Software can be expensive when you’re a college student and when you don’t have any money to buy it, it just makes things worse off for you.  Believe it or not, there are many ways to get software products for free or even close to it.  I’ve compiled a few tips you can use in order to get the best deal on the software you’re looking to buy.

Be cheap – use the school.  Every school has a library or some sort of resource center.  In these centers, you’ll be able to access the computers.  You’ll be able to have access to word, Internet explorer, etc.  No matter what kind of software you need, I’m sure the computers will have it.  If not, ask a teacher to see if any of the classrooms have the software you need.

Always shop – Never ever buy your college software at the college bookstore.  Instead, try and do your research online.  Use websites like PriceGrabber.com, where you can put in the software title you’re looking for and it’ll come back with the prices from various retailers.  Just by using this service alone, you’ll be able to save up to 75%.  If you do buy your software online, make sure you always look for the student version.  The student version is generally the same as the regular version but will cost a lot less.

Try alternatives – Instead of using Microsoft Office, try using free alternatives like OpenOffice.  OpenOffice is a great free alternative that is just as good as Office.  Try and look for free alternatives when looking for software.  Chances are that there will be a free version out there.

Use Ebay – Ebayis a great resource to use when you’re looking to purchase used software.  A lot of the times, you can find used pieces of software for a very low price.  Be careful though because sometimes you may find that scammers will send you a burned copy that may not work or a serial code that’s invalid.  Ebay can be great depending on how you use it.

Saving on software isn’t hard.  Compare and do your research when you’re looking to buy the software.  A lot of the times, you may not even need to buy it if your school already has it.  The best bet is just to stay after class and use the computers for free.  Just remember, if you’re going to end up purchasing the software, make sure you always get the student version.