College students: How to stretch your dollar on everyday expenses

There are many things that bring college students together, making college one of the most special times of your life. You meet hundreds of peers who are in a similar place, as you try to forge your own identity and decide how you want to spend your adult life.

But there's also another uniting factor among college student - most are broke. With all that money going toward your education, covering the everyday expenses of living and leisure can become a math equation that's just as challenging as what you're studying in your classes.

While finding ways to save on life expenses is important for everyone, it's a life skill that's especially valuable to college students. Here are a few things you can do to make the little discretionary income you have go further while you're in school:

* Take advantage of student discounts. There are many businesses out there that offer deals that are available exclusively to college students. From movie and sporting event tickets to specials at restaurants and bookstores, your student ID can be the ticket to cheap entertainment.

* Be smart about your textbooks. Chances are your textbooks will only be of use during the semester you are taking the class. Renting your books instead of buying them is a great way to save a good amount of cash without making any major sacrifices. In addition to offering book rental services, CampusBookRentals.com also buys old textbooks. The online rental service also donates a portion of its profits to Operation Smile, so you can feel good about saving.

* Ditch the car for a bike. While it's tempting to keep a car to make trips home at your leisure, campus life often presents the opportunity to adopt a car-free lifestyle. Since most of the places you'll need to go will likely be close to where you are living, traveling by bicycle, foot or public transit may be easier than you think. Since owning and maintaining a car - not to mention paying for gas and parking - is one of the biggest expenses for most households, learning to live without one for a couple years will help you save more money than you could imagine.

Whether you're looking for some extra cash to put toward your education, or could just use some extra spending money, finding simple ways to save is one of the most valuable lessons you can learn when you head off to college.