Most colleges automatically enroll you in their health care plan unless you opt out by showing that you already have insurance. Most employer-provided insurance policies will cover children up to the age of 21. Have your parents find out the details of their insurance plans. Chances are that they can continue to cover you while you are in college.

If you're willing to put in a little bit of cleaning, cooking or other household-type work, you can save money by living in a co-op. For students in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the Inter-Cooperative Council (ICC) has 18 houses and one apartment house in which students pay lower prices for room and board. The co-ops are owned and run by the student members rather than landlords or the university, and student members contribute a few hours of work per week to take care of cooking, cleaning and other household duties. Check with your college to see if co-ops are available. Website: http://www.icc.coop

You might not be James Bond, but if you add up the number of black tie formals and dances that you will attend over the four years of college, you'll realize that spending $300 to $400 on a tuxedo will more than pay for itself. Remember, each time you rent, you'll pay $50 to $100. Plus, you have to wake up early the next day to return the thing.

Between the ten steps of the first guide and the ten tips in this guide, you have an arsenal of money-saving tips. Pick and choose the best ones for you and you should be able to save a significant amount of money each year. More money in your pocket means less money you'll have to borrow (and less interest you'll pay after you graduate) to make college affordable. If you have more good ideas, please feel free to leave a comment and help other struggling students.

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