Money

The commodity that every college student seems to lack: spare change. Here, we will describe ways to be smart about your money to get through college and still keep your wallet thick.

1. Know where the money in your tuition statement goes. A large portion of what you pay for may be for room and board. A key consideration is the decision to live on campus or off campus. Often times, it is cheaper to live off campus. However, most freshmen elect to live on campus because of the convenient location it offers as well as the ability to meet new people when starting out in college. Still, dorms are priced differently based upon the amenities it offers. 
2. Meal plan: key word 'plan'. When living on campus, students, with the exception of a few apartment-style dorms, must purchase a meal plan. Don’t purchase a meal plan that you realistically won’t use. For example, for a person who eats cereal in the morning in their room and 2 other meals a day, the 13 meal plan is sufficient. The unlimited meal plan only really makes financial sense if you eat every single meal in the dining halls, including breakfast, or you like to eat more than 3 meals a day. Do the math and choose a plan based on your personal realistic habits.
3. Keep a track of your budget and spending. Many meal plans include dining dollars, which are paid for already. Make sure to use them up before the end of the semester. Often times, commodities like coffee can be paid for with dining dollars at on-campus locations which will reduce out-of-pocket expenses.