<p>the school im probably going to says it estimates about 800 wll be spent on books throughout the year for financial aid purposes and 900 on personal expenses. i want to know how realistic an estimate this is. also, i will try to get my books online and used rather than from the college bookstore if at all possible, though i suppose i cant count on that. as far as personal expenses, lafayette is in easton pa, an old manufacturing city, not like nyc or boston where the cost of living is high and there's lots of exciting ways for college students to spend their money. also, idk if this is true of other schools, but there are a lot of subsidized entertainment options, like cheap movies and exercise classes.
it will be a stretch for my parents to get me to the college even with a merit scholarship so i have to try and pay for the expenses once i'm in college.
right now i have a part time job and once school ends chances are likely i'll be babysitting everyday as well.
i know i should save as much as possible, but my plan was to get 50 debit cards (like an american express gift card but coming out of my debit account, however with a limited amount so i can keep track of what i spend and feel comfortable using it for gas, where i'm afriad to use my debit b/c of identity theft) and try to use them, hopefully only going through 1 every two weeks or so. estimating modestly, i'll probably be working about 20 or more hours per week and bringing home about 300 every two weeks from my part time job. i'm thinking about once i get my debit account up to 400 or 500, i'll then start splitting my check between savings and whatever i need to keep my debit up to 500 and then those gift debit cards. i mean, i will always carry around my debit with me in case i have need of more than 50 bucks, or w/e the balance is on my limited card, but i will try to use the 50 exclusively. i know i need to save money but i do want to go on dates, buy gas, go out with friends, and also invest in nice clothes to wear to college as well as appliances and other things i may need for my dorm if they're on sale rather than having me and my parents go and buy hundreds of dollars worth of dorm stuff at a time.
i also hope to have a job on campus, or close to campus when i start school. however, i would like to have enough money upon going to colege that i don't need to depend on college earnings for book money or spending cash.
sorry for this long drawn out discussion. thanks for all your help.</p>
<p>Let me see if I understand this, you want to get 50 debit cards with limited spending that are all connected to your one checking account? I don't think your bank will do that, it's too much trouble and they will wonder( as do I) why you can't manage your money with one card. Why don't you just go to an ATM and take out what you need in cash every week?</p>
<p>Remember this: most college students are broke most of the time. Last night I was overhearing some kids talking about a campus party, and how they weren't going because they couldn't afford the $5 admission. I don't completely understand this system you have planned, but it sounds like you plan to spend about $20-$30/week, which is more than your peers will be spending, unless you're going to school in NYC or LA or another location where kids are known to spend a lot on off campus activities. </p>
<p>As far as buying clothes and dorm stuff, your plan is similar to the one I had. I had a job for all of senior year of HS, and I put most of each paycheck in the bank. Then I had some other money coming to me at different points of the year, and would put most of that in the bank. I had a nice chunk of change by the end of senior year. But I didn't stop at that point. I increased the hours I worked at my job and got a second job to make more. It was a long summer where I did little else besides work, but at the end I had enough to buy clothes, dorm stuff, and had a nice amount saved for spending while at school. However, I didn't have to pay for books because I didn't make enough; books are sooooo expensive.</p>
<p>As many hours and days as you'll work at your one or two jobs, you won't make enough to buy books, and dorm stuff, and clothes (believe me, I tried!). Do you know for sure that your parents can't buy books? I would ask them; it sounds like you only want to get a job, but it's not absolutely necessary. I advise that if you don't HAVE to work, don't. Most kids will not be working while in school, and especially not 1st semester freshmen if they can help it. Also, can I ask what you'll be saving your earnings for if not for books or spending money? I suggest that you concentrate on classes 1st semester and then see if you want to work just a few hours a week in the spring.</p>
<p>BTW, where are you going to school? No matter where you go $600-$800 for books is about right, but it will vary from semester to semester, depending on how many and which classes you'll be taking.</p>
<p>Paying 600 to 800 for books is ridiculous. I just get them from half.com or for particular courses, not buy them at all.</p>
<p>well I know as an engineer 600-800 is probably even on the low end. I think this semester I might have payed close to 500.</p>
<p>That was my guessitmation for the year, not one semester. IMO, buying books online is more trouble than it's worth. I know of people who ending up getting the wrong edition online. Besides, what if you didn't buy a book online because you didn't think you would need it, and then you found you did need it. You'd have to go to the bookstore anyway. I don't even get how people can be like "Oh, I won't need that book" when they haven't even been to that class yet. Whether you get them online or in the bookstore, buy them all. It's not like you'll have to keep it forever if you never used it, because the bookstore or the web site you bought through will let you sell them back when the semester is over. Besides, your parents expect you to be buying all the books. It'd be unfortunate if you got a B in a class instead of an A because you didn't want to put out the money for the book.</p>
<p>I get a feel for the course for the first couple of weeks and then decide whether I need the book or not. Sometimes I can get away with not buying it. I didn't buy the required chemistry and physics books and did fine. I got away from not buying a few engineering books as well. I learn pretty well from the lectures and what not, a book sometimes does more harm than good.</p>
<p>EDIT:
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It's not like you'll have to keep it forever if you never used it, because the bookstore or the web site you bought through will let you sell them back when the semester is over.
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<p>For a fraction of a price, it's not worth selling it back. </p>
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I know of people who ending up getting the wrong edition online. Besides, what if you didn't buy a book online because you didn't think you would need it, and then you found you did need it.
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<p>I'm not that stubborn. If I find out that I need it, I'll go ahead and order it. But If I can get away with it, why not?
And I haven't had any problems with ordering online, just make sure you buy from people with a lot of feedback.</p>