As a college or university student, you need some effective ways to budget your college expenses and enjoy the most of your time.
Education, whether universities or colleges, requires effective and proper planning in order to make life much easier and manageable.
Most university or college students find student life difficult mostly not because they aint brilliant or intelligent, but because they failed to plan for their expenses.
Fingers they say are not equalled; some college students come from rich homes while some have very limited amount of money probably from loans and college savings.
Some college or university students work on the college campus to earn money so that they can afford to pay for their education and other activities.
Taking student loans for your university/college education is not a bad thing but remember that you will have to pay back the loans after graduation.
The best ways to enjoy your college life is to make sure that you know what you are doing. With clever planning you may end up saving for the things you longed to do and in this way you will be able to control your expenditure.
The highest you will need is a little sacrifice and follow your budget rigidly to get rid of problems that will later follow you because of your loans and debt.
Tips On How To Budget Your College Expenses
Take note of the following tips, you might be able to save some quids and be more prudent with your money.
#1). Tuition Fee And Books
Try not to buy textbooks beforehand, make sure you find out from the college library if the textbooks you need are available. You might also want to check your second-handed or fairly used book stores near campus if you must buy textbooks.
Local library might have copies of suggested books as well, make sure you search through their online catalog as this could actually save you few quids.
#2). Utility And Room Charges
Some students don’t even stay in their dorms/hostels for long because they always travel back home …if you are one of those students that always travel during the school terms, make sure you get a shared-accommodation because sharing rooms with other students will cut down on your rent and utilities.
#3). Meals And Groceries
Most restaurants near college campus always give student discounts, eat your meals there, it will save you some money. Avoid junk food as they will spoil your health and waste your money too.
#4). Transportation
Yeah, driving to campus is good and expensive too, so please use local bus as public transport is cheaper. Buy season ticket, it saves you more money.
If you can’t afford season ticket, make sure you buy with student ID as it tends to save few quids.
#5). Personal Items
Buy your personal things like tooth paste and shampoos from the local grocery or discount stores. And look for the local brands as the branded ones will be more costly.
#6). Entertainment/Clubbing/Going Out
No student life is completed without entertainment, clubbing and night parties and this is one of the stuff students tend to waste their money on. Don’t go out on your own, always make sure you have 2 more people around you when you go out so that you can be able to share your taxi fares.
While you are out with your friends, don’t spend more than you can afford. Make sure you go out only with the amount you have budgeted to spend. Don’t go with extra cash or your wallet as you might be tempted to spend more.
#1). Laundry Cost
Wash your clothes in the public laundries instead of sending them to the dry cleaners.
