Work a Few Hours a Week
If you want to pick up the latest multiplayer game for a break from studying or want to head to the beach for spring break, think about getting a part-time job during the school year. Working just 10 hours a week can help put some extra cash in your checking account and may help your grades by forcing you to budget your time wisely.
It would probably even be better to use your paycheck to buy needed supplies like books or pay some of the smaller fees charged by your school so that you don't have to use loans for those expenses. And don't forget, you can always use any money earned to make monthly interest payments on your current student loans to prevent the loan amount from increasing while you're in school.
Maximize Your Course Load
Want to do one more thing to keep your loan balance from getting out of control? Be sure you're taking as many classes as you can so that you graduate on time. Does your college consider 12 hours full-time enrollment but allow you to take up to 18 hours at the same tuition cost? If so, try to make the most of that time. If your grades and schedule allows, consider taking 18 hours at a time. If you can't manage 18 hours effectively, taking 15 hours can help you stay on track for graduating in four years better than 12 hours will. And graduating in four years instead of five or more can significantly keep your loan costs down.
