I talked earlier about what you need and what you THINK you need at college.
The difference? Let’s see...
Take the basics – food and shelter:
You NEED a roof over your head. Do you need a brand-spanking new apartment with amenities (and price tag) that rival those of a country club? Nope. Chances are, you’ll be required to live in campus housing for AT LEAST the first year. Don’t be discouraged. Residence halls these days are a world away from those your parents may remember (and, frankly some of them can top a country club atmosphere). Many include the niceties you’d otherwise have to pay extra for – Internet service, cable, rec centers, laundry, microwaves …those can come in handy for those late-night snacks you’ll need while studying.
Which brings me to my favorite topic – FOOD. You’re days of home-cooked meals are gone for a while, but that doesn’t mean you need to supplement with three restaurant meals a day. And I don’t mean you just have to nix the four-star meals either. Let’s take a college standard – pizza. Now, I can polish off one large with the works and not blink an eye. But how much does that set me back? About 20 bucks a pop. Let’s see, if I had a pizza every night…that’s $140 a week – whoa! $560 a month!!!! Even ONCE a week is pricey – four Friday nights equals $80 a month! That’s a lot of iTunes® to forfeit.
A few more misconceptions:
You don’t NEED to buy brand new books for class. Instead, check out the used section at you college bookstore and shop online at sites like amazon.com. An added bonus for used books? Many times they’re already covered in highlighter and marginal notes – it could save you the trouble, but don’t think you can get by with just using someone else’s work—can you say uh-oh?
You don’t NEED a car! Yes, you read that correctly. YOU DON’T NEED A CAR. (I actually don’t even have a driver’s license yet—that is a topic for another blog entry down the line.) The caveat to this is if you’re living by yourself, off-campus, and have no means of public transportation, but you could still consider a carpool, or a bike. Some campuses don’t even allow freshman to bring cars to campus, so the decision is made for you. Walk to class. This is better for the environment and for your wallet. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of your surroundings and have a better chance of discovering an impromptu Frisbee game on the quad. What better way to make friends and show your stuff in front of the ladies? And if it’s raining? Don’t worry, most schools provide bus transportation and many run off-campus routes on the weekends if you need to hit the grocery store or bank.
You don’t NEED a computer. The possible exception to this is if the nature of your major requires you to have one for special software, presentations, etc. Otherwise, utilize the library, your dorm lounge, the coffee shop, student union, or a myriad of other locations your school has equipped with this 21st century necessity so YOU don’t have to make the investment yourself. Side note: this is another great way to make friends!
All this being said, don’t think you have to live in a barren room existing on water and saltines to survive in college. What you now call sacrifices, you may later learn to appreciate. When I talk to my friends who are well into their college experiences, they say their having the best times of their lives. Is it because they’re rolling in the dough? The complete opposite! Funny how the best memories can be made from midnight runs to McDonald’s with five of your friends to order off the dollar menu when you collectively have $14.37 among you to last through the end of the week. Or raiding your roommate’s care package when he returns from a weekend at home with five of his mom’s best lasagnas.
I better get back to working on my budget. I wonder how long a package of rawhide can last me...
Woof,
Clyde
