Money, or the lack there of, occupies the minds of most students. While keeping a budget and clipping coupons are popular ways to trim costs, there are other money saving tips students can use.

Housing constitutes the most basic and costly needs in any student’s life. While the most obvious solution to this dilemma is to live at home for as long as possible, it isn’t an option for some. Sharing rent with friends can cut rent costs enormously and sometimes gets you into a nicer place to live than if you lived alone. If you can’t find friends to live with, check around for other people interested in a roommate.

Newspapers list people looking to rent out a room, as does the University Union’s ASI Office. Sacramento State also offers an off-campus housing referral Web site where students can place ads, search for a roommate or a place to live. Check it out at www.edureferral.com.

Food is just as important as housing and can get just as expensive if you’re not careful. Gina McLean, a communications studies major at Sac State, has four kids and understands just how costly food can be.

“We don’t ever go out to eat,” she said. Instead, she brings lunch to school from home.

Chris Mika, a senior graphic design major, says he buys whatever is on sale while grocery shopping. He sets aside a budget and uses money from a separate bank account to pay for food.

Tuition costs can add up, but books and a parking pass don’t come cheaply. To avoid traffic, the costs of a parking pass and gas, try riding your bike or take public transportation.

If you have a valid OneCard you can ride Regional Transit for free. If you don’t, all day passes cost $3.50. You can buy books of 11 passes for $35 or monthly passes for $60. For more information on routes and schedules you can go to Sacramento Regional Transit’s Web site at www.sacrt.com.

If you have to drive to school, you can park off campus and walk or take the free Hornet Express Shuttle. Make sure your parking space isn’t in a tow-away zone. Go to www.csus.edu/utaps for the shuttle’s routes and schedule.

Entertainment may not be a necessity, but it doesn’t have to be nonexistent because you’re poor. McLean checks the library and Longs Drugs for low-cost video rentals.

If you’re still trying to figure out why you’re broke, you may want to examine your ATM habits. Mellody Hobson at abcNEWS.com says ATM surcharges from banks that are not your own average $1.47 per transaction. Plan ahead and visit ATMs owned by your bank to eliminate surcharges.

Smokers can save a bundle if they kick the habit. Besides being bad for your health, smoking can be expensive. The average smoker spends $3,391 a year on cigarettes.Taking the time to research where your money goes and acting to save it will give you peace of mind. And with all that extra money saved up you just might be able to pay off that enormous credit-card bill!

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