A lot of students end up working full-time jobs for a while before going on to attend graduate school. They do so for many reasons - to have a chance to pay off some of their student loans before accruing more; to gain work experience; and to simply save up a nice nest egg. A lot of them also want to experience some independence after graduating with an undergraduate degree. For whatever reason, it is a good choice.

Attending graduate school can however cause students to give up their full-time salaries, which can be difficult to say the least. Under certain circumstances this is not a viable or practical option as many students have spouses, children, mortgage payments, and so on, and considering that they will be taking on more student loans - and thus more debt - to go to graduate school, giving up the income can be very difficult. With the right planning and some independent research, however, graduate students can have their cake and eat it too - so to speak.

First of all, despite everything college professors tell their students, it is important to think small. Students about to go to graduate school should closely observe any unnecessary expenses. Some things just are not going to be essential once they start attending classes again. Gym memberships can be eschewed in favor of taking advantage of college gyms, or independent exercise such as walking, running, and bicycling.

Living expenses are another way to economize. A prospective grad student can always try living on campus, which allows them to apply for the appropriate financial aid to cover that expense. If that is not feasible and the student is not married or dating - or even if he or she is - then taking on a roommate can help quite a lot. Not only are expenses shared but if the roommate attends the same school, there is always the option to study together or use essay writing service together.

Food is also away to save money. Try not to dine out every single night of the week - and certainly not for every single meal! If the student in question does not know how to look - now is the perfect opportunity to learn! Cooking one's own meals is much more cost effective, and that includes clipping coupons to help out with the cost of food. Furthermore, if there is a roommate situation going on, everyone living in the dorm, apartment, or house can take turns cooking every day - that way the responsibility does not fall on any one person, which saves everyone time in the long run.

If a student has to give up his or her full time job or has decided to attend graduate school on a full time basis, getting a small part time job is an ideal choice. There are many student friendly part time jobs designed not to take up a lot of time better spent on homework and studying. If a student can get a job that pertains to his or her major field then this is better.

It is never too early to start financial planning. As soon as a student has the first inkling that he or she wants to go back to college and attend graduate school, he or she needs to start planning. Considering a consolidation plan can help as well, and lower monthly payments means that a student will not necessarily have to ask for an enrollment deferment.