College
12 Things College Students Don't Need
As the cost of college continues to rise, reconsider some of these expendable expenses.
By Marc A. Wojno, Senior Associate Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
September 1, 2011
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Editor's note: Our annual roundup of campus money wasters has been updated for 2011.
The sticker shock when you first see the bill for tuition, room and board, and all those nebulous fees is bad enough. With the excitement and stress that accompanies the move to college, it's easy to let down your guard and pony up the plastic for a whole lot of other expenses. Sure, you want what’s best for your child, but you don't have to say yes to every item on his or her wish list.
SEE ALSO: What College Students Need to Know About Money
Of course, not all students' needs are the same -- students in engineering and medical studies, for example, may require new textbooks they’ll keep or a more powerful computer. But, generally speaking, here are 12 expenses campus life doesn't really require:
New textbooks. More and more universities are offering textbook rental programs to help students avoid paying unfathomable new-book prices. Check to see whether your university offers a rental program, which is most often available for the school's core-curriculum and prerequisite classes.
Save even more by comparison-shopping online for new and used textbooks for sale and for rent. You can even save some trees by licensing e-textbooks that you can access from your computer or mobile devices. Learn more in How to Cut Your Textbook Costs by Half -- or More.
A high-end laptop or desktop computer. An inexpensive laptop or desktop should do the trick. Netbooks are cheap, but their small keyboards and slow processing speed won't make the grade for a student's first year in college. One powerful, portable and affordable option is the Dell Inspiron 15R Intel Core i3 laptop. It has a 15.6-inch screen, weighs 5.9 pounds, and has 4 gigabytes of memory and a 500GB hard drive. The Dell is available at Best Buy for $530.
A printer. If you skip this, you'll save about $50 for a printer, $30 a pop for replacement ink and $9 per pack of paper. For about $10, your teen could buy a flash drive instead, save his 20-page term paper on it and print the paper in the campus computer lab, which you may already be paying for. (Some schools include a technology fee in room-and-board costs -- $100 per semester in some cases.) Students may also have the option of sending files directly from their dorm room to a computer-lab printer. But make sure you ask about page limits and any printing fees.
A pricey smart-phone plan. Students may think that a smart phone -- especially an iPhone or a Droid -- is de rigueur to deal with the rigors of campus life, but contracts with data plans can run as high as $200 a month.
Fortunately, there are less-expensive, no-contract alternatives. Consider Virgin Mobile's Beyond Talk Plan, which uses Sprint's Nationwide Network. Plans start at $35 a month, for which you get unlimited Web, data, messaging and e-mail and 300 Anytime minutes. Simply buy a phone, select a plan at www.virginmobileusa.com, activate it on the Web site and manage your account online.
Cable TV. Cut this additional expense by accessing a wide variety of current entertainment and news online. You can stream programs from your computer or a Web-enabled device, such as an Xbox 360 gaming console, a Playstation 3, a Wii or a TiVo:
• TV Shows. XfinityTV.com and Hulu.com, for example, let you download TV shows free. You can also catch recent episodes of your favorite shows at the networks’ own sites. Hulu.com now offers Hulu Plus, which for $8 a month gives you access to more than 1,000 seasons of current and classic TV shows, hundreds of movies (including films from the Criterion Collection) and limited commercial introduction in 720p high definition. College students can get a one-month free trial if they sign up with their .edu e-mail address. Movies. Netflix offers for $8 a month unlimited TV episodes and movies streaming online through a Web-enabled device.
• Sports. WatchESPN (formerly ESPN3.com) streams live broadcasts of professional sports, such as professional baseball, basketball, golf, soccer and tennis, and of course college basketball and football. You can stream WatchESPN content to an Xbox 360, but you must have an Xbox Live Gold membership, which is $10 a month, or $60 a year (same goes for streaming Netflix content with the Xbox 360).
A car. In a nine-month academic year, according to AAA, the average small sedan would rack up about $3,000in expenses, including costs for gas, standard maintenance and insurance. Parking permits and any tickets or breakdowns would add even more to the bill. Keeping the car parked at home could lower insurance premiums, too (see VIDEO: Kids, Cars and College).
A credit card. The average freshman who has a credit card has nearly $700 in card debt, according to a recent study by Sallie Mae. To curb the frivolity of first-year credit card spending, Uncle Sam is now enforcing stricter credit card rules. Anyone younger than 21 is required to prove his or her ability to repay any debts or have a parent (or someone else 21 or older) co-sign the card application.
Help your student stay in the black by withholding your signature until he has a long track record of fiscal responsibility. A debit card is a good way to get started. For tips on how to discuss personal finance, see What College Students Need to Know About Money and How to Get Kids Motivated About Money Management.
High bank fees. Open an account for your child at a bank that is close to campus and has nationwide coverage. If your child uses an account with the hometown bank, she could spend up to $5 when she withdraws money from an out-of-network ATM. If she withdraws money, say, once a week, she could spend up to $260 a year on fees. Or consider opening an online checking account with a bank that doesn't charge ATM fees or that refunds ATM surcharges by other banks. Be sure to read the fine print: Some of these banks do not refund ATM fees beyond a certain amount, and some require the account holder to maintain a minimum account balance every month.
When choosing a bank, also find out how much it costs, if anything, to transfer funds online from your account to your student's. This will save you from having to mail checks. Another option is to open an account with a credit union that belongs to a surcharge-free network. Click here to locate one.
Overdraft protection. You now have the option when you open an account to opt out of overdraft protection. That means the bank either will not permit you to withdraw funds if your balance is too low or will ask whether you want to pay a $35 fee and proceed with the withdrawal. This is not a one-time decision; you can switch your preference if you decide you want the bank to cover overdrafts. Checks and recurring payments that cause you to overdraw the account are not covered even if you opt out, so you can still incur hefty overdraft fees.
A big meal plan. You’ve heard of the Freshman 15, so avoid loading up your child's meal account with enough money to feed the football team. Often, the money you spend on a meal plan does not roll over from year to year -- if you don’t use the money, you lose it. Best to start low and see how much your student eats. Many colleges give you the opportunity to replenish meal-plan funds midyear. You could also supplement your kid’s meal plan with gift cards to the local grocery (or pizza joint). Or you can buy gift cards at GiftCertificates.com.
Campus health insurance. If you have family health coverage, your child may still be covered under that plan when she goes to college. If your plan does not cover out-of-network costs, a campus health-insurance plan may be a more cost-effective option. Be careful, though: Some college policies have low coverage maximums, which could leave you with thousands of dollars in uninsured expenses. See Kids, College and Insurance for other options.
Private loans. The hefty price tag on higher education makes it hard to avoid student loans, but if at all possible, steer clear of private student loans. They usually carry variable rates (as opposed to the fixed rates of federal loans), have fewer repayment options and allow students to rack up high balances. (See Be Wary of Private Student Loans.)
You still have time to apply for federal student loans to cover the bills this school year (see Cracking the Financial-Aid Code). And look for scholarships -- they’re easier to get than you might think (see Master the Financial Aid Process).
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Reader Comments (72)
Posted by: the weakonomist at 08/24/2009 09:51:51 AM
Most campuses put a limit on how much you can print. Many don't allow any free printing at all and you must pay per page. Good job trying to dump a cost onto someone else's shoulders. Good message to send!
Posted by: Brent at 08/24/2009 10:00:19 AM
I disagree with buying a "cheap" computer. Sure, $300 might seem like a bargain until you have to shell out another $300 in three years because your current computer can't run any new applications (some of which may be required for a class). You should buy a computer that will last for at least four years or until you graduate which puts you in about the $500+ range. Still not considered high-end, but it should last you longer. Also, I say get the credit cards earlier and be responsible. It is important for people to start building a good credit history earlier. That way, when you graduate and start making big purchases (car, home, etc.) you will already have a few years of good history.
Posted by: Donna Sichko at 08/24/2009 11:05:00 AM
1. Students majoring in technical subjects, engineering, comp. sci., etc may need more computer. 2. Farmers insurance will not even reduce car insurance when the student attends school across the country!
Posted by: Cam at 08/24/2009 03:41:03 PM
Depending on where the college is located (e.g. in an area with no/poor public transportation) a car is not necessarily a bad expense. My owning a car in college allowed me to partake in valuable off campus internships. It also let me do my own grocery shopping saving me money and allowing me to eat a MUCH higher quality of food than offered on campus, I had an off campus job (I paid for 100% of my college expenses - with the exception of scholarship contributions) and secured permanent employment prior to my graduation. I could not do any of these things without my $1500 beater that cost me about $900/year to run - most of that being gasoline. Oh - and it allowed me to have a better social life. Back in those days people actually met with each other to hang out instead of sitting in a dark room texting each other.
Posted by: Fred at 08/24/2009 07:41:40 PM
I agree with the car and the credit cards. I got through college without a car and did fine. Credit card offers are all over college campuses. It's insane. As far as the computer goes, I think it's smart to assess what your kid will need. If he/she is studying graphic arts they may need a fancier computer. If your kid will just write papers and check e-mail, maybe a netbook is the right way to go. On the printer, I would check with the college. Many computers now have the ability to print wirelessly. Perhaps sharing a lab printer from the student's computer is allowable. Many dorms and apartments come with basic cable as part of the rent. Check on it. Remember shows online might be at least a week (or more) old.
Posted by: Joanna at 08/24/2009 07:43:49 PM
My son won't be taking his car to college and our car insurance is still outrageous. It's because he's 18. Pure and simple. His good student discount with American Family Insurance barely makes a dent. I was told our premiums won't go down until he's 20. I pay $142 a month for our 2 vehicles...one of which will barely be driven once Sept arrives!
Posted by: Gigglesworth at 08/24/2009 08:16:20 PM
@weakonomist : When I was in college, we had these fancy things called a 'print card'. We paid per page. It wasn't a big deal, and it was quite affordable.
Posted by: Gigglesworth at 08/24/2009 08:19:28 PM
Another suggestion: Students don't need an expensive cell phone. Most people don't require an iPhone with the $70/month phone/data plan. I know many people who pay $100 per year for a Tracfone and still have more minutes then they can ever use.
Posted by: Greg L. at 08/24/2009 08:58:35 PM
It's amazing how much money college kids waste and then graduate with piles of bills and bad credit. I have my daughter read the blog at debtbeat.typepad.com so she can see how much trouble people can get into and how hard it is to get out of debt.
Posted by: hi at 08/25/2009 09:25:43 AM
give this guy a break. these are just suggestions that might be useful for upcoming college students. Of course these ideas may vary due to different situations. It's a sad thing u guys cant figure that out yourselves.
Posted by: Dad at 08/25/2009 01:14:40 PM
The "cheap computer" is a good idea. Computers are a disposable commodity and they only last 2-3 years. The software available surpasses the hardware at that time. (See Win98 -> XP -> Vista requirements). But, I do disagree on the printer. You need your own printer and they are not expensive. I would use an inexpensive laser monochrome instead of a color injet. It costs a little more to buy, the the supplies are more economical. Unlike the computer, a good printer goes on a long time. I still have and use the HP-6Ps I bought some 10 years ago.
Posted by: han at 08/25/2009 05:08:16 PM
half.com is a great source for textbooks. also, professors will instruct the libraries on campus to only allow students to check out course textbooks for a couple of hours. see if the textbook is at the library (there were a couple of semesters where I didn't buy any textbooks!)
Posted by: Susan at 08/26/2009 12:59:19 AM
I disagree about buying a netbook. At $300 it may seem like a bargain, but with it's tiny keyboard and screen size the kid could end up with some very expensive repetitive strain injuries. For serious term paper work, $500- $600 for a full-size laptop is a much better deal. If the student will major in subjects like accounting or engineering, which involves a bit of spreadsheet work, consider a model with a keypad as well as a QWERTY keyboard. Plug-in keypads are also available.
Posted by: Rutgersss at 08/26/2009 12:48:07 PM
buy a desktop, you can get a desk top with plenty of memory comparatively cheap when compared to a laptop. Laptops also have the added chance of being brought to class to "take notes" which means fooling around on facebook. Desktops are easier to type long papers on due to the difference between screen position and keyboard. Can also be bought for under 300$.
Posted by: Put 3 Thru College at 08/26/2009 04:33:05 PM
Might want to rethink the comments on not needing a printer. Yes, inkjet cartridges are outrageously priced, but look for a good B&W laser printer. The toner cartridge should last for at least a year, probably two. Yes, the common-use, college provided printer is cheaper, but watch the stress level increase when everyone is printing out big papers due the last week of the semester and then the printer breaks down at 11 PM. Spend the $200 and get a good B&W Laser printer.
Posted by: Sharon at 08/27/2009 07:31:17 AM
For getting inexpensive textbooks, I use BookDealFinder.com. From my experience, I am able to get lower prices than anywhere else by using their service...
Posted by: former student at 08/29/2009 04:56:20 PM
Cars might be expensive, but for those students who are working and studying in an area with poor or non-existant public transportation, they are something you need. Its hard enough juggling a work schedule with a class schedule, but adding the bus schedule to that...good luck.
Posted by: Rick at 09/01/2009 11:06:46 AM
Credit cards are not necessarily a bad thing if the money is going to be spent regardless. I suggest parents cosign and monitor and help build the student's credit. Debit cards as an alternative are a disaster. Overdraws are common, generate huge fees and are not stopped by the system. The other issue is controlling spending, but this is an issue with either kind of card, and a credit card used responsibly is a far better choice.
Posted by: Bill Braskey at 09/09/2009 12:00:29 AM
This article is terrible. Suggesting a student use a netbook? L O L
Posted by: Kent at 09/09/2009 12:07:18 AM
I too have to disagree along with others about buying a netbook as your primary computer. I, myself have a netbook and a homemade desktop and I cant imagine having only my netbook. What happens to watching those HD movies and listening to some good music? What about tying term papers and studying online notes or slides from the class? I think it is okay buying a netbook, but a 19" LCD, keyboard and mouse and speakers would be extremely necessary even if it has no internal optical drive.
Posted by: gt at 09/09/2009 12:19:36 AM
as a person who has been in college 4 years, I can say firmly that I disagree with some points in this article. Computer - A $300 Acer Aspire One is hardly enough for any college student. It is actually a very cheap low-power netbook, that although is great for Word documents and PDFs, is not much useful for other things. For engineers and CS students, you need a relatively powerful machine to do compiling or CAD programs. Students these days use their computers for pretty much everything (school work, music, TV, video games) and a netbook is hardly enough in terms of performance (you even mention a lack of a DVD drive, which many people need). I'm not saying students should get a maxed out gaming computer, but a $700 13"-17" laptop should suffice, with a decent processor (like a dual-core core2). Printer - Although many universities charge a technology fee, it is used mainly to buy or maintain official computers used on campus. At my place they only give us 50 pages per week for free, or we have to pay extra. A printer can come very handy especially if you're finishing that paper the night before. Cable TV - Most colleges provide some sort of basic cable with housing, so no need for extra spending there. One oddity is that you mention online TV, yet watching online TV on a netbook can be slow at best. A car - A car could be a necessity or a luxury depending on where you live. If you live on an urban campus, then there is a high probability of getting public transportation to get around town. However, in some towns, public transportation is non-existant, and a private mode of transportation is requried to get around town (for groceries or work).
Posted by: Doug at 09/09/2009 12:34:02 AM
As a recent grad, I pretty much disagree with all of these. * Most engineers will tell you it is worthwhile to keep your textbooks. A new textbook will last you the rest of your life, whereas about half of the used textbooks I ever had barely made it through the semester. * Netbooks are cute, and budget laptops make great 2nd computers, but many students use their computers all day long and the low end laptops cannot take that kind of abuse. Every cheap laptop I saw was missing keys, had cracked hinges, etc. * Most schools charge a per-page fee for environmental reasons. Considering the number of pages most students need to print and the tendency of public printers to jam, not getting one is ridiculous. * Assuming they have summer or part-time jobs, they should get credit cards. Building credit history is important for getting apartments as an upperclassmen or recent grad.
Posted by: Greg at 09/09/2009 12:34:42 AM
My college gives us 110 pieces of printer paper assigned to our access account per semester. We also only have 4 gigabytes of bandwidth usage in our dorm rooms (upload and download) that goes outside of the campus network, so streaming sites like veoh and hulu aren't an option unless I want to be kicked down to DIAL UP speeds. Also, the "bargain" computers, while very useful around campus for taking notes, will unfortunately be outdated in 2 or 3 years, but that's just a given for most technology related issues. Oh and in regards to health insurance, not everyone's insurance reaches outside of their home state. I live in NJ, go to college in PA, and had to sign up for the university health plan because my family's health insurance doesn't cover anything outside their small network of doctors and hospitals. Nice try though, cheers.
Posted by: Metatron at 09/09/2009 12:39:59 AM
Why is the author talking to parents about their "children" going to college? Except for a few early-graduates, college students are adults aged 18 and up, not children. Furthermore, don't most adults make their own decisions about what they do and don't need for college?
Posted by: Brian at 09/09/2009 12:43:32 AM
I am currently in school and agree with some of these for example about 5 dollars covers my printing fees on the library laser for a semester. I would not however recommend getting a netbook they are pretty slow and typing a 5 page paper on something with a 10 inch screen and tiny keyboard is no fun.
Posted by: Andy at 09/09/2009 12:45:01 AM
I would suggest considering which books you want to rent or buy carefully. There were a bunch of textbook from my college years that I wish I had held onto instead of selling them back to make a few bucks. I kick myself when I am looking for some information on a topic I studied in school and realized I sold the book back. Buying used is a great option. Try abebooks.com I have found some amazing deals there.
Posted by: CollegeSpot.com at 09/09/2009 12:47:24 AM
Wow, quite possibly some of the worst advice I've ever read in a while. Please explain how a college student is going to cover the ridiculous increases in college tuition when after receiving federal aid they are still short? Scholarships yes, but that will likely not do it also. And, college credit cards are not always a bad thing when used correctly. Student credit cards are great way for a student to build credit.
Posted by: Christian at 09/09/2009 12:50:50 AM
This article contradicts itself by saying you should get a low end computer but at the same time watch movies and television shows on the internet.
Posted by: Brian at 09/09/2009 12:54:27 AM
New textbooks: We recommend these for a reason. First year isn't so bad, but it's an extremely bad habit to not keep textbooks. Your professors offices are full of them for a reason. As a PhD student I regularly use for reference texts from physics, and I'm a computer scientist. Because I used these texts I know where to find things, and it is regularly sufficiently esoteric to not be easily findable via Google. Don't waste your time trying to find old versions of texts just to save a few bucks. New versions exist for a reason, don't burden yourself with windows XP SP1 when you can get Windows 7 so to speak. As an instructor: 2 or 3 weeks in you don't have the text because you tried to save a few bucks on an old or used version: Your problem. The bookstore bought enough copies for you, that's just the cost of doing this course. A high-end laptop or desktop computer: Buying cheap can be throwing good money after bad. Be honest about your requirements. If you are going to play games on it, connect your ipod and cell phone to it, and watch movies on it (replace your TV) don't buy crap. If you buy crap you'll be miserable and have to buy better later. Netbooks should be a supplement to an actual computer, not a main computer. You're begging for long term posture and RSI issues if you buy a computer that is too small and try to use it. Laptops are the same problem. In the long run - after 4 years of trying to use a laptop as a main computer, you'll regret it, but your chiropractor or physiotherapist will be able put their kids through college. Netbooks are cheap for a reason: they're crap. They have a limited use, in class etc. But don't try and type a 30 page report on one, you'll regret it. Get a digimemo or a smartpen if you want to record notes electronically if you can't type well, which a lot of people can't unfortunately. A printer: Almost universally you NEED a printer. With your own printer you can control the quality, style paper, etc. All things which you will find useful. Trying to get a uni printer to do what you want, in colour, the right way wastes time. Learn your own, use it. Found something at home? You can print it off before school (notably lecture notes, profs are notorious about posting lecture notes at 2am for a class the next morning) you can print it off before class and not be in a scramble at 8 am to get a uni printer to work. Need to print off directions or the like? Easier to not have to run to campus to do that. As an instructor: The better it looks, the easier it is to mark, the easier it is to mark, the higher the grade you'll get. A credit card: Not having a credit card is a a nightmare. A credit card with a 500 dollar limit is really handy - but try and keep the limit low, and your potential liability is low. Too many places want credit cards, and too many things can go wrong, you need access to quick credit. Health insurance: I'm in canada so my experience is a bit different than the US. US students here have to buy into our uni plans, + into the provincial healthcare essentially. If your parent loses their job, say fired with cause, you have coverage. Frankly, kids get up to stuff they don't want their parents to know about, your own insurance is handy. In an emergency, especially if you can't speak (this happens more often than you think) you don't want to be hunting for your insurance information. Most people have the uni insurance, everyone knows how it works. Less paperwork = good. I had a foreign (US) student lose the ability to speak English - and was left with some odd African creole, and pass out in class. You have no idea how much easier it was to just say "she's on the uni insurance" and the paperwork miraculously happened. Even here hospitals need to know who they're billing.Back to textbooks quickly. We don't mean to be mean about it. But don't disadvantage yourself waiting for a book until half way through a course. School is expensive we know, but we spend a lot of time trying to find the best materials for you.
Posted by: Jason at 09/09/2009 10:33:33 AM
Actually, a netbook wouldn't be so bad, if it were accompanied by an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse. It would still be portable for taking quick notes in class, or checking your email in wi-fi equipped dining halls or student lounges between classes, but you would be able to get some decent word processing done. It wouldn't cost much more than a regular retail computer bundle, though it would still have too limited a hardware configuration for engineering and graphic design majors (among others). And if you know what you're doing, I'd still recommend the homemade desktop solution, but I did manage to write my thesis on a 7" EEE.
Posted by: MPCpiano at 09/09/2009 02:46:04 PM
While your 10 points have good ideas, I disagree with a few of them for my son, a junior at Gonzaga U in Spokane. For cable TV, my son wants to watch Fox News. He shares a house with 5 others, so cost is negligible. I am glad he likes to keep up on the news rather than movies/TV shows. He has a Macbook. It isn't souped up with extra RAM and things he doesn't need. but very compatabable with his music/history major needs, and he never has to worry about viruses. Also very popular at his school. He has a credit card in his name to start to build a credit rating. Luckily he is responsible, and it has a limit, so he can use wisely, but take care of things that come up. He does have work as a church musician so he has avg. $200 a week income. Also he has a car so he can work. It is paid for and can get around for a month on a tank of gas. For meal plans, his school food plan is minimal, and he hates the food, so he is learning to cook. He is into healthy eating, so he eats well. He does get on me for my bad eating habits during the summer, which is a downside. Again good ideas, but this is what works for my son.
Posted by: Candice Lee Jones at 09/10/2009 03:25:06 PM
Hi, Candice Lee Jones here, co-author of this article. Thanks to everyone for all the comments (and many criticisms). A lot of discussion about suggestion #2 – a high-end laptop of desktop computer: When we conceived this story it was for the sake of helping college students – and their parents – save money by looking for wiggle room in their freshman year budget. Students who don’t have room in their budget for a nicer desk top or laptop would certainly benefit from an inexpensive laptop or netbook, as the story says. Surely, a student majoring in a computing-heavy field would consider their personal needs before choosing their machine, and we never meant to imply otherwise. We were looking for savings. And suggestion #3 – a printer. Indeed a personal printer is convenient. But for students on a budget, saving the up-front investment plus recurring cost of paper could be more valuable. So we thought this could be a way to help students save (after all, that’s what Kiplinger is here for). As for #6 – a credit card: It's our advice that a freshman doesn’t need to open this can of worms until they are absolutely ready. I think my editor Janet Bodnar says it best – “Is Your Child Ready for a Credit Card?” http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/drt/archive/2009/dt090827.html The comments here are great proof that these are all very personal decisions. We’ve given you 10 items that may help some students and parents, and I see one other suggestion for “an expensive cell phone” – what else would you add to the list?
Posted by: Angie at 09/18/2009 07:20:21 AM
I'm not sure, but I think that a mini-computer will not work very well for downloading TV shows and movies--not enough drive space. As for the printer-my personal experience is that school printers are often out of order. Also, a lot of work is done late at night which makes it impractical to go to get it printed. Stress on freshmen is already great--a printer can greatly increase their likelihood of success that year--teachers just don't CARE if you couldn't find a printer on campus! (I'd especially get a printer if you're going with the no-car idea!)
Posted by: Marian at 09/18/2009 12:53:59 PM
Sorry, I like the concept but I disagree with about 50% of this post. First of all, if you go to a rural school (like I did), not having a car can make you want to slit your wrists. Obviously not many people can afford car, but if you can, it's possible your kids sanity is at stake. Secondly, many schools require freshmen to have meal plans. And often the first semester requires the full (usually 19) meals. Plus, what if your kid doesn't have a kitchen? Third: private loans? Really? Come on, it's not like you can choose this stuff. As for the printer -- that's entirely a matter of choice. School computers can be a pain. They always run out of ink, paper, and come finals you have to wait half an hour for one to free up. So for the extra $50 or so, it might be worth it. Okay, rant over. I do agree with the ATM fees/credit card/new texbooks though...
Posted by: P.J.ANDROS at 09/18/2009 01:03:49 PM
UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ON A SERIOUS "BUDGET" NEED TO BORROW MORE MONEY. WHAT'S THE POINT OF ATTENDING A UNIVERSITY ON THE "PAUPER PLAN." IF BORROWING ISN'T POSSIBLE, THEN STAY OUT OF UNIVERSITY AND WORK UNTIL ENOUGH MONEY IS SAVED. OR JOIN THE COAST GUARD FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND, IN THE PROCESS, LEARN SOMETHING USEFUL. GOOD MONEY MANAGEMENT IS INHERENTLY A FUNCTION OF THE "GOOD LIFE."
Posted by: Nikki at 09/19/2009 12:18:16 AM
I think that these are good suggestions. As a current medical school student, I still have my moderately-priced computer from 4 years ago. On top of that, when I entered college, I took my families 3 or 4 year old computer; my family got the new computer. For school-related projects, the computer doesn't have to be high-end. The expensive computers come in handy for those that enjoy music, photo editing, video games, and other non-school related tasks. I would HIGHLY recommend a printer!! Like someone else has listed earlier, my undergraduate university often had technical issues with their computers. It was also not free. On top of that, there are many times when I had to do projects that would require color ink. Color coping was not an option on campus. I think that the biggest waste of money is a PDA phone for college students. Granted, I use my all the time in medical school, but there is no need that an 18 year old needs a $500 phone with a $150+ per month phone bill! My school also required us to buy a meal plan (even when living off campus). The lowest meal plan was 8 meals per week. I typically forced myself to go to the cafeteria once per week. However, I was still wasting 7 meals a week. I averaged it out, and each meal costed $6.56 per meal. I wasted a lot of money; but the school gained a lot of my money!
Posted by: Wendy at 09/19/2009 01:10:07 AM
I am a senior in college, and have spent all of that time at a university. Overall, these points are good advice. HOWEVER, I would think twice about not having a printer. I attend a major public university (25,000+ students), and budget cuts have caused all open computer labs to be shut down. That means there is NO lab that allows every student to print for free. My department allows me to print up to 10 pages a day, which given how much online material I am expected to print out on my own and bring to class (let alone papers and other material), is not nearly enough. Naturally, we still pay the same tech fees... Anyway, I bought a $100 black and white laser printer, and it has easily become my most-used tool for school. Unless your student will desperately need color printing, a small office b/w laser printer will be smaller than most inkjets, have significantly lower costs per page, longer time before needing to change the cartridge, and produce print jobs in seconds instead of minutes. That last point may not seem important, but when print jobs get over 20 or so pages, the difference between taking 4 seconds per page and taking 30 seconds per page can have consequences on one's sanity. :) At the same time, there are lots of free campus resources for scanning and digitally copying documents, which is the only thing that low-priced laser printers DON'T do compared to inkjets. Again, unless your student needs some kind of dedicated set up (if s/he is an art student, they have their own labs for that sort of thing), it's not worth the extra hassle or deskpace.
Posted by: Marazul at 09/20/2009 08:20:04 PM
All you need to do is review your expenses and see where you can cut. For starters, ditch your contract mobile service plan and switch to prepaid mobile. With STRAIGHT TALK you get UNLIMITED calls and text and 30 mb of data for only $45 a month. And no roaming fees ever - really good nationwide service cause its carried by Verizon. You an buy the phone/plan at many Walmart stores or online.
Posted by: Garret at 09/21/2009 03:01:27 AM
I am a college student at a major univerity. Students need a computer, printer if they want to go in the engineering, computer programing, or most most other hard sciences or even graphic design. A car is nessary for some students depending if they work off campus. Student Health Insurance is a good idea if it is right for a given students needs(just look at the cost benefit factor). Credit Card are not the problem it is simple discipline and knowing that they have to be paid off, and they are not free money. I recommend that student DO have a credit card to establish credit but PAY THEM OFF EVERY MONTH!
Posted by: Ashley at 10/06/2009 07:47:57 PM
I'm a junior in college and I didn't have a TV freshman year and i went crazy. Also, it really depends on your school with the car. At ECU, I NEED a car if I want a job or anyway to get around after classes. Also, our school printers print on front and back which many professors don't accept. GET A PRINTER. A lot of laptops come with computers when you buy them.
Posted by: Cindy at 11/03/2009 05:10:26 PM
I have a computer backup service (Mozy). Even if you have a computer warranty - they are likely to wipe your computer when in for repairs no matter what. Also this gives you a backup in case of loss or failure - good for when writing papers, etc. This assumes you have some type of high speed internet and can do regular short incremental backups.
Posted by: Tina Marie Bee at 11/09/2009 12:24:53 AM
They don't need college. Tell them to go to trade school instead.
Posted by: Grant at 12/26/2009 10:21:38 PM
As a college Junior, I feel obligated to weigh in on this topic to offer my experiences. Buy used text books is pretty much the only option unless you just have the money to spend on a 200 dollar book you are only going to use for 5 or 6 months. Buy used, there are several websites out there that compare tons of prices from many different sources, such as www.cheapbooks.com. This sites compares some of the really well known sites such as cheapbooks.com, bookamillion.com, amazon.com and MANY, many more. I will never go to another site again since I can get all of my books required for any given semester for under 40 to 60 dollars for anywhere from 3-6 books. I must disagree on the laptop issue. The Acer 10.1 inch laptop is good to have ONLY if you have a desktop computer in your room or if you have a hand-me-down laptop with Windows 2000 that isn't up to school standards. Then and only then is it ok to buy a laptop like that. Otherwise, its probably better to buy a regular laptop. I bought my 15.4 inch toshiba with windows vista for 400 dollars on sale from walmart. Not only that, I got it with money I was granted specifically for a laptop from www.fastweb.com. Not having money is not an excuse because there are scholarships and grants for it out there, all you have to do is apply, and also I have a close friend and co-worker that just purchased her first laptop, a 17 or 18 inch, widescreen toshiba from walmart for 300 dollars at the beginning of this semester with the money she made from her summer job. I agree somewhat with the printer issue. My school fortunately doesn't have a technology fee or any sort of fee to print anything. Our laptops are also linked to the school server where we don't have to have the jump drive, we can save our work to the server, and go to the library, open the file on any computer in the library and print the file. But the part I don't agree with is, my school's library closes at 2am, there are going to be some instances where you are going to be behind on a paper and not make it to the library to print your paper out in time and having a printer (OR A FRIEND THAT HAS A PRINTER AND THE SAME PAPER/PROJECT DUE, AND THATS STILL AWAKE AT THE HOUR YOU FINISH) comes in handy. I paid 25 for my printer on sale from office depot, its a printer and a scanner which comes so much in handy because its 20 cents a scan. I have been on the same pack of paper since my freshman year, and i usually buy new ink every semester or every other semester. I don't understand how this applies to college students, but unless the parents watch a lot of cable tv this shouldn't be an issue. The college should provide the cable in which the students can either use a hand-me-down tv or take the tv from their room at home, or hope that their roommate brings one or that there is one in the lobby of their dorm. There are a lot internet tv sites that are available as well and maybe even more convenient. TEENS THAT HAVE A CAR NEED TO TAKE IT WITH THEM TO COLLEGE. I probably say this out of spite in response to what they said about a car and insurance and what not. I left my car at home and my mom ruined my transmission and engine and now I have to buy a new car so take your cars with you. Like any college, we have students from all over the united states come to attend but there is no way that any college student is going to put 10,000 on their car in a year. The most common repair I've seen on my campus is a dead battery from students not driving their car as often as they should. The second most would be flat tire. The people i see driving the most are the students that live close by. As soon as I get 3,000 dollars im going to buy a 2004 mercury sable gs because nothing is better than being able to go places you need to go especially if you are far away from home. Even some of our international students have cars. College students do not need a credit car, period. If you are a college student not planning on going to grad school then getting a start credit card during your sophomore year is acceptable, that gives you 3 years to start good credit habits (or bad credit habits) but if you are going to grad school, maybe a department store card like a macy's card or jcpenny's card is right for you during your college years. ATM Fee's, eh... My bank is nationwide so of course they had a location where in the city I go to school in so i just use the atm of my bank, however there are times when i am out with friends that all have a certain bank like trustmark and i have wachovia so i just have to make the sacrifice of be bold and as the friend to find the nearest wachovia so i can use my atm. There are ways to avoid it, you can wait until you know where you are going to school to set up an account with a popular bank in the area. Our campus offers a free to students and faculty health system on campus, we have our own on staff nurse and doctor. They can give treatments and prescribe meds and do the basics for free, except for shots, the charge a small fee for shots, for any injuries send you to specialists where you will need insurance. The schools offers a 400 insurance policy that you must cancel if you already are insured otherwise they will charge you 400 extra a year, 200 a semester on your students account. From what I hear its pretty bad insurance so but if you don't have insurance then its something you just are going to have to deal with unless you get a job that offers insurance. My friend got a job driving school buses, and he has full coverage from blue cross blue shield. So it all depends on if your parents have insurance or if you have your own personal insurance. I'd say the meal plan is pretty much necessary. Yes, students are going to complain about the food but i'd rather take the meal plan than cook or eat out every night because that gets pretty expense. I'd just consider a private loan and investment in your education. But by all means avoid them unless you absolutely HAVE to get it. I went to private school my entire life so my parents are used to paying a little monthly tuition. So i went to the school to see if there was any way to match the tuition i paid in high school, and to say they are only 50 dollars or so over that is not giving the school enough credit. Your financial aid office is not just there to be another pretty building on campus, they are their to help you with your financial needs and give you all possible alternatives to affording college that doesn't include private loans.
Posted by: justin at 07/22/2010 06:07:35 PM
A smart phone with access to the internet will do more than a laptop you don't bring with you will ever accomplish and for an extra 30-40 a month who cares... some of these tips seem like pound wise and penny foolish... if college is 20k a year what's another few hundred to make it enoyable... and i say get a credit card now with a low limit... i got 1 at 18 and went stupid, but that was when I thought a few hundred bucks was a big deal... not when I had a job and could get 50k in credit... as for loans... get a home equity line of credit if you have any equity.... lower rates that are also tax deductible
Posted by: BU College Parent at 07/22/2010 07:56:20 PM
These are good ideas for how to save money. Another good one is to protect your kids college investment. If you are like me, I didn't realize that most colleges seldom refund your money if your student becomes disabled or cannot complete the semester due to medical or mental health reasons. By the end of the 25 day, if your student becomes injured or is unable to complete the semester you could lose it all unless you have tuition refund insurance. I bought refund insurance during my kids high school years, but found it hard to buy it for my students in college. At week 2 - I am out over $5,000 of tuition money that BU won't refund - by week 5 I am out over $20,000. This is a bit much and more loss than I can handle and about 10 times what I would lose on missing a flight and yet I can buy travel insurance. What is worse is that BU doesn't offer tuition insurance, but I found it by searching online from www.GradGuard.com which is endorsed by a group called College Parents of America (www.collegeparents.org). For less than $50.00 a month, I purchased $50,000 of annual coverage and that is the most I could buy. Even though I stand to lose even more than that if my student becomes sick or disabled and can't complete the semester. So - here is my vote for one thing that parents should spend money on. Tuition refund insurance by GradGuard.
Posted by: Jack at 07/30/2010 08:55:25 PM
Being a college student myself, I wouldn't suggest buying a netbook. Nothing but problems. I chose to go with an Apple Macbook Pro for college. Sure it's pricey but it will last you all through college. I've had mine now for over a year and haven't had a single problem with it. All my friends who bought netbooks/PC's are having problems with viruses and they always want to borrow my Macbook for big projects. Ditch the PC and get a Mac! You won't regret it!
Posted by: E at 07/31/2010 03:06:06 PM
I'm so happy whoever wrote this is not my parent. Their kids college experience is gonna suck without a car....and what kinda loser doesn't have a smart phone under the age of 30?
Posted by: Dee at 08/02/2010 11:36:11 AM
Ahem to the limited private loans! My medium term life course has been significantly affected due to borrowing to finance school.
Posted by: Andrea at 08/04/2010 08:31:06 AM
I think that you can get a really nice computer if you know how to shop around. For example, I went to Best Buy at the beginning of Jan. and bought myself a Toshiba laptop that normally costs $1100 for $650. If you know how to shop around, you can get a really good laptop at a great price. Also, I must admit, it's easier to get around for school now that I have a car. I did my first three years without a car and it was slightly difficult. I couldn't take night classes (I go to school in the DC area) because riding the train after 10 wasn't going to work. Also, I started to work full time while going to school full time and it really cut down on my studying. It took me twice as long to get to campus on the bus than if I had a car. I do think that students should have a credit card but only to build up their credit now. However, the limit shouldn't be more than $300. Most students don't have a real job and their parents will be paying for the charges. My parents refused so I just recently got a credit card to pay it off myself. I really agree with the textbook thing. Also, if you're taking classes such as English, History, Philosophy, etc, the books may be in the local libraries. You can renew them at least twice and even plan it out for the semester. For example, if you know you'll need a certain book around October, but not until then, don't go to the library to get it until then. If you don't want to use books that have been used, do the same thing for the bookstore or renting them. You can spread the bookstore costs out over the entire semester by buying them when you need to and not all at the beginning of the semester. Those books are never going to be used as the bookstore usually doesn't buy them back. Take this advice from a senior Economics student. It'll save you a lot of money.
Posted by: Justin at 08/04/2010 08:56:40 AM
I have a netbook as my only computer and I've been just fine. and ive taken programming courses. People who've never used one just say its crap because its cheap, but actually its a good deal. The botom line is, if you dont spend on unnecessary junk and luxury, ie get the simplest thing you can, you will be fine
Posted by: BOBBY at 08/04/2010 03:34:14 PM
New textbooks: *new editions of text books come out all the time. A high-end laptop or desktop computer: *I couldn't survive on a p.o.s. laptop through college. A printer: *You can get printers and ink much cheaper than your prices, and its worth the hassle. A pricey smart phone plan: *You will never get my iPhone 4 out of my grasp. Cable TV: *Maybe not digital but basic cable is cheap. Or video games and movies would do. A car: *agreed. A credit card: *agreed. High bank fees: *agreed the rest i dgaf...
Posted by: disagreeingcollegestudent at 08/04/2010 04:41:32 PM
As a college student I COMPLETELY disagree about a few of these. My cheap printer broke half way through the year and my parents complained ENDLESSLY about the printing costs incurred from printing in our computer lab. Printers (and printers that work) are DEFINITELY a good thing to have. Same thing with decent computers. I use my computer for homework, assignments, papers, in class note taking, and entertainment. A computer is a college student's most important possession... its worth getting a good one. Also my smart phone and its email capability has turned out to be extremely useful: saved me from missing rescheduled-at-the-less-second meetings, gotten me into quick-filling classes or events, and let me get first pick of different project options, etc. My school also has a specific app for the iphone which has let me see courses and maps of our campus. I've helped a lot of lost visiting students and tourists find their way around Stanford before with that. I would advice parents and students to look into each college individually and find out which of these "money savers" actually apply. If i get on a lower meal plan, it doesn't cost any less I just have more money to spend at campus cafes which are often more expensive and unhealthy then the dining hall. Printing is outrageously expensive, and my school is so dependent on computer usage that having a cheap laptop would not make sense. As for the big meal plan... sure... but supplementing meals with a gift certificate to a "pizza joint" to help avoid Freshman 15? Seriously?
Posted by: Teller at 08/04/2010 04:58:04 PM
Some of this advice is rather terrible -- it's clear the author has been out of school too long. Having a high quality computer is a must -- especially if, by his advice, you use it as your television as well, which places extra demands on the machine. With all of the computer-centric projects required of most any class anymore, a computer (and a good warranty for that computer) is absolutely the one thing you CAN'T afford to skimp on. A printer is another underrated item, because computer labs (due to both budget cuts and an overabundance of students) are chronically choked, making getting a seat inside almost impossible before class. You don't want to have to wait forty minutes to print a four page paper when you can do it under five at home, for free, right when you're done with it. Put it in the folder -- boom, you're ready for class, without the anxiety of having to fight for a lab printer. Third, a good meal plan -- even a luxurious one -- can actually save you a great deal of money in the long run, particularly since most freshman live in dorms and have very limited access to a proper kitchen, making them dependent on school food. The better advice is to get not the cheapest, but the most *flexible* -- one that has a generous amount of debit dollars and a practical amount of meals, so you get the most use out of your dollar. But limiting your child's meal plan solely so you can stave off the 'Freshman 15' is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. It's impossible to anticipate what kind of activities they'll be involved in, so it's better to aim high *first* and then taper down into something more sensible, to make sure they don't spend out of their own pockets trying to make up the deficit. I do agree about the fancy phones and the cars, though. For the most part one can work around the local transportation service fairly easily -- I did it for six years and never missed out on a thing. And I would've killed to see fewer phones on campus -- those things are annoying as hell.
Posted by: Lisa at 08/04/2010 06:01:26 PM
Okay here's my take for some of the topics as a college student. Textbooks: My advice would be, only rent the books if you plan on never reading those books again after the quarter or semester (such as for a GE class). If it's a class that is part of your major, I would plan on buying a clean used book online (source with high rating) for secondary reference just in case you might need for upper division classes. Computer: All you need is decent laptop. Anything within an i3, i5, i7 processor or a Mac should fit the need to last all four years and even more. I would strongly advise against getting anything that has the word "Pentium" in it. Those processors/CPUs are almost 3-4 years old. While these cheap laptops with lower end processors/CPU are perfect for web-browsing and word processing, these days students need a laptop that can function far beyond basic tasks. Printer: I would recommend all students to get a printer, unless you know for sure that printing is part of your tuition. Even if college has a printing room, that charges 10 cent per page, the cost will eventually add up to a large sum. As the author mentions, I would also advise against getting a ink jet printer unless you are planning to print color pages, because ink cartridges can cost $30 almost every 3 months. An alternative is, laser printers, which are much faster and higher quality. For long term purposes, they are more are more eco-friendly and cost efficient. Black and white mono lasers refurbished ones can go for $50-70. Toner refills can go easily for $10 and they can last me more than 1 year. Phone: You might not need a smart phone, because laptops are an excellent data source, but what you need a is good phone plan. When students are out in the professional world, they need to be able to network and communicate efficiently with people. That is another reason why colleges are established, so that students can practice this with their peers. You have to remember that pre-paid phone plan cost about $20-25 a month (or three months). When it cost 10 to 15 cent per minute on these prepaid plans, your really only getting about 2-3 hours of talking minutes every month (or three months). Most students will need to communicate with their family, friends, peers, TA or professors and that 2-3 hours will just not cut it. What I would advice is go with a cheap no-contract $25 monthly plan like Virgin Mobile that gives you 300 anytime minutes with an unlimited data plan (text, internet).
Posted by: Red at 08/04/2010 08:16:40 PM
I disagree with the computer. Buy a brand you trust, with features you think you need. You get what you pay for with electronics. Each major has their own needs as well. Example: Often for film and art students, having a Mac is strongly encouraged. 2. Car: Seems unnecessary, but it can be useful. I drove my roommate to the hospital/health center when she was ill, in pain, and unable to walk well. It also allowed me a part time job off campus. This can go either way though. As a commuter, a car is a must though (obviously) which saves you money in the housing and dining department. Plus, the further away from campus you live the cheaper apartments and offcampus housing is because of the "lack of ease of convenience". 3. Cable TV. If you're living in a dorm, you're paying for whatever the college provides. Unless this is offcampus living, then yes I completely agree. However, if you're living in the dorms, then it's not an expense you can chop out of your bill. Even if you don't have a TV. 4. Printer. Again, this can go either way depending on the college. Some have a minimum of 5 pages. Each after costs extra. This is similar in other places such as public libraries. Printing often isn't free anymore. If a student is going to get a printer, then get a laser instead of an ink jet. It's more expensive, but the ink cartridges last much longer than the other. 5. They always say that about scholarships. They're easier to get than you think. 6. This one I have to completely disagree on; credit cards. Half of going off to college is learning to live on your own. Yes, there is a lot of debt that can be had--so teach your child to use their money responsibly! If you don't have the money, then don't pay for it. Treat the credit card like a debit card if you must! It's not brain surgery; if you didn't have a credit card, would you be able to afford it? Credit cards come in handy though. Say you need a tow and don't have enough in your account to cover the charge. OOPS. There's some overdraft fees! This way, you can ask your parents for a little help if you must and pay them back (rather than the credit company). It also comes in handy with buying things online. Credit cards offer more security online than a debit card, which is tied to your bank account directly. IF you're going to purchase books online, then use a credit card. Furthermore, now that such a bad stigma is placed on credit cards, banks are turning their eyes to debit card users, who think they're doing the smart thing. Look it up online; you can get slammed with numerous overdraft fees because places put a hold on whatever you spent times a certain amount (sometimes up to 3 times!) Furthermore, it's important to start a credit history when you're young. It comes in handy!
Posted by: Andrea (Junior @ Tuskegee University) at 08/04/2010 10:00:29 PM
This is my honest opinion on all these things. 1. New Textbooks: HIGHLY HIGHLY agree, it was my boyfriend who actually got me started on the rental book phase, and we both spread the word, but we didn't use that website above, its actually a little slower. We used Chegg.com and they are so helpful. Along with little trinkets they send you (pens, coffee holders, sticky pads, i.e. something like a cracker jack box lol). AND i was running late sending back an organic chem book, they were VERY understanding, and gave me an extra week to send it back. 2. High End Lap Top: Somewhat agree, I used my laptop from senior year of highschool to sophomore year, but its solely up to the parents, I still ended up needing one in the middle of my sophomore year, so its a good investment either way, and I believe just like what someone mentioned, the students major plays a good role in purchasing a new one. I'm a Biology major, needed for a LOT of in class lecture notes, boyfriend a Chemical Engineering Major, he had to download programs to his laptop to work on CAD projects for homework/exams, same with friend who is an arch major. Like said before, good investment if purchased now or later. 3. Printer, HIGHLY agree, my printer stayed unplugged in my closet for freshman and sophomore year. 8 times out of 10, your "free" 200 prints are already paid for per semester through your tuition. And if its a dire emergency lol, either the student procrastinated getting the paper done and is up late at 3am OR you can just go a couple doors down b/c someones mother STILL bought a printer w/ ink. Also a lot of professors ask to submit papers/reports via email, blackboard, or google documents now a days. 4. Pricey cellphone plan. Ummmm...iffy on this one. I can DEF say, a good blackberry will do a student justice, noo..not the storm or the fancy stuff. Just a good blackberry. It used to be just primarily for the business guru, but it has trinkled down for a full time college student and you can receive "do-able" plans for this. Really ANY phone WITH a data plan is perfect. I was able to check when teachers or my peers emailed me projects for me to view, no matter what, SOME teachers will even let you text them. lol. thats SOME. If your still sketchy..have your son or daughter pay for it through a work study job. ;) 5. Cable TV. idk. Tuition paid for everyone's cable on my campus. Thats the first time of me hearing of that. & Wi-Fi. 6. A Car. Lol. Common, its a rite of passage to last freshman year without a car, but like how my parents did for me, if your student does well freshman year, please do not make them literally suffer sophomore year w/o one lol. And make sure to establish a good relationship with a trusted mechanic just in case happens, this is coming from a back in the day 92 honda accord owner. :) I have to say sorely, that cars are def more of a priviledge than a neccessity. 7. Oh boy. Credit cards = Death at an early age. 8. Bank Fees= Agree with the banking idea, and my parents also did GreenDotOnline Money Packs with Debit Cards, they were able to load money ($4.95) fee, your student can also view how much they have left and it kinda helps budget, you can purchase these at Walmart, Walgreens, or any other pharmacy store. Helpful if your student is still learning how to budget, I have it down pat now, but had a hard time not overspending. Great Bank Recommendation : Bank of America Student Checking Package! :) 9. Not very knowledgeable on the overdraft protection fees to comment :/ 10. Kinda disagree with the big meal plans. Yes there is freshman 15..but its not from the meal plans, its from the snacks parents bring their kids! Well at least in my college. Trust that if your son/daughter does not have a car, walking everywhere becomes ideal, and soon they end up burning off as much as they've consumed. We also had our meals during good times of the day, so there was rarely any late night meals offered ( unless you had a CAR -that three letter word again- then u could go off campus for fast food) other than that, i would switch it around, less food that parents buy, more meal plans. Students tend to snack on foods their parents got for them when studying for that midterm. And I hate to kill the mood again freshmen, but having a car was the real "15." 11. Not sure about the health insurance plan, b/c that was paid for also through tuition, that and I had the Bird Flu. Very helpful when you need to go to the student clinic. 12. And the loans part..well I attend a private school, so loans is like a big gasp of air for me. Hope this helps: Oh and extra things I'll add to the list..you don't need...Big TVs, footlockers, ALL OF YOUR CLOTHES (you will want to go shopping, and when you have to move out, your going to want to know how your wardrobe increased), DVD player (unless your laptop doesn't have one), a huge fridge (smh..just a huge waste of space)
Posted by: Andrea (Junior @ Tuskegee University) at 08/04/2010 10:05:55 PM
@Rutgersss desktop?? TOOO much space. Laptops are accessible in Wi-Fi areas which is practically all over the entire school and Facebook is really overrated with students when they get to college, its used more as a networking tool than a sociable tool, and really isnt something that gets out of hand like highschool, your average freshman will learn soon enough lol. Just trust when I say that desktops are very, very inefficient.
Posted by: kit at 08/05/2010 01:39:23 AM
As a college student I disagree. I started out with a cheap computer, after 2 years it was falling apart and I wasnt able to run the design programs that I need (thats $400 down the drain). I paid $800 this year to get a nice laptop. Most of my friends have also needed new laptops halfway through college, so its probably best to start out with something of good quality. The cost of printing on campus is a dollar a page, so it tends to be cheaper to use my printer. The city I live in has a really good bus system; but I still use my car for grocery shopping, when I need to get something from a bigger city, and its cheaper to drive home for the holidays.
Posted by: Sophomore at 08/05/2010 03:49:42 AM
This article seems entirely one-dimensional, idealistic and not thoroughly considered. First, High end lap top? Yes, unnecessary for your English or history major, but personally, I need a high end lap top for editing program purposes. There are so many more opportunities open to me because I can whenever, instead of waiting around the office or library, for one of the two computers that have this program. Second, A printer? I thought it was unnecessary too, and did not bring one when I first got to college. Within a month I realized my mistake, when the closest library was across campus and the printer in the computer lab in my dorm was broken (and stayed broken for three months, then broke again). Also, if you do not go to a big school where the library stays open all night, you could be in serious trouble. I used so many of my friends ink (which we all know is ridiculously expensive) most of them were irritated with me. Additionally, you will most definitely pay to print in a lab or library. I suggest buying the cheapest printer, and buy ink in bulk on ebay. Next, a car? Let me just say, paying to have a car on campus is usually a ridiculous amount of money, but if you expect them to come home often, go to the doctor you have researched for their cold, have an off campus job, or internship, be willing to fork the cash. Another way of looking at it, having a car means instant friends; everyone needs to go to target within the first 48 hours. High bank fees? Forget the ATM, use cash back on purchases. Lastly, a big meal plan? I agree, they are a rip off, but its the easiest way to go, and it is what they will use the most. Also, it is so much easier to go from a big meal plan to small when transferring.
Posted by: Jasmine at 08/05/2010 12:53:21 PM
As a college student and a banker, I wanted to comment that there is something incorrect on this piece of writing. It's in regards to your section of overdraft protection, as a banker we do not opt our customers out of "overdraft protection" if they do not have enough funds to cover their check card purchases, we opt them out of overdraft coverage. Overdraft protection is something different. Overdraft protection helps the customer when they spend too much, for example they can have a savings account or credit card linked to their checking account. You can still have overdraft protection on your account and opt out of overdraft coverage, but once you have used up your overdraft protection, then you can no long access funds.
Posted by: Brent at 08/05/2010 04:01:12 PM
If your kid is running late on an assignment, I would rather pay for a printer than risk them turning it in late because they couldn't get to the lab before class which may or may not be accepted. At the local university there is no free printing. Try .10/page or .15/page for color. I do agree that a car isn't needed, a friend always has one and even some of the campus buses run to Wal-mart, grocery stores, Best Buy, the mall, ect.
Posted by: Drea at 08/05/2010 08:53:51 PM
I am currently working on my master's and I graduated with my undergraduate degree in 2007. For textbooks, I bought mine new from the book store as an undergrad. I kept some of my books and am glad because I use them as references and research material now. Renting can be good if they offer your books. You have to consider the time it's going to take for your books to come in, My little sister is in her junior year and she bought some of her books online used and they didn't come in on time. She ordered them 3 weeks ago and they still haven't arrived. As for the laptop or net book. I bought a laptop my freshman year and I still use it today. I majored in business management and I needed to purchase class specific software and download programs. The big hard drive and large amounts of ram is not just for comp. sci and engineers. My sister is a fashion major and needs as much hard drive space and RAM as I do. You can get a good laptop for about $600. My university undergrad and grad charged for printing. The lab fees as stated in another comment is for the use of the computers and upkeep. It DOES NOT cover the cost of printing. I bought a printer that can copy, scan and print after my first month of undergrad. It was cheaper in the long run. Professors post notes online that you have to have for class and papers and projects get expensive when they have to be in color. Credit cards are good for building credit only if the student is responsible. I didn't get a car until the summer of my sophomore year. My sister used it while she was in high school. I carpooled and used the school's bus system to get around. I highly recommend a meal plan and not dinning dollars. The dinning dollars can be used anywhere on campus and surrounding eateries. There is no limit on how much you can spend. My meal plan provided 4 meals a day. My friends with dinning dollars usually ran out of money by October and needed more money. The meal plan is specifically for that student, while the dinning dollars can be used for multiple people at a time almost anywhere on or off campus. Overall, I wouldn't short cut getting a desktop or laptop computer. It's more useful than a netbook and it can do more. They have CD and DVD drives along with ports for thumb drives. Used textbooks can be purchased at the bookstore or online. Be careful using textbooks.com because sometimes the books are damaged. Printers that can copy and scan are less costly in the long run. Having a personal printer eliminates long lines in labs and at the library. You have more freedom as far as printing options and time constraints. Living on campus, you get basic cable; all you need is a TV. Most meal options come with 3 meals a day and can be used in the cafeteria and some on campus restaurants.
Posted by: Jimmy at 08/06/2010 12:53:59 AM
Ok well i go to collage and drive a lifted full size truck that gets 7 miles per gallon and cost 80 dollars to fill up, and with all that said it is still a must have. When i get out of chemistry starting next monday at 9 at night 3 nights a week over a miles from my house and np busses are available what should i do? Just because I'm a gut means i will be fine and less people will probly mess with me, sure i get that but what about any girls? Also i just recently purchased a new computer and what i found is that if you do indeed try and be cheap you do get what you pay for.And the a meal plan, sorry nice try but most of the time in collage those meals are all we will eat for a day and on the weekends when they dont work, the golden arches make millions of the dollar menu. And then a huge MUST have is a printer. Sure parents you pay for printing but if little jonney has to go print something of for a class that o 700 to 800 people are takeing like english 101 at my school guess what all 800 people have use 1 of 4 printers. And sorry to who ever wrote this article need to do more reserchnext time cables fre in dorms and paid for in rent in every single appt I've seen. Also fyi in my school the health is included in tuition. People like this that think they knw it all realy piss me off, so do me a favor next time go home do your job and dont embarrass yourself with your extreme ignorance.
Posted by: jj at 08/06/2010 03:37:18 PM
I went to a school without great public transportation but was able to get around quite well. Some families just cannot afford to buy their kids a car. I took advantage of campus shuttles that served apartments near campus, plus took the bus on occasion. I managed to have a decent social life by a combo of public transport, friends or roommates, and by getting creative. Note: I was very conscientious about not taking advantage of free rides. In my senior year, I did buy a moped that was good enough for local transport. For longer drives, I got creative. I found out about a library shuttle service that took me to UCLA, where my sister went to school. I would take it on Friday mornings and we would go to my parents together. Then my parents would drive me back to school on Sunday. A bit of a hassle but workable. I was also lucky enough to make friends with a girl at my school whose parents lived near mine. So yeah there are ways around buying/maintaining a car.
Posted by: Ron M at 08/07/2010 03:45:45 PM
To: disagreeingcollegestudent, who posted -- " I would advice parents and students..." One of the things a college student DOES need is the ability to spell...The words "advice" and "advise" are NOT interchangeable.
Posted by: Ian at 08/09/2010 04:32:35 PM
Other then some things being completely wrong like a car, printer, and cable tv. The other stuff is just obvious. I didn't have my car my first year year at college and it sucked. I wish I could just drive somewhere instead of asking my friends to drive me. I did have a printer though that was good because I kept hearing people complain about having to go to find a computer lab with a working printer. I did make some money by letting them use my printer for a price. it ended paying for itself. Cable TV from what I could tell is basically free at most colleges in the US so I don't understand why that is on the list. Besides if you don't have cable and you like to watch sports like football or baseball you cant watch the games online because its almost impossible to watch things online at college and if its a live feed its even worse.
Posted by: Leon at 08/13/2010 05:04:44 AM
I think the point here was that these are things that can be looked at by parents who are paying and where affordability may be a concern. I think by all means, if the student is doing part time work and subsidizing these costs, give them more choice. Another option for those whose cell phones are not their life and they just need something for the odd call or text, Tracfone prepaid is really good value for money.
Posted by: BL at 08/14/2010 10:44:21 AM
College students who read Kiplingers can NOT be representative of most college students. So any comments here from current or recent grades, I'd say represent the more serious and responsible students, who would get value out of spending on a better computer, etc. It is the majority that don't read such material, who depend on Mom/Dad for money and maybe lots of decisions, that need guidance such as this, and maybe some parental restrictions. That said, don't throw away the investment in college by skimping on computers/printers, this is a tool of huge benefit and your child does not need to be put at a disadvantage. As far as smartphones, they better have a very good reason other than texting their friends. Common sense should dictate here, and KNOWING YOUR CHILD !
Posted by: CMon at 08/19/2010 04:15:24 PM
this list is like coal on christmas. C'mon Marc!! how cool is college eating noodles and waiting in overpacked computer labs to print?????
Posted by: Marc Wojno at 08/20/2010 01:57:49 PM
Hi, Marc Wojno here, author of this article. Thanks for sharing all your comments, thoughts, and concerns. We really touched a nerve with some of you over #3, foregoing the printer. Sure it can be very convenient, especially if a student needs to print that 20-page paper five minutes before class starts. But for students that are on a budget (and that have budgeted enough time to print well before the start of class) we still think its an expense budget-minded students can do without (Best to check the schools printing policy first before deciding on getting a printer, though. Some labs charge for the service). Our whole intent here is to help students find ways to save. Needs differ (an incoming freshman doesn't need the top-of-the-line MacBook as much as, say, a graduate student earning her masters in chemical engineering)...BTW, if you have a suggestion on an affordable computer (under $500) let everyone know here....all of your comments are quite insightful and will be very helpful to us in putting together our recommendations for next years list. Special shout-outs to Andrea (Junior @ Tuskegee University) for her thorough assessment and recommendations, as well as to Lisa, Drea and Red. Even some of our toughest critics, including Teller and disagreeingcollegestudent, offer good arguments against some of our recommendations ideas that will help us in next years list. Thanks, again, folks for your comments keep em coming...P.S. To my friend CMon: Eating noodles and waiting in over-packed computer labs were two of my finest memories of college (I met a lot of cute girls at those labs). BTW, getting coal for Christmas while in college was a great gift for me I saved $$$ not having to buy that stuff to power my old campus coal-burning stoker stove (LOL!!).
Posted by: Jerry Vandesic at 08/23/2010 12:49:47 PM
There seem to be a lot of students here who feel entitled. Sure, if the student is paying their own way, they should feel free to buy printers and cars and smart phones and cable TV packages. But if a parent is picking up the cost, then suck it up. If you want a iPhone, get a job. If you want a car, get a job to pay the cost and insurance. It's not all that difficult, unless you are looking for a handout.
Posted by: Johnathan at 08/28/2010 06:22:48 PM
For the ones who are criticizing this article, they are the ones always with the silver spoon in their mouth.