careernav.

Let’s face it – education does not come cheap. The cost of text books seems to be always increasing and the higher your education the more they seem to charge you. Sad when you think these books are only used for one year, but the good news is that you are able to reduce the cost of such items.

So just how can you reduce the cost of your education related costs? Read on and see how easy it can be...

1. Buy second hand text books. Many schools, universities or colleges may hold a second hand book sale yearly. You could also have the chance of selling your unwanted text books in these sales. With many text books being around the $70 - $100 mark, it is a great way to save. Also check places on the internet such as ebay. Many students place their unwanted books here. There are also discount book sites such as www.universitybookshop.com.au or www.textbooksnstuff.com.au
2. Student ID. Using your student ID card at places such as the university book shop can give you discounts on the cost of text books required. It is not always text books you can get a discount on. During researching this information we came across www.isiccard.com.au which has many businesses that offer discounts to students with a student card. Check them out.
3. Apply for a scholarship. Scholarships do not always cover those who are obtaining the highest grades. They can also cover such things as books or students from low socio-economic backgrounds. There are of course many different scholarships available to apply for. Have a look at http://australia.gov.au/topics/education-and-training/scholarships. This site gives a huge amount of information in relation to scholarships in Australia.
4. Online Education. Online courses are great for those that are not able to attend university or for those wishing to further their studies. You will have to be highly motivated to do this though. It is not always easy to just sit at home in front of the computer and do a lesson. The upside is that you can work it around your other day to day commitments. Have a look at www.open.edu.au. They have courses available in Arts, Business, Education, Health, IT, Law and Science. Well worth a look.
5. Make sure you pass! Do the hard yards and study, study, study! If you find that you have not passed then it is highly likely you will be slugged for a second time with course fees. Definitely not what you need as it will see your costs rise and will of course take you much longer to repay. Check out www.goingtouni.gov.au/Main/Quickfind/PayingForYourStudiesHELPLoans/Default.htm for all the information you need.

We would all agree that reducing the cost of education is high on the agenda. After you take out your general living expenses, there is not much left. So the more you can save the better it will be.

We wish you all the luck in your course and hope that has given you some ideas on saving those hard earned dollars.

Why not post a reply in the forum and give us your money saving tips for all your peers to read...