“Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: that wisdom preserves the life of its possessor.” Ecclesiastes 7:12
With the excitement of starting college comes the not-so-exciting thought of…paying for it. Especially in this hard economic time, many families are wondering how they’re going to pay for college this year. Some are having to forego the private, Christian colleges for a more local, public school. Although I hope you are financially able to attend your first choice, whether public or private, there are still ways to watch your spending habits while at college. Here are some helpful financial tips that can used whether you’re living at home or moving away.
Dining Time
Many colleges offer a food plan. Often there are several from which to choose. You may opt for a certain number of meals a week allotment, or you may choose to place a certain amount of money on a cafeteria card from which you can purchase meals. If you’re living on campus, this is probably the most frugal way to eat. However, if you want to cook, and have a kitchen available for all meals, that can certainly be a much cheaper option. The main thing to remember is that if you––or your parents––purchase a meal plan, use it! These often expire at the end of a semester. Many times you’ll find yourself wanting to dine out with friends, thus not spending the money you already designated for meals, and spending money at a restaurant that could go toward other expenses. If you want to leave money for eating out with friends, make sure you don’t get the largest meal plan offered––it will only go to waste.
College is the time for hanging out with friends, and for me, this occasionally included coffee (go for the decaf!). However, all these little trips to the local coffee shop can really start to add up. So if you really want to spend time together, and it means coffee shops, do without the coffee every time and get water with lemon slices instead. You’ll still get to enjoy the company of friends, but without spending the money.
I love coupons. And there are tons out there. Check out websites like hotcouponworld.com for coupons to restaurants and other deals. If you find yourself eating out a lot with friends, a buy-one-get-one-free coupon at your most frequented restaurant can really help out. Also, don’t hesitate to ask the waiter or cashier if they have any current coupons available for use. Even fast-food places may have a stack under the register––even if it’s just for a free drink with your sandwich. Every little bit helps!
Credit cards
When I started college, my parents gave me a credit card to purchase my textbooks and supplies, and for emergencies. However, I quickly found that having the must-have jeans that everyone was wearing was an “emergency.” And so, they went on the card. As well as the boots that my friend said looked so great on me. And soon, I was encountering “emergencies” on a weekly basis. It was easy to get carried away when I didn’t have to pay for the stuff.
Although I don’t use credit cards now, I won’t make this into a time to tell you to cut up all credit cards and use cash only. I will say that if you have credit cards, you need to be responsible with them. I know this is what your parents are probably telling you, but it’s very easy to get caught up in the excitement and newness of college and start thinking that everything is a must-have item. It may help to leave your credit card in a safe, hidden place in your room––it’ll be more difficult to have a sudden jeans emergency at the mall when your card isn’t in your purse.
We’ll continue later with more financially savvy tips, so check back soon!
By Lisa Grimenstein
When it seems every other friend is moving away from home, it can be easy to feel left out if your family can’t afford for you to go somewhere other than a community college, or if you’ve chosen to attend one. There are so many positives to living at home, though, and if you have the right attitude, you can enjoy the experience and thrive in the environment.
Work: You can keep the job you already have, and if you’re a loyal worker, they’ll likely work around your schedule each quarter as class times change. Plus you won’t have to look for a seasonal job every time you come home on breaks – you can just ask your boss to up your hours for a few weeks.
College is a pivotal time in a young adult’s life, but it also can lead to a decline in healthy habits and physical activity. The “freshman 15,” or typical weight gain of a college student, is usually due to a decrease in activity, an increase in unhealthy food choices, stress, and the change in daily routine. Although it seems like a rite of passage to enjoy every single freedom that college brings, it is not an excuse to allow bad habits to take over while healthy habits decline. College can be the perfect time to change for the better.
Stress is a big problem in college due to hectic schedules, homework, job schedules, sports practice, being away from home, peer pressures, and other collegiate pressures. Try to set aside time each day just to relax. Do whatever you need to do (read, exercise, listen to music, etc.). There are a lot of new things going on in your life at this time––new adjustments to living on your own or living with people that you’ve never known before. Make sure you take some time just for you. Do not eat food just because you are stressed or bored and have nothing else to do.
Carrots are a member of the parsley family, with feathery, leafy greens and an orange root. 
“An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.” (1 Corinthians 7:34)
Not only should we be discerning about going out on dates alone with a guy, but we also need to consider our actions when we’re around guys––even if they’re just friends. Scripture warns us about a woman’s suggestive 
So far, this may sound like a pretty hopeless situation. You have to stand against the crowd, and you have to narrow your choices down to the minority. But there are ways to get to know if a guy is someone whom you could marry. First, start by getting to know guys as friends while you are with other friends. You may not have as many of those intimate conversations you long for, but you’ll learn a lot about them just by being around them with others. If you’re taking dating seriously as a possible covenant for life, that should make you very discerning as to who gets to know your thoughts and feelings more intimately. We shouldn’t feel like we have to share every innermost thought with every guy we might be interested in. And, when with a group, you’ll see how he treats other people, and will learn more about his character than you will if he’s trying to impress you on a date.
Proverbs 3:24b “When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”
Camping can be an adventure by itself, but it becomes all the more exciting when you put food into the mix. For your campfire cooking to be a success, you’ll first have to build a fire, and if you follow these steps, it should be a great experience!
Breakfast
As with living with a roommate, living with several suitemates can be an adjustment. Probably more so. The more people living together, the more personalities there may be to clash. But the more friends you will also make and good memories you will share. Just as we discussed with having a roommate, there will be several things you’ll want to consider when sharing with suitemates.
While discussing the house rules, you need to come up with a cleaning plan. This is a great idea for the organized, tidy person, but not so fun for the one who doesn’t mind clutter. Decide if each girl should just clean up after herself (sometimes not so great, since some people can leave a mess for weeks and it not bother them). Should there be a rotation for cleaning places like the bathroom, living space, etc.? Is there one time a week designated for all the girls to get together and pitch in for a cleaning spree? (Suggest ending it with a chick flick and popcorn, and you may have some positive reactions!) Although you may have certain neat-freaks in the group, it’s important that everyone helps out in order to make things work.
We’ve discussed the different appliances that you may want to include in your new dorm room, all of which are optional. But there is one thing that, while still not a necessity, is a huge benefit to your dorm life––the computer. If you’ve made it through high school, you may very likely already have your own. But if you’ve been sharing the family desktop to do your essays and researching, a computer of your own might be something you’ll want to ask for. (Dell usually has a lot of good deals around the beginning of the school year on basic computers and laptops.) This is assuming, of course, that you or your parents can afford one. If you can’t afford a new computer, look around for remanufactured or used ones (Craigslist is a great place to start). Or let people at your church know that you’re in the market to buy a reliable, simple laptop for college. Someone may have just what you need. Keep in mind that many colleges have now started providing laptops for all students, included in the cost of tuition. Resist the urge to spend all of the graduation money that comes in – if you save it, you may end up having enough to purchase your own computer or another item you need later.
If you’re going to be living with a friend you already know, get together and decide on a plan for your room. Who is bringing what? What kind of style do you each have? Are you both tidy people, or does one tend to leave clothing scattered on the floor? These are things you may want to consider when planning your shared space. If you’re rooming with someone you’ve never met, as a result of random selection by the college, try to contact the person beforehand to talk and get to know one another. Discuss your interests and styles and what each of you can provide for the room.
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