The first day of college is an incredibly exciting time for students. After all, you're finally on your own!
You don't have to ask permission to go anywhere or do anything. It's completely up to you how you want to spend your time, what classes you take, what type of job you'll have, and how you get to spend your money.
Go ahead; jump up and yell freeedooommmm!
So, let's talk about money for a second because money is what will allow you to do all the fun extras you want to do while you're in school.
Whether your parents give you an allowance or you're living off student loans and your part time work income, there are going to be some important steps you need to take to protect your income during this exciting and somewhat daunting first year of school.
Here are some examples:
Open Your Own Bank Account
Many colleges have local credit unions that provide a significant benefits to college students, such as no ATM fees or completely free checking accounts. Maybe you need a checkbook to pay your off-campus rent. If so, see if your bank charges for something like that. Some do and some don't.
Also, what happens if you make a mistake (because we all do)? Ask your bank how much they will charge you if you have an overdraft fee or some other issue. All of these answers can help you decide which bank is best for this stage in your life.
Track Your Spending
The reason you should track your spending is so you can make sure that you have enough money to enjoy all the fun parts of college like spring break trips or buying food for tailgating at football games.
The last thing you want is to head to the grocery store to buy a ton of food for the game only to have your card not work because you have an insufficient balance. Or, maybe your card will work but then your bank will charge you an overdraft fee. No bueno.
Make Sure You Have the Insurance You Need
Although you're young, and it's unlikely you'll experience too many issues while in college, you never really know. This is why it's important to protect yourself and the money that you do have with insurance.
Some examples of insurance you might want to get include renters insurance if you live off campus. Renters insurance can be very affordable. In fact, the last apartment I recently rented before buying my house was only $13 a month for basic renters insurance. So, if your off-campus apartment catches on fire or the person renting the apartment above you gives you water damage from an overflowing dishwasher, your assets will be protected.
The other type of insurance you want to consider is tuition insurance, and it's super important that you take the time today to look into because you actually can't buy this insurance once the school year is underway. (You can, however, buy it before your spring semester if you missed the deadline.)
Beware of Small Fees that Add Up
Colleges also tend to have complicated parking systems where you're only allowed to park in specific places. Pay attention to these signs so you don't have to pay an expensive parking ticket.
Remember that if you happen to ignore these types of fees and don't pay them, you could have an outstanding balance on your university account, which can prevent you from enrolling in your next semester or even graduating. So, if you get a bill or notice that you have a ticket on your car or elsewhere, go ahead and take care of it and try to avoid getting one in the future.
Ultimately, college will be an amazing and memorable time in your life. It'll be even more worthwhile if you can develop strong financial skills now while you're young so you can start building wealth as soon as you graduate.
What are some other financial tips that new college students should know?
This article is an excerpt. View the full length, original article on www.CatherineAlford.com.