If you add up the cost of tuition, room and board, books and travel expenses, there might be precious little left in your college budget for anything else. You are certainly not alone. Nobody said earning a college education is cheap, but there are ways to control your remaining funds so that they aren’t whittled down to nothing. Here’s how:

Pool resources with your roommate. Once you know with whom you will be sharing a room, call to introduce yourself and discuss what you both will be bringing to the dorm. If, for example, your roommate has plenty of furnishings, you can provide a printer or other items he or she does not have, and you’ll both save some moving in money.

Go textbook shopping online. While the campus bookstore might be a great place to check out now and then, it’s likely not going to offer the best prices on books. Websites for used books are plentiful, some even offer free shipping. Don’t forget to go back to the internet when the quarter is over and sell your books, too.

Choose the bank you’ll be using during college wisely. There are many hidden costs in having a savings or checking account, but they can be avoided in many cases. Find out if there is a limit to how many ATM transactions you can make in a month, or if there’s a penalty for letting your balance get under a certain limit. If so, move along and find a bank that is better suited for a college student’s needs.

Be very wary of credit cards. While it’s nice to have a card to use for emergencies and establish some credit along the way, using credit cards when you don’t have any money is a bad way to start your adult life. In addition to paying interest on the balance you can’t repay completely every month, there are fees for paying late and going over your limit. If you do use a credit card, open your mail right away and send payment well in advance of the monthly due date.

In addition to the above tips, student discounts are available at many movie theaters and restaurants (especially near campuses). You’ve worked hard to get to this point, do don’t be afraid to ask for a break now and then.

Ben Williams has written more than 100 articles on online degree programs, scholarships, online colleges, and how to earn college life experince credit.