College students need money for more than just tuition as they head into their first semester away from home. There’s room and board, bedding, books … beer. The costs keep mounting, but they don’t always have to. Kim Clark, the senior education writer for U.S. News and World Report, revealed her tips for saving on two of the biggest wallet-busters new students face.

Textbooks
Ask any recent grad – even with the little end-of-semester present of selling back your books, this is a gigantic expense. But more publishers are offering e-books now at half price, Clark said. And textbook renting is picking up steam at many schools as well. While you won’t own it, you’re likely to save as much as a third of the sticker price. Check with your campus bookstore to see if they offer this service, or visit Chegg.com or BookRenter.com.

Computers
Another hit to your wallet is the requisite college laptop. But more schools, mostly smaller private schools, are taking note that not everyone can shell out for a new computer before school. Some include laptops with the price of tuition, others outfit new dorms with school-owned machines, and of course there’s always the trust library and computer lab.

If you do decide to buy a new computer, dig for discounts. Apple offers a student discount up to 15%, Dell offers student discounts directly through participating colleges and Hewlett-Packard has an academic purchase program available to eligible students. Click on the related links to learn more.