College students are often portrayed as frugal, and with good reason. Many students support themselves with a limited budget while others may be living on the limited funds their parents allot them. If you're on a tight budget while you're in college, there are tricks for saving money that may reduce your chances of eating nothing but ramen noodles and mac and cheese.

Tuition Expenses

• Try looking for scholarships. You may think that you're no longer eligible for scholarships since you're a college student, but this isn't true. Your school or other foundations may offer scholarship programs that can save you loads of money on college tuition. For further information you may want to try www.findaid.org or www.college-scholarships.com.
• Shop around for student loans. Just like choosing a credit card company, you should try going to different banks to see what types of interest rates are available. You may want to choose the type of loan that begins charging you interest after you're finished with college--not the type of loan that charges you interest while you're in school.

Book Expenses

• Ask your friends if you could borrow their books. You will probably have friends who take a lot of the same courses that you do, so why not ask to use their books if they're not using them?
• Buy books from your friends. If your friend no longer wants the book, you may be able to buy it. Why would a friend sell it to you? Because you're probably going to pay more money than the bookstore would it it were sold back there.
• Check out school ads for used textbooks. Books in school classifieds are usually less than what the bookstore would charge for them. Before purchasing, make sure that the book is the correct edition that your professor will be using and check the condition of the book.
• Buy used textbooks online. Many retailers offer books at cheaper prices than school bookstores. Make sure that you have the right edition by checking the ISBN numbers. Plan ahead. Shipping may take awhile.

Food Expenses

• Look for sales. Check the local paper or flyers sent through the mail to find good deals on your favorite snacks or basic food staples.
• Share your food. If you share the food expenses with your roommate, you may be able to save some money. Just make sure that you get your fair share of the food.
• Cut back on junk food. Junk food is often expensive. Why pay so much money for something that isn't going to keep you healthy or satisfied?
• Share a meal. If you're eating out, you may want to share a meal with a friend. Many restaurants have such large portions that you can share a meal and still feel full.
• Go to restaurants that don't have waiters. Many restaurants in college towns have restaurants that have you order at the cash register and pick up the food at the counter. This type of dining allows you to save money on the tip. Plus, these restaurants often have more reasonable prices.

Entertainment Expenses

• Look for student discounts. Some restaurants, bars, movie theaters and stores offer student discounts.
• Try the matinee. Often the matinee showing is a more reasonably priced than peak or prime time hour showings.
• Cut back on electronic toys. Do you really need the latest mp3 player? Do you really need the newest game system? How often are you going to use it? These are some questions you will definitely want to consider before making a purchase.

Other Expenses

• Shop around for a reasonable cell phone plan. Try to find a plan that works best for the type of calls you make the most. Do you call your family or friends most often? Do you need a long distance plan? Do you text message often?
• Try filling your prescriptions at your school's health center. Sometimes campus health centers will fill your prescriptions for a fraction of the cost of a regular pharmacy.
• See a doctor on campus. If you feel sick, you may want to consider seeing a doctor or a nurse practitioner on campus. These services are often free.
• Bike, walk or take the bus to school. These alternatives may help you save money on gas and alleviate some of the stress you may experience trying to park on campus.
• Go to the on-campus gym. Access to this gym equipment is usually free. If you want to take group classes, however, be prepared to pay a fee.

For more helpful tips on saving money while in college, visit www.youngmoney.com. With any luck, these tips will help you stretch your budget just a little bit further.