by Kimberley Heit

Created on: September 25, 2008   Last Updated: January 02, 2012

Life as a college student can be a bit of a juggling act if you are struggling financially. You need to dedicate time to class and study, but also have to manage fees, supplies and general living expenses.The following are 10 tips for financially struggling students:

1. Use your student status wherever possible

A student card equals student discounts and beyond the obvious ones like transport and books there are many more up for grabs. If you really look around for student discounts you will find discounts on virtually every product or service. You can get reduced price hair salon services, a discount off computer hardware and software, fast food offers and the list goes on and on. Many shopping centers or malls now allow you to sign up for a special student privileges card. This takes the hard work out of finding which companies do or don't offer discounts because the shopping center usually provides you with a list of discounts and participating stores and many stores mail out offers to those signed up.

2. Explore all the options for completing your study

The saying goes "there's more then one way to skin a cat" and when it comes to gaining your education this is more then true. Assess all our options when it comes to funding college fees. Some people will be eligible for financial study aid or scholarships. There are federal loans with low interest rates. There are even some companies that will pay for or subsidize your tuition if you work for them in a cadet style training program. To find out what options are available to you it is a good idea to see the student financial advisor or counselor, they should have a list of all the schemes and an understanding of how they work.

3. Get a part time job with extra benefits

When it comes to supplementing your study with work don't just get any minimum wage job, look for one with extra perks that will help you save even more money. Jobs in the food industry frequently include free food which will really cut one of your basic expenses, a job in a fashion boutique might include free clothing, and some jobs even provide basic accommodation like roles in the hotel trade. If your study load is too overwhelming to work all term then work non stop in breaks. No it isn't any fun, but it won't be forever and you could try getting a summer job at a resort or somewhere you would like to visit anyway.

4. Start work in the industry you are studying in as soon as possible

As you progress with your course you will find many

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