As stated by Market Watch, “Staying on top of loan payments, books and room and board, among other expenses, is no easy task,” said Kirk Bare, head of Wells Fargo Educational Financial Services. “We are committed to serving the financial needs of students and families by providing a choice of affordable financing options and personal financial management tools. Through our educational programs, we help our customers develop good financial habits for a lifetime.”

Wells Fargo Education Financial Services is the second largest student loan originator in the United States and serves over 2.4 million students. Wells Fargo seeks to fill in the gap where financial aid, grants and scholarships don’t fill for needed expenses while in school.

Wells Fargo recently launched “Wells Fargo Student Loans for Parents” which helps parents or other sponsors help cover a student’s education expenses. This plan makes it so the parent or other co-signer is solely responsible for the educational loan.

These programs provided by Wells Fargo help students stay on top of their finances:

• The College Combo – this features the Wells Fargo College Checking account with free access to online banking, free bill pay, debit card, ATM access, and a savings account.

• CollegeSTEPS Program – this provides information on scholarships, financial aid, and other college preparation tools.

• My Savings Plan tool – this gives students an easily viewable way to save for their goals and monitor their progress in their goals.

• My Spending Report with Budget Watch – this helps students make a budget and monitor their progress so they can save more and spend less.

Credit cards are often one of the first big financial steps new college students make, and Wells Fargo offers their customers this opportunity as well. The Wells Fargo College Card helps the new college student by establishing credit and gives them the ability to make purchases online and even rent a car if needed.

Wells Fargo also offers free financial literacy programs for their customers. Check out their Student Center and Hands on Banking programs. Each of their banking stores also have free brochures to inform their customers about financial issues as well.

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Lots of college graduates know what it’s like to exist on ramen noodles and Kool-aid during some of the tougher financial times at school. Living off the generosity of mom and dad doesn’t mean you need to go spend crazy with incidentals. In fact, a grateful child should work harder to avoid costly their parents additional funds. College students often get part time jobs to supplement their spending money and “going out” cash. Those students typically learn fast that money doesn’t grow on trees and if they want to make the fun last, there needs to be a budget on spending.

There is no reason why a kid can’t be frugal, especially in college. Here are five tips to keep more cash in your pocket on campus.

1. Live At Home – If this is an option, take it. Of course many kids worry about the cramp in their new social life but living at home throughout your college career can help save a ton of money that could be spend on further education or relocation after graduation. Plus, meals and laundry are free. For kids wishing to contribute, or for parents that want to exercise a lesson in adult responsibility, an agreement regarding monthly expenses and who pays for what is an option.

2. Ride A Bike – If it is not an absolute necessity, leave your car at home. With the rising costs of insurance, parking fees, gas, and maintenance, having a car in college isn’t very cost-effective. Get a used bicycle to get you to class or the off-campus apartments of your friends. On the bright side, no one can keep bugging you to make the beer runs.

3. Party at Home - College kids like to blow off steam and socialize. Save a lot of money by staying out of the clubs and bars and instead host a small group of friends at your place. Ask for contributions towards drinks and foods so you don’t foot the bill all on your own.

4. Look for Paid Opps – Some colleges and universities offer paid work experience in different majors. In addition to the extra spending cash, the work experience can be invaluable and looks great on a resume.

5. Flaunt the Student ID – Areas that are accustomed to a large demographic of college students will often house businesses that give discounts for various forms of entertainment, including movie theaters, restaurants, and sporting events.

6. On-Campus Entertainment – Many schools offer free or at least reasonably priced tickets to on-campus concerts and other entertainment outlets. Check the student union or informational boards for different activities that are sponsored by the college.

5 Ways to Be Frugal in College was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

Working in High School – If you work 10 or 15 hours a week during high school and save most of that money for college, you can easily wind up with $5,000 or $10,000 in a savings account before college even begins, it’s like you’re giving yourself a scholarship.

Making Scholarship Hunting a Summer Job During High-School – The summer between your junior and senior year is the time to go crazy with your college scholarship applications. If you spend the entire summer applying for scholarships, working on applications for 20 or 30 hours a week, you can easily make more than enough scholarship money to pay for school. You’ll apply for hundreds of grants and scholarships and get rejected for most of them, but many of them will say yes and help pay for your education!

Parents, Grandparents and Rich Uncles – Many students have their college education subsidized by a relative who has come out pretty well in life and can afford to help them pay for school. If you have a relative with a significant amount of money that likes you, it might not hurt to show them where you’re at financially, what college will cost, and the benefits of you going to college. If you’re going to do this, make sure to have your stuff down and make a persuasive case to your family member.

Fellowships – Many colleges and universities offer fellowships to undergraduate students which essentially allow students to go to school for free if they work for the university. For example the South Dakota Regential system pays for the tuition of students in their technology fellowship program who agree to work for 11 hours a week.

Working in College – Some students complain that they don’t have the time or the energy to work while they’re taking classes, but this is simply not the case. You’re in school for all of 15 hours a week and maybe doing homework for another 10 or 15 hours after that, leaving you plenty of time to have at least

Applying For Scholarships While in College – Don’t stop applying for scholarship after you get into college. There are plenty of scholarships which are available exclusively to juniors and seniors that are worth looking into.

Student Loans – Don’t casually borrow money to pay for your entire education, but if it takes a few thousand dollars in student loans to get through school, it’s probably worth it assuming that you can come out of college with a high-paying job afterwards that will take care of your debt. If you don’t have a clear career track ahead of you that will make you a significant amount of money, it’s probably a better idea to just not be in school than to borrow money to make it happen.

Financial Aid & Grants – There are all sorts of federal grants available to college students, especially if they don’t have parents to back them up financially. It’s always worth it to apply for financial aid even if you didn’t get any the previous year. You never know when a no-interest loan or a grant will show up!

Pick a Cheaper School – If you can’t afford the large tuition bill that a private college will provide you, there’s always the option of an public in-state school that won’t cost you anymore than $5,000 a year or $10,000 a year if you live on campus. If you absolutely have to, you can work nights and cash flow your education.

College is a very expensive five-figure proposition, but the money to pay for it is out there, you just need to reach out and grab it.

How to Pay for College (Even When it Costs $20,000 a Year). was created by and is property of American Consumer News.