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We’ve sent in our applications, gotten letters of acceptance, and paid our deposits. You just got your first bill from college. It has the school’s logo on it and lists the prices of things like tuition, fees, and room and board if your child lives on campus. You and your family will need to make a budget, though, to pay for things like personal expenses, books and supplies, and transportation for your children. By doing more to get ready for college, you can lower the chance that you’ll spend too much and end up with too much student loan debt.

Materials and reading material

Students often spend $1,200 per year on textbooks. Buying them from the college bookstore is convenient, but it is also expensive. Students might save money on books if they buy them from Amazon or rent them online from Chegg.com. The book could also be borrowed from the library or shared with a roommate. Professors often put textbooks on reserve in the library. This is a great option for students who won’t need the whole book and can go to the library as needed. Look for an older version of a textbook. Your child should check with the teacher about any major changes, but newer versions are often not that different from older ones. This was yet another good piece of advice.

Transportation

The average student’s transportation costs will be included in estimates of the cost of going to college, but these costs can vary a lot depending on the type, frequency, and distance of your trips. You might be able to get student discounts on bus and train fares, but if your child wants to come home for the holidays, make travel plans as soon as possible because costs are usually higher. Make a plan for how often you will pay for your kids to come home before they go to college. When you buy a ticket for your child to go to college in the fall, think about the return trip for Thanksgiving or winter break.

Costs to You

Besides how much you think college will cost, make sure you have goals for your kids. Dues for a fraternity or sorority, costs to study abroad, and other personal costs can add up to a lot of money. Do you plan to give your child a credit card before they go to college? If so, talk to your child about what you want them to do with this card. Figure out who will pay the bill and if you want them to talk to you first before they do anything. Give your child some examples of how a credit card should be used. Many students are given credit cards to use in case of an emergency . Tell your child that it’s not an emergency if they want pizza late at night.

During your child’s time in college, it’s a good idea to plan for the little things. You should also do research ahead of time on how upperclassmen choose their dorms, how they make their meals, and how they plan to move off campus in the future.