How to budget for college expenses

The dream of a college education comes with a price tag. The cost of a degree is so much more than a singular bill—especially if you factor in questions like where you’ll be living, how you’ll get from point A to point B, and how you’ll satisfy your hunger for food and fun.  Follow these tips to help you create (and stick to) a budget.

Breaking down college expenses is the first step in creating an accurate and successful budget. Each college expense can be put into the category of either fixed or variable. After some practice, it’s easy enough to spot the difference:

• Fixed Expenses are recurring costs that can rarely be changed, meaning you know what to expect when the bill comes around.
• Variable Expenses are costs that fluctuate monthly in price. Since variable expenses change, it’s important to stay flexible and track your expenses month-to-month. 

Let’s take a look at some examples of fixed and variable expenses and how you can account for them in your budget.

Fixed expenses for college

1. Tuition

The cost of tuition depends entirely on where you want to go. For example, out-of-state tuition can be double the price of in-state tuition, meaning you’re paying double for your education. Out-of-state tuition for public universities averages to be roughly $26,427 while in-state tuition is $9,308. Private schools will almost always be more expensive, increasing to an average of $32,410 per year. 

• Tip: Paying for tuition can be a challenge. Ideally, you would be able to cover the majority of this cost through scholarships or financial aid (such as the FAFSA). There are thousands of unclaimed scholarships out there just waiting for someone to apply for them. If those sources won’t be enough, you’ll likely need to take out student loans. Loans will give you the money you need right away, but it comes with a larger cost later. Use loans cautiously and only if absolutely necessary.

2. Housing

First year college students are often required to live on campus so your room and board will be a part of your tuition. If you decide to move off campus once you’re able, your rent will likely be the biggest fixed expense in a monthly budget. You sign a contract to pay, let’s say $800 a month, and your landlord has no right to change that price—it's fixed (see where we’re headed here?).

• Tip: Try to live in a place that’s affordable and safe. If the rent is almost nothing but the crime rate is high it’s probably not worth the trade-off. If you don’t have enough money to pay for a nice place, living with roommates can be a great way to compensate for a lack of funds to support a nicer place. Another big help toward housing costs can actually come from your college. Work-study programs sometimes include options to help pay for room/board, so contact your school’s financial aid office and get details on what options they have available.

3. Transportation: Bus, Car, Gas

4. Utilities

You’ll find amenities like gas, water, and electricity are not always included in the monthly cost of rent. Meaning there will be an added amount for amenities of anywhere from $25 or more. For college students, this price is often fixed, but it could be a variable expense, meaning it changes in price each month.

Variable expenses for college

1. Books/Study Materials

Don’t forget, it doesn’t just cost money to go to class. More often than not, the study materials aren’t provided in the overall cost of tuition. Though it might be exciting to buy all of your college books at once, fresh out of the packaging, sometimes it’s best to wait until after the first day of class to decide how to go about buying your textbooks. Some professors will tell you the textbooks listed for the class aren’t mandatory, or they might also provide pdf versions for you.

• Tip: It’s also a good idea to check and see if they provide any of your textbooks in the school library. If you enjoy doing your homework at the library, odds are it won’t be too much of a hassle to rent it out when you need it.
  

2. Food

Everyone needs to eat! Though it might be tempting to eat out at restaurants every day, remember, most cheap fast food restaurants cost an average of $5-$10 per meal. Eating out once a day adds up to roughly $150-$300 dollars a month which is the same average cost for a full month of groceries that will feed you three times a day.

• Tip: Some schools will also offer meal plans that allow you to eat a certain amount of meals at a cafeteria or give you a reloadable charge card to use on campus. While this may be convenient, you should be careful to ensure you aren’t spending more on the meal plan than you would otherwise.

3. Personal Care

This is anything from bathroom supplies to clothes. When it comes to hygiene products, sometimes buying in bulk can save you a lot of money. But if that’s not an option, you can reduce this expense by purchasing products on sale or using coupons.

4. Entertainment

Yes—entertainment. Everyone needs to save a little money for themselves, there’s no shame in it. Typically, entertainment shouldn’t be more than 10% of your income—that’s the safest way to make sure you’re not overspending.

The bottom line

Ultimately budgeting is the smartest way to prepare for the cost of independent college living. While it takes discipline and a need to prioritize, the reward is keeping debt in check and focusing on achieving your short and long-term goals.