Things to Consider When Going to College

Going away to college can be a fun and exciting time, while also being expensive and nerve wracking. With all of the things to think about and plan for, you might miss something. This may have a few things that you may not have thought of yet.

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

How will you be paying for college? Has there been a savings account set up? Saving money as soon as possible will greatly relieve the cost burden. Different ways to save can include investments, savings accounts or 529 College Saving Plans. If savings hasn’t been established, there are always loans, financial aid and scholarships. However you plan to pay or help pay for college, there are many different options available.

Where will you be living? Most students figure they will be living in the dorms. Dorms are not the only option. If the school is close to home, staying at home isn’t the most fun choice, but it is the most cost effective. Apartments near the school are a good idea too. They may allow for more living space, privacy or even just a pool, gym and extra freedom.

What are the details of your living arrangements? Will you be living with a roommate? Living with a roommate can cut down on the cost of living expenses. They can pay half of the bills, provide half of the furnishings and buy half of the food.

How will you furnish your living space? Furnishing a new place is one of the most expensive parts of moving. There are several ways to go about furnishing a new space. Family hand-me-downs are my personal favorite. My other favorite is yard sale finds. Some pieces just need a make-over. There is also, furniture rental places like CORT  Furniture Rentals, or bargain stores like Ikea. The school dorms may also be furnished already.

Whatever your decisions, be sure to choose what is best for the student and the family. Careful not to do anything that will be financially harmful. We would love to hear your view on choices for preparing for college. Help us figure out some of the best choices people like you are making out there, by filling out our short 11-question survey. These results will go on to newspapers, magazines and the like, to help families like yours better prepare for the choices they’ll need to make.

 

Take a minute and fill out our supper short survey by clicking the link below. Thanks in advance for your participation in helping many families make decisions about their college experience.  Click here to take the survey.

Then, come back in a few weeks when we will be sharing the results of the completed survey!