Learning to Save
Does your high school age son or daughter make your bank account look like a pool draining at the end of the summer? Are you all now having to plan for financing their college career as well? Before you hyperventilate, and before your student decides that flipping burgers as a career doesn‘t seem so bad, look over a few tips here for making school finances a little more manageable, and a lot less like attaching a vacuum to your wallet.
There are many ways to keep school finances low. Take some advice from a few parents who have been there, and some students too.
The first bit of advise to the new college student is to STAY HOME! By that we do not mean, skip class and invite the whole football team to your place. We mean, if at all possible, live at home with the folks and commute to school. This can save upwards of $5000 per year of college. This may be an affront to your personal sense of independence, but think of the maturity it could show to your parents - use that point carefully. It also gives you the opportunity to have a car all the time and go to whatever events off campus you like. Some colleges do not allow dorm residents to keep a car on campus. This severely limit’s the areas in which one can attend, eh, gatherings, if you will.
If you absolutely must live on campus, there are still ways to reduce the expenses. First of all, when it comes to furnishing your room, go for a simple black and white motif, or visit the local thrift store. School finances are not endless, so the more you save when starting out, the more will that will be left towards the end - and not need to be repaid. Go retro and save big bucks for the more important things, like books and supplies.
And speaking of those books, there are some ways to save there too. Start your search early by finding out what books you will need for each class. Then research the ISBN number to find out if there are used copies, soft copies, or even e-books available. Some are even published online for free, paid for by advertising you will see on the pages. Ask around as well. If a friend just took the class you are starting, ask for their book. Remember, too, to sell back any books you buy at a time the class will be offered. If you use the clear sticky notes to highlight or make notes, your book will stay in decent condition and be worth a lot more.
Remember, there are tons of ways to save some money while attending college. Make it your mission to save the most, it’s a great habit to learn for life!