As is often reported of the news, going to College and University can be expensive with many many students finding themselves in serious debt by the time they graduate, even with grants and other kinds of financial help.

Many find university difficult enough without having to manage their money and accounts.

It's a fact of life that accommodation, textbooks, food, travel, and entertainment all cost money.

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Here are 5 top tips to save money to make you finances go further.

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1. Buy Second Hand Textbooks

Â­New textbooks from university book stores can be very expensive and students have to buy many books every academic year. This can prove to be very expensive but you don't have to buy new text books as the majority of the time the previous years students text books will be identical. Many universityâ€™s or colleges will facilitate the sale of second hand books for their students, and if not have a look on Ebay. There are many bargains to be had and you could save yourself a fortune.

2. Set Up A Student Bank Account

Â­Most banks have special bank accounts for students which offer special deals to help you out, ranging from special interest rates to free overdrafts to financial advice.

You will probably be assigned a personal banker would will more then happy to help you look after your account, this is definitely a service that you should take up and getting into good habits now may save you a fortune in interest rates later.

3. Keep Accounts

Â­Keeping accounts can be a chore but it can also be one of the most valuable uses for your time you will come across. Just by keeping receipts and a basic spreadsheet to track your spending will show you where you spend your money, you might be surprised by where it goes. By keeping a record you might be able to see potential cost savings.

4. Be Careful with your Social Activities.

Â­Social activities are an important part of university and college life, but be careful as often the majority of students income go on their Social life.

Social activities tend to be expensive so you need to make sure that you don't break your budget, many venues run dedicated student nights which may be cheaper then regular nights.

Try and find cheap or free alternatives to drinking activities, many universities organise their own social clubs and activities e.g. sports and hobbies clubs, as well as cheap entertainment these clubs also provide a great way of making friends

5. Get A Job

Â­More and More students are having to take a part time job to help cover their expenses. A job might be a great idea, as not only do you start to earn an income but you will also learn useful life skills and start building a CV.

Make sure that you don't take on so many hours that it interferes with your studies and also make sure that you follow Tax Laws