by Suzanne Rose

Created on: June 13, 2010

Gainesville, Florida, is the scenic home to the University of Florida Gators.  This bustling college town has a lot to offer, and there are many ways to save money while you are living there.  The following are some saving techniques to consider.

Price around when looking for lodging

There are many different places that you can live in Gainesville, Florida, from on-campus dormitories to rental apartments to single family homes to townhouses you can buy.  Evaluate the different places to see where you might be able to save money.  Sometimes you can save money by moving a little further from campus.  If you drive to school anyways, then this might not make too big a difference.

Consider a roommate

A roommate can help you cut your lodging costs significantly.  There are always a lot of people looking for roommates in this town, and in the dormitories you might be placed with someone and pay a cheaper rate.  Of course, make sure you are with someone you trust and are comfortable with. 

Save money on food

There are different ways to save money on food.  A lot of college students go out to eat a lot, but you can often save money by cooking instead.  Most apartments have their own kitchens and the dormitories usually have community kitchens that you can use.  Also, you should look around for less expensive places to purchase food.  Sometimes they charge a lot of extra money at the on-campus convenience stores, for instance, and you might be able to save money by looking elsewhere.  You can also save money by purchasing store brand items instead of name brands.

Consider whether you need a car

You might be able to save a lot of money by not having a car.  Cars are very expensive between the purchase price, maintenance, gas and insurance.  A lot of things in Gainesville are close by.  You might be able to get everywhere you need without a car.

Look for less expensive stores to shop at

There is a big Wal-Mart in Gainesville that might help you get good deals.  In addition, there are many other stores that are more reasonable.  You can also try other money saving techniques such as using coupons and buying things when they are on sale or clearance. 

Many people are looking to save money any way they can in these times.  Consider the above saving techniques when living in Gainesville, Florida.

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