw a little cash from your account.</li>
<li>A little advance planning can help you avoid ATM fees. Use a debit or check card when you make purchases at stores and get cash back at the same time, instead of withdrawing cash from the ATM and incurring a fee.</li>
<li>Banks often lower fees for customers who use direct deposit, so sign up for direct deposit on any checks you receive regularly, like paychecks. Even if you already have a no-fee account, direct deposit will save you time and protect you from having your checks stolen.</li>
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How to Get the Most Bang from Your Bank

How to Get the Most Bang from Your Bank Tips for College Students Most banks offer four types of accounts: checking, savings, m...

9/03/2015

How to Cut Transportation Costs 26 Tips

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How to Cut Transportation Costs for Colleges Student</div>
 
 
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<li>Some colleges have free shuttle service on campus to help you get around easily and quickly. If yours offers this service, there's no sense in bringing a car onto campus, where you'll probably have trouble finding parking and may end up getting a parking ticket. Take advantage of the shuttle service instead.</li>
<li>If you're in the market for a car, buy used. You can get a like-new two- or three-year-old car for nearly half the price of new because cars depreciate in value so quickly the first few years.</li>
<li>Resist the urge to use your limited funds to add cool additions to your car while you're in college, like raising or lowering it, adding decals or a spoiler, getting a custom paint job, or installing a fancy CD player or stereo system. You'll end up borrowing to cover other expenses. Wait until you're out of school and have more expendable income.</li>
<li>Gasoline expands in the heat. If you buy during the cool part of the day, when gas is less dense, you'll get a little more for your money. Also know it doesn't make sense to "top off" your gas tank. When gas expands in the heat, you'll lose some down the overflow tube. Besides, those short bursts on the pump handle run up the meter but don't really deliver much gas to your tank.</li>
<li>Don't buy premium gasoline. It's considerably more expensive and only cars with high-performance engines require it. That doesn't include your Honda Civic or your VW Bug. Like most cars, they're perfectly happy with regular.</li>
<li>Check the pressure in your tires every week. Every pound of underinflation costs you 6 percent in gas efficiency. If you normally pay $60 a month for gas, and you're riding around on tires that should have pressure of 32 psi but only have 29 psi, you'll end up paying an extra $11 a month in gas.</li>
<li>College students can be sitting ducks when it comes to auto repairs. Repairs can be expensive and the auto repair industry has more than its share of rip-offs. Check around in your college town for a reputable repair shop and ask locals for recommendations before you need work done. You'll be able to act quickly when you have a problem, without the stress of finding a mechanic on short notice, and you'll reduce your chances of getting ripped-off.</li>
<li>Check your oil often and have it changed every 3,000 to 4,000 miles. It's the number one way to extend the life of your car's engine and help avoid costly repairs. If you're handy, you can do it yourself. Just be sure to use the type and weight of oil recommended by the manufacturer.</li>
<li>Learn a little about cars so you can spot small problems before they turn into big, expensive problems. Learn what looks like trouble, sounds like trouble, smells like trouble, and feels like trouble, and act promptly when these symptoms appear.</li>
<li>Stay within the speed limit. Speeding tickets are expensive in more ways than one. You'll not only get slapped with a substantial fine, you'll have a speeding ticket on your driving record, which will raise your car insurance premiums.</li>
<li>If you have a car at school, transportation may be one of your biggest expenses after tuition and room and board. Drive a gas-efficient car, not a gas-guzzler like an SUV, and keep your driving record clean to keep your insurance costs down.</li>
<li>If you're planning to rent a truck to haul your stuff to college, consider UHaul's free online bulletin board that helps you hook up with other students headed in the same direction. By sharing a truck and taking turns driving, you can save money and make the trip more enjoyable.</li>
<li>If you rent a truck to move your belongings to or from college, check with your insurance company to see if your auto policy will cover the truck. If not, be sure to sign up for the insurance offered by the truck rental company so you're protected from any liability.</li>
<li>If your car isn't covered on your parents' auto policy, shop around for auto insurance. You may be able to save hundreds of dollars a year by choosing one company over another, so get quotes from at least three.</li>
<li>Save big bucks by keeping a clean driving record. Auto insurance for anyone under twenty-five is very expensive (especially for men) and a speeding ticket or drinking violation can add thousands of dollars a year to your costs.</li>
<li>Contrary to what Detroit would have you believe, you aren't what you drive. Buy cars based on reliability, quality, safety, price, and cost to maintain, not on looks alone.</li>
<li>If you'll be buying a car to take to college, look beyond the purchase price or the monthly payment, and consider the cost of ownership. Does that model have a good repair record? Is it a gas hog? Will it cost more to insure? You might be able to afford to buy the car but not be able to afford to own it.</li>
<li>Gas has become a major expense for anybody who drives a car. Save money on gas by driving the speed limit, making smooth starts and stops, keeping your car tuned, and keeping your tires properly inflated.</li>
<li>If you buy a used car to take to college, check out its history by using an online service like www.carfax.com. Provide the car's vehicle identification number (VIN), usually found on a metal plate inside the windshield, and for a reasonable fee ($20 or so) you'll receive a history of the car's repair record. Stay away from cars that have been in serious accidents or floods, have a history of costly repairs, or have had their odometer tinkered with. Cars that were previously rental cars may not be the best choice (driven hard by many people), but leased cars are often good buys (taken care of because they have to be turned in at the end of the lease).</li>
<li>Warming up your car by letting it idle wastes nearly a quart of gas every 15 minutes and is a habit that can add up to a chunk of change over time. The engine actually warms up faster when driving than it does when idling.</li>
<li>You may be used to having a car at your disposal to get you around at home, but chances are you won't need one in college. Most campuses are compact and well laid-out, making a car unnecessary. You'll save a lot of headaches and a lot of money by leaving the car at home, at least for the first year or two.</li>
<li>Your auto insurance premiums are affected by your credit rating, so keep it squeaky clean. Pay bills on time, don't have too many credit cards, and don't max them out. You'll pay lower auto insurance premiums.</li>
<li>When buying a car, new or used, consider the total purchase price, not the monthly payments, which can look very attractive when stretched out over a longer period of time. Try to buy a car that you can pay off in three, or at the most, four years, or you could end up still making payments on a car that is worth less than you owe on it, which means you're stuck with it whether you still want it or not. You'll also pay much more interest.</li>
<li>If you decide you just can't do without your car at school, you'll save money on car insurance if you get good grades. Most major insurers offer a 25 percent discount to students under 25 who are on the Dean's List. Make sure your insurance agent knows you're a good student.</li>
<li>Leave your car at home and walk or bike whenever possible. You'll save money on gas, reduce wear and tear on your car, avoid parking tickets on campus, and keep off the infamous "freshman 15."</li>
<li>If you have a car at school, consider raising your deductible for collision coverage. If your car is more than eight years old, drop the collision coverage altogether and keep only the liability coverage. If you have an accident, your insurance will only pay the book value of the car, and after about six years, the book value on most cars is very low.</li>
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How to Cut Transportation Costs 26 Tips

How to Cut Transportation Costs for Colleges Student Some colleges have free shuttle service on campus to help you get around easi...

9/03/2015

Eight Tips for Avoiding Parking Tickets for Student

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The best way to avoid parking tickets is to avoid driving a car on campus. Walk or bike instead. Your body and your wallet will thank you for it.</div>
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Eight Tips for Avoiding Parking Tickets for Student</div>
 
 
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<li>Parking is big business in college towns. For instance, fines for parking violations at the University of Colorado at Boulder totaled nearly $1.25 million last year. This is money students can ill-afford to throw away. Know your campus parking regulations inside and out and make a concerted effort to follow them.</li>
<li>Be careful where you park in town near campus. Because parking is so often in short supply on campus, students who can't find oncampus parking try to park as close to campus as possible. Local police patrol these areas looking for parking violators. Many cities collect millions of dollars a year in student parking fines, in addition to the fines collected by the school for on-campus violations.</li>
<li>Don't park in handicapped parking spaces on campus unless you have a handicapped sticker. At $50 to $300 per occurrence, it's one of the most costly parking mistakes you can make.</li>
<li>If you hate to clock-watch, avoid metered parking spaces on campus. Some of the places you'll most likely want to park have short turnover times because they're high traffic spots (like the bookstore). If your meter runs out you could get a $15 ticket or worse.</li>
<li>The parking violations that typically carry the greatest fines are parking in a handicapped space without a valid handicapped permit, parking in the fire lane, blocking traffic, and displaying a lost, stolen, or counterfeit parking permit. If you feel forced to park in a spot you know may earn you a ticket, at least try to avoid these particular infractions.</li>
<li>If you park in the tow-away loading zone in back of campus buildings or your dorm, your chances of getting slapped with a fine are high. It's better to park farther away and walk.</li>
<li>It's bad enough to get a $15 parking ticket, but if your car is towed because of a parking violation, you could pay up to $100 in towing costs. To avoid an expensive fine, allow plenty of time when going somewhere in order to increase your chances of finding a legal parking spot.</li>
<li>If your car does get towed, make sure to retrieve it the same day. Otherwise, you'll pay not only the towing fee and parking ticket, but also an additional $25 or more per day for storage until you retrieve your car and pay your balance.</li>
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Eight Tips for Avoiding Parking Tickets for Student

The best way to avoid parking tickets is to avoid driving a car on campus. Walk or bike instead. Your body and your wallet will thank you ...

9/02/2015

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Eight Tips for Avoiding Parking Tickets for Student

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