By Becca Ruesch
Contributing Writer

Everyone is always looking for ways to save money, but college students in particular are finding that this is becoming a necessity. Yet having a job in college isn’t always easy to handle.

College students are working many hours these days and this could be due to an increasingly high financial need. It’s often forgotten that being in college doesn’t just mean paying a hefty tuition; textbooks, which have been known to rise to high prices, and laundry are just a couple of the expenses college students have. With so many expenses, and so little time for a job, saving money is becoming much more important.

“Budget your money and always be conscious of what you’re spending,” said Kristina Alex, an 18-year-­old first-year majoring in nutrition and dietetics. “You can also beg your mom for money if worse comes to worse.”

There are also ways to earn extra cash without having to commit to a job. Students can sell textbooks, sign up to be tutors, or sell unwanted items online. Victoria Russo, a sophomore majoring in special education and psychology, said, “Take old clothes that you don’t wear and sell them to a consignment shop.”

Students can check the local newspaper or do research online to find stores in their area that buy used clothes, books, DVDs, and much more. Many schools offer services such as tutoring or peer mentoring, and pay students who offer help in these areas. Tutoring centers do not require a lengthy time commitment, and students have found this to be one of the best ways to earn money without becoming distracted from their academic studies.

Having a bank account also plays a large role in saving money. More often than not, students have never managed their own bank account until they are in college. This can be quite an adjustment.

“When you get money, put some in your savings account and some in your checking account,” said Ali Berkman, a sophomore physical therapy major. Colleges often recommend that if students have a job, on campus or off campus, they should work no more than 10 to 15 hours per week, but this is highly unrealistic. Students are working 20 hours a week at the very minimum, according to CBS News, but some do not find it to be that much of a burden.

“I work 20 to 25 hours a week,” said Berkman. “I work late at night so it doesn’t interfere with anything, and my boss is really understanding.” Working an on­ campus job is ideal since it often requires fewer hours and will likely reduce the amount of stress, according to Laura Perna at the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). The AAUP also suggests that it is less likely that students will successfully complete their degrees when trying to meet the demands of school, work, and parents.

Whether the reason for work is to earn spending money or because it’s necessary to attend college, working too many hours a week has the same effect on everyone – stress. The cost of travelling to work, usually by the MBTA, also can add up quite quickly. The MBTA is $2.50 a ride ($2 with a Charlie Card), and if a student is commuting to work three times a week, the amount of money spent on public transportation can quickly rise.

Taking the MBTA also requires extra time in order to make sure students do not arrive late to their job. This takes more time out of the students’ day, which may cause extra stress when it comes to getting everything done. With the cost of college rising, saving and budgeting money is more essential than ever.