Wasnt it just yesterday that my aunt helped me pack up my clothes, new comforter and PC and dropped me off at the University of California dorms? Those were the days. If they are soon to be your days, you are in for a lot of fun and change. Here are a few pointers on keeping your finances straight in the months ahead.
1. Used or rental textbooks rule. When I think of the money I dropped at the book store each quarter of college, I feel weak in the knees. Lucky for you, new sites have popped up like buyusedtextbooks.com and campusbookrentals.com. 2. Food for thought. Those 11pm pizza deliveries are pretty tempting, but man do the costs add up. For lots of first-year college students, food is included in dorm costs. That means when you eat out (or order in), you’re paying double. Cost-conscious students know the dining hall or cooking for yourself is key. 3. DIY decorations. Want something cool to hang on your new walls? Those mass produced prints arent bad, but the DIY route is a more cool and cost-conscious way to go. You can download free, cool art from the Internet and frame it at sites like this one. Other ideas: frame a poster from a show you’ve been to, have a photo you love blown up, or paint something yourself. 4. Say yes to no car. For most college-goers, especially those who live on campus, it seems that having a car is more of a pain than a luxury. Before taking your wheels to school, check out the public transportation, parking and bike situation on your campus and map out the costs of bringing your car. 5. Watch your minutes. Ah, nothing like sitting in the dorm and talking to friends and family back home, right? Right, but after moving to a new place, its easy to go way over your minutes and end up with a big, fat phone bill. Checking your minutes and sticking to free calling periods is a good way to go.
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