Whether you’re moving across the country or commuting from home, transitioning to college can bring about many changes. You’ll be on a new schedule and living in a new environment, with the freedom to enjoy different experiences by taking trips to nearby cities, sampling the best restaurants, visiting local museums and more.
It doesn’t take long to realize that the cost of college extends beyond tuition. Fortunately, with a little planning your budget can go a long way. In today’s College 101 feature, we offer some helpful tips so you can make the most out of every penny!
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Find Part-time Work
Working part time is one of the best ways to supplement your income during college. The surrounding community is a great place to start your search–check out the nearest downtown center if your campus is in a residential area. You may not even need to look further than your campus as many college departments have positions available for students. The campus library, administrative offices and even academic departments hire students for a wide variety of roles.
And if you have prior work experience, think about ways to apply it. If you’ve worked in retail, try securing a position with the campus bookstore. Wages earned from campus employment can often be applied towards tuition payments–speak with your financial aid department about work-study programs.
Figure Out Your Expenses
Concert tickets, new books each semester, the Chipotle that’s just within walking distance from one of your classes—these are all new expenses. The more time you spend at school, the more costs start to add up. Your previous budget was probably sufficient for weekend spending but now it may be time to readjust.
Try tracking your spending for one month to see where you spend the most and determine which purchases you make most frequently. This will help you figure out what it costs you for a typical week so you can plan accordingly. Identifying where you spend your money is half the battle, the rest is learning how to get the most from each dollar.
Learn to Shop Smarter
Discounted movie tickets, partnerships with local stores and restaurants, group rates for sporting events or theater trips—these are just some benefits found on college campuses. Speak with someone in the Student Activities office to learn what partnerships or special discounts they offer. Many schools also provide free access to facilities such as student gyms. In fact, once you start looking, you’ll find bargains where you’d never expect.
Amazon offers college students a discounted rate for its Prime service, plus many clothing stores as well as fast food chains provide deals with a valid student ID and the Apple Store is widely known for its student discounts. Take full advantage of the services your school offers, along with the many outside deals available to students, to get the most out of your budget.
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Anthony Muccio is a former college admissions professional and education researcher currently advising students one-on-one with his private practice. After years working at large state and small private schools, he decided to spend time focusing on helping unique learners reach their full potential.
