Give up your cable or satellite TV. Netflix and Hulu Plus are internet TV apps (for lack of a better word) that run through your high speed internet connection (ours is through the phone company). We pay $7.99 for each service. Granted, you can't get all the programs at the time they are aired, but Hulu does broadcast episodes the following day. Some of the shows on Hulu: Bones, Grey's Anatomy, Glee, Dancing with the Stars...plus you can watch episodes you missed. No more having to tape or TiVo. By dumping DISH network, we are saving over $75 per month. You will not get your local stations (unless you have an antenna and digital converter box), but we use a radio for the news. With Netflix (mostly movies and some TV shows) and Hulu, you need to buy a box. We have a Roku that cost us $49 at Walmart. Still cheaper than satellite TV! Cable is even more expensive where we live.
Carpool to school if you can. Even if you have to drive a short distance to meet the carpool, you are cutting back on gas consumption and wear and tear on your car. For routine car repairs take the car to the local vo-tech school that has an automotive program. Most repairs are done for free (they are slow, but the jobs are 100% guaranteed and the teacher is a mechanic) or the cost of parts. Do it yourself oil changes (under $20) not too hard to do.
With the holidays coming, buy a "family" gift instead of individual gifts for each member of the family (movie tickets, restaurant certificates, etc.). Or, if you have a large family (DH is one of 7 kids...all married with kids), have everyone pick a name from a hat and buy only for that one person. (If need be you can pick more than one name so everyone gets a gift.) Cuts down on the money spent at the holidays. Don't "over" decorate. Keep it simple to save $$ and time.
Instead of going out for the evening, have a game night. Scrabble, Monopoly, Clue, Life, Uno, card games. Invite other couples over for the fun. Make it a BYO (bring your own...) or potluck. People will be very understanding and very happy that you are going to school. You'd be surprised at how much people will help.
Last, but not least...pack your lunch. Even school/hospital cafeterias can get expensive when you are eating there every day. Buy a good thermal mug (travel mug) and make your own coffee or tea each morning. Bake your own muffins, etc. before bed and they will be ready to eat in the morning.
Take frequent breaks from studying! Get up and move around...get the blood flowing to other parts of your body than your brain!
Congratulations on going back to school! Yay!!!! Best of luck!
Anita