No sooner do you settle into your dorm room than
responsibility comes pounding at your door. And responsibility
brings friends: The bursar, the financial aid office, the bank,
your credit card company, and even Uncle Sam are trying to get in
on the act. If it's the first time you've really had to handle
your own finances, juggling it all can seem a daunting task.
Whether you find a campus job to meet expenses or your parents
feed your account, managing it—and keeping yourself in the
black—is entirely your responsibility. And in a world of plastic,
your credit and ATM cards can dangerously appear like an
unlimited supply of cash—a shining beacon that lights your path
to spending nirvana, when in reality it lures you into the
economic abyss. Managing accounts and credit cards conservatively
and still having enough cash for books, going out, and the
occasional tattoo is a task that requires skill and patience.
Beware of Hidden Expenses
As if $35,000 weren't enough. In addition to tuition, fees,
and room and board costs, prepare yourself for an onslaught of
hidden fees when you arrive on campus. Chances are, you'll have
to pay up to $200 for phone installation (i.e., flipping a
switch) and service, room connection fees for Internet service,
and a post office box rental fee.
Then there are the academic costs. Expect to spend between
$200-$500 on textbooks and course packets per semester, depending
on your subjects. You can try to save money on books by hunting
down used texts, which can cost a fraction of the price of new
ones. Some campus bookstores buy back used books from students
and resell them at lower prices the following year. You can also
search for used book shops, take advantage of student book
agencies, or find upperclassmen who are willing to give (yeah,
right) or sell their books to you. These students often advertise
in school publications or post ads around campus. Other academic
costs may include a small fortune in materials fees for any art
or photography classes you might be taking. Also, if you don't
have your own printer, you'll have to factor the cost of laser
printing cards into your budget.
In addition to utilities and academic costs, basic living
costs can leave a mighty big dent in your wallet. Sooner or later
(probably later), you're going to run out of fabric softener.
Sooner or later (probably sooner), you're going to get a midnight
craving for pizza. The point is, you'll have a lot more personal
expenses and need a lot more cash than you bargained for, and
you'll need someplace bigger than your piggy bank to keep it.
Making a Budget
In addition to payment plans and loans, there's the old
money-management standby of budgeting. There are budgeting
strategies students can implement that won't affect the quality
of the college experience, but will definitely help make payments
less troublesome. When college expenses are reduced, the amount
required for a loan decreases and the amount you can afford each
month increases.
Some Tips to Get Started
When relevant or possible, consider the following budgeting
tips:
Books & Supplies
When you're in the bookstore gathering your required texts,
look for used books. Also, look at your syllabi before buying the
books on the reading list. Professors are notorious for putting
books on the list but only assigning 1 or 2 chapters for the
class. If that's the case, you may want to consider sharing with
a classmate or getting it from the library and photocopying the
relevant chapters.
Finally, at the end of your semester, sell any texts you don't
want back to the bookstore.
Room & Board
Consider sharing a dorm room, apartment, or house with a
roommate or two (or three). It may even be possible to rent a
room in a private home. If off-campus living is preferable, check
the college's housing office for reasonably priced
apartments.
If you're not on a meal plan, eat at home as much as possible
and pack a lunch instead of eating out. Use a shopping list,
avoid impulse-buying and never go shopping when hungry. In
addition, use coupons where you can and avoid the gourmet
specialty shops and convenience markets.
Transportation
Unless absolutely essential, do not own a car. If it's a
necessity, perform do-it-yourself maintenance and use the car as
sparingly as possible and try to stay on your parents' car
insurance plan.
For getting around town, take advantage of public
transportation. Many city systems offer student discounts. And
hey, walking isn't so bad, is it?
For trips home, make reservations early to get the lowest
fares. Use the services of a good travel agent who is sensitive
to students' needs and who looks for the least expensive fares.
If you're not too far away, look into train or bus service. It
tends to be significantly cheaper than flying.
Credit Cards
Like it or not, one of the first persons you'll meet on campus
will be someone handing you a credit card application. At
college, credit card solicitations are everywhere. Company
representatives have tables on campus. Applications are left in
classrooms and in public areas... There is no escape. What do you
do?
If you don't have a credit card, ask your parents. They may
have been banking at the same institution for years and may be
able to secure the best rate for you. If you're on your own, do
some research. Pay close attention to which bank is offering the
card, because terms can vary widely. For example, some banks
require that the total charges are paid off each month, while
some let a balance carry forward. Some banks also offer affinity
cards, for which benefits such as airline miles are offered. The
basic rule is, if the balance is going to be paid off every
month, choose one of the cards with no annual fee. Inversely, if
a balance is going to be carried over from month to month, choose
the card with the lowest annual percentage.
Using a credit card to pay for tuition can make sense if the
card provides additional benefits, such as airline miles. This is
true only if the account starts with a zero balance and the
entire balance is paid when the statement comes. Remember, if any
balance is carried forward, interest is charged from the date a
purchase is posted—there's no grace period.
Should You Have One?
The answer is probably yes. We recommend having one card
where, if possible, you pay off the balance at the end of each
month. When you're just starting out in the world, having a
credit card can help you establish a credit rating. Plus, it's
excellent insurance. You can't even rent a car without one. And,
in an emergency, it's a way to get cash in a hurry (although cash
advances are extremely expensive). Here again, though, having a
credit card is a responsiblity. Many students fall into the
credit card debt trap and have a hard time getting out of it.
Often, it takes years and years. So, as with any new
responsibility, take it very seriously. Spend only what you can
afford and try to pay everything off at the end of the month.
Hey, you're on your own now, you can handle it.