College
10 Things College Students Don't Need
Make sure you don't waste money on any of these unnecessary items.
By Candice Lee Jones, Reporter, Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine
Stacy Rapacon, Reporter, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Arunjana Das, Intern, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
August 21, 2009
Advertisement
With all the excitement and stress that accompanies starting college, it's easy to lose sight of the expenses you and your child will rack up freshman year. Sure, you want what's best for your child, but you don't have to say yes to every item on his or her list of wants. Here are ten things on which your freshman (and you) shouldn't waste money.
New textbooks. To avoid paying unfathomable new-book prices, see whether your university offers a rental program - such services are most often available for the school's core-curriculum and prerequisite classes. Or rent from a Web site such as Chegg.com, where you can save up to 85%. Order the book for a one-time fee - for example, about $60 plus shipping for a $180 calculus book -- keep it for a semester, then return it with free shipping, or you could buy it. (Chegg even plants a tree for every book you rent.)
You could also head to the used-book lot. BigWords.com searches the Web for the best prices on used textbooks. Always search for a book using its ISBN number -- not just the title -- to make sure you're getting the right book and the right edition. Also check with professors about peripheral materials that come packaged with textbooks, which used books may be missing.
A high-end laptop or desktop computer. An inexpensive laptop or netbook should meet your student's computer needs. For example, you can buy an Acer Aspire One, which has a 10.1-inch screen and weighs just 2.4 pounds, for less than $300 at Best Buy, WalMart or Target. See Netbooks: Small, Fast and Cheap for other suggestions. Be aware, though, that netbooks don't have DVD drives or huge amounts of storage space, so it'll cost extra to get plug-in external drives or memory cards.
Printer. Here's what you can save by skipping this unnecessary item: about $50 for a printer, $30 for replacement ink and $9 for a pack of paper. For about $10, your child 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.
Cable TV. These days, you don't have to foot a hefty cable bill when your child can catch the latest movies and TV shows online. Hulu.com, Veoh.com and Fancast.com let you download current TV shows for free. The movies offered on these sites are slightly old, but you can get a Netflix DVD-rental subscription for as little as $5 a month. For $9 a month, you get unlimited DVD rentals, plus on-demand streaming to your computer or TV through a Web-enabled device, such as an Xbox 360 or a TiVo HD.
See Cut the Cable Cord for more sources of free or cheap programming and movies.
A car. In a nine-month academic year, according to AAA, the average new sedan driven 10,000 miles would rack up more than $5,600 in expenses, including costs for gas, standard maintenance and insurance. Parking permits and any tickets or breakdowns would, of course, add even more to the bill. Along with saving you or your child from these expenses, keeping the car parked at home could lower insurance premiums, too (see Kids, Cars and College).
A credit card. The average freshman amassed more than $2,000 in credit-card debt during the 2007-08 academic year. Starting in February 2010, Uncle Sam will try to help rein in that first-year frivolity with stricter credit-card rules: Anyone younger than 21 will need to prove his or her ability to repay any debts or have a parent (or someone else 21 or older) co-sign card applications.
Reader Comments (43)
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.