When it comes to college travel, most college students know how to make a trip as cheap as possible. However, there are plenty of things to keep in mind as far as traveling cross country for merely nickels and dimes in the whole scheme of things. When August comes around in the United States you can definitely see the multitudes of students making their way on the highways and back roads. Their cars are identified by university bumper stickers and packed back seats. Here are a few tips for students when it comes to driving back to school:
• Watch gas prices! Especially with the way the economy has been rolling and the gas prices have been fluctuating, you can find gas prices at all different levels depending on where you are driving. If you are on a longer college journey (one that takes more then one tank of gas!) make sure you look around for the lowest prices. Even if you have a half tank of gas in your car, if you see a great deal you should stop! High gas prices can drain your wallet so be careful and wise with the ways that you fill up!
• Carpool if possible! Carpooling is a wonderful thing! As long as you can find a partner and you have room enough in your vehicle, it is a great idea to carpool. Why? You can split all the expenses 50/ 50, mainly gas! It shouldn’t be too hard to find a carpool partner because someone, somewhere around you is probably going to the same school as you. Start by looking at your old high school or local schools around you.
• Make sure your car is in good condition! If you really want to save money and keep away from accidents, it’s wise to take good care of your car. If you mess up your car you can end up paying large amounts to fix it and your chances of getting in an accident are greatly enhanced. Part of this includes getting an oil change before you leave, putting air in your tires and making sure your tires aren’t too worn down!
• Know where you are going! This is a great lesson, especially if this is your first time driving to campus. Make sure you have a map and know ahead of time which major highways you will be taking. Another good idea is to have a print out of Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps.
• Remember the tolls! Having a bag of quarters in your car makes paying tolls easier! Just five or ten dollars of quarters in the glove department will keep you from shuffling through the backseat while driving to a toll!
