College Expense Estimator Summary

On February 16, 2025 By newsroom Topic: Saving And Investing Money

Total Monthly Needed: $555.00


Expenses Breakdown

Included in Budget ($555 Total)

  • Food (Main Meals): $95
  • Food (Snacks, Coffee, etc.): $25
  • Medical Expenses (Asthma Prescription): $50
  • Clubs/Organizations (Breakfast Club): $10
  • Entertainment (Music Downloads, Events, etc.): $50
  • Hygiene (Deodorant, Shampoo, etc.): $20
  • Haircuts/Manicures (Beauty School): $10
  • Parking: $15
  • Car Payment: $175
  • Gas: $50 (Bus used most of the time)
  • Other Transportation (Bus Pass): $15
  • Computer Supplies (Printer Ink/Paper): $10
  • Emergency Money: $30

Excluded from Budget (Parents Cover or Not Needed)

  • Laundry: $25 (Take to Mom's)
  • Health Insurance: $0 (On Mom's plan)
  • Clothes: $60 (Request Mom to buy)
  • Car Insurance: $0 (Mom covers)
  • Cell Phone: $20 (Request Mom to pay)
  • Cable: $50 (Request Dad to pay)
  • Internet Service: $0 (Included in dorm cost)
  • Utilities (Electricity/Natural Gas): $0 (Included in dorm cost)
  • Gym Membership: $35 (Use campus facility instead)

Key Observations

  • Parental Support: Many expenses, like health insurance, car insurance, and cable, are covered by parents.
  • Transportation Costs: Includes car payment ($175), gas ($50), and a bus pass ($15) for flexibility.
  • Food Budget: $120 total, with $95 for main meals and $25 for snacks and coffee.
  • Potential Savings: Consider negotiating further parental support for the car payment to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

Suggestions to Optimize

  • Explore Public Transportation: Using the bus more often could reduce gas and parking expenses further.
  • Entertainment Budget: Look into free or low-cost campus events to trim the $50 entertainment allocation.
  • Car Sharing: If feasible, sharing rides could lower the car payment burden.
  • Printer Usage: Use campus resources for printing to save on computer supply costs.

By fine-tuning a few categories, additional savings can further stretch the $555 monthly budget effectively!


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