Coming to college is also time to reckon with life. Especially if you’re leaving the house. Going to another city to study is a great opportunity to get to know people, customs and places, however, this change also entails more expenses. And these can weigh more on the family budget if you don’t have a scholarship. In this article, we address the situations inherent in leaving home to go to college. We also gathered some tips you can put into practice to ensure you maximize your savings.
Accommodation search
When the time has come to go to college and, assuming that you will be out of your usual place of residence, it is necessary to look for accommodation. As far as accommodation is concerned, there are goals: good price and proximity. However, it is not always possible to obtain both, and sometimes to obtain a better price we may have to compromise the proximity to the college. In terms of accommodation there are some options to consider. the first are university residences. This option is the best both in terms of value and in terms of proximity, as they are usually located relatively close to the faculties. However, they are also Fastest accommodation options to sell out. You should search as early as possible in order to have a better chance of getting one of these residences. Another form of accommodation is through rent a house or a room. As far as these two are concerned, you should look carefully and make comparisons. It may seem cheaper to rent a room, however you should understand how far it will be from the college and if the cost of transport and other expenses is worth it. On the other hand, a house rented with a group of students can pay off, as the value for each student will be lower. Currently finding student accommodation is more challenging as supply is less than demand and the values tend to be high. It is not easy to escape this reality, however it is not impossible. Do your research early to maximize your chances. Also read: Going to University: Buying a house or renting?
Preparation of the place of residence
Once the place of residence has been found, be it an apartment or university residence, must now think about what to take for the same. Before spending money on decor, kitchen and other (more or less essential) check out what the house has first. With regard to the bedroom, for example, check if you already have bed linen that you can use, if the room already has a desk, among other aspects. The same should be done in the kitchen, which utensils and equipment are already included. If you do this homework, you can avoid buying items you won’t need and thus save that money. If you find that there are items that you will actually need, before buying, try to talk to housemates and share these expenses. Look for the best prices. Also read: University at the door? 6 steps in prep before and after
Travel to college
Found accommodation, should think about the most efficient means of transport to travel to college. Assuming that a student entering higher education is of legal age, he or she may already have a driving license. However, the car is not always the best means of transport. Although it is much more practical and convenient, it can also incur extra expenses. It must also consider public transport such as buses and metro (when available) or even walk if the residence is close to the college. With regard to trips with means of transport, before deciding, calculate the approximate amount you will spend on each one. For example, if you use a car, you have to take into account gasoline and its price, but if you take the bus or metro, you have access to a monthly pass that, as a general rule, offers a discount for students. issues like the parking, if you are considering using a car. If, after your calculations, you find that going by car is more advantageous, you should then look at the parking lot. Many colleges have small car parks, and when it comes to outdoor parking, it tends to be limited or paid. Also Read: Freezing University Enrollment: Know in advance how to act
food expenses
Another aspect to consider when going to college is the food. Once you have left home, it is important that you manage to control your expenses, especially food expenses. ensure that you are aware of promotions and taking advantage of the best opportunities to buy food products is key to your savings. Again, if you live with other housemates, these expenses are something you can share on a monthly basis. Some food saving strategies include plan your weekly meals so you only buy what you need. In this way, you save money on unnecessary purchases and also reduce food waste. Another habit that you can, and should acquire, involves eat more meals so you can take them to college on the following days and thus save money in the canteen or bar. Also read: I’m going to study inland: What support is there and how much can I save?
General management of expenses
In this new stage, and since you are going to live alone for the first time, it is important to acquire good habits of saving and managing expenses. In addition to food expenses, which we have already mentioned, you will also have the house expenses, travel and college fees. For those who are not used to dealing with these responsibilities, it can be challenging at first. However, there are numerous strategies that you can, and should, adopt in order to do it in the best way. There are, for example, numerous applications that you can use for free that help you manage your budget and expenses. Some of the most used are: Boonzi, Money Care, Monefy, among many others. Also read: University student: 10 tips to relieve financial stress and save
School and study support materials
Once in college, you will need school supplies and, eventually, books and study aids. Concerning school supplies should choose the minimum possible, because in college there are no rules that dictate what should be used. You can even use a computer laptop or tablet to take your notes digitally and thus save in notebooks and other writing materials. As far as books and support material are concerned, and since these can be quite expensive, choose to borrow from colleagues from other years or use those made available by the college library. You can only photocopy the sections you need and thus avoid purchasing complete books. If, on the other hand, you really need to buy the book, try to buy it second hand. Also read: College Equivalence or Degree Recognition: When to Ask?
A professional writer by day, a tech-nerd by night, with a love for all things money.