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Budget

Money Problems Only College Students Will Understand


There are many things you can learn in college, especially with regards to money.

If you don’t come from a well-off family, you will be intimately familiar with the money problems college students face.

Tuition is at an all-time high. In addition, colleges charge exorbitant fees for accommodation, health insurance, and other services. Therefore, if you have been a recent college student, you will be more than familiar with the following money problems.

Cup Noodles are a Luxury

Eating itself can be a luxury in college. Who has the money to even order pizza with extra sauce when you have tuition to pay for? Therefore, the most favorite food of every frugal college student is ramen. Not the kind that comes in cups, which cost more than two bucks per serving. It’s the ten cent ramen packet noodles that keep many college students well fed as they learn things like calculus.

Every Quarter Counts

Every college student must master the fine science of hunting for quarters among couch cushions, in the bottom of the book bag, under vending machines and everywhere else coins can go. It’s as important as acing English 101. The quarter is the currency that really finances college life. You need quarters for the laundry machine, the vending machine, and to buy ramen. That just about sums up college life.

Chegg is a Lifesaver

If you haven’t been to college recently, you will not know how expensive textbooks have become. Even if a student gets a hand-me-down textbook from an older sibling, they can’t use it. Professors demand that students buy the latest edition of the text, which most likely costs more than a hundred bucks. So, the only way to save yourself from prostitution is to turn to services like Chegg, a textbook rental. Most students rent textbooks at a fraction of the price to save money.

Saving $100 Month is a Victory

After buying school supplies, paying rent, doing laundry, and other things, what’s left? Mostly nothing. College is not the ideal place to save, because no one has any money left over after expenses. If a student can save a hundred bucks per month, then he or she is a hero on campus.

Mastering the Art of Begging for Money

No one expects college students to be self sufficient. And they aren’t most of the time. Once in a while, college students have to resort to begging for money from their parents or well-off friends. Parents largely finance college education for their children. It’s impossible for a student to finish a degree, even while working, without financial assistance.

Cycling ‘cause Cars Cost Money

College students don’t drive cars because they are a bad investment. It’s mostly because they cannot afford the insurance. So the next best thing is a bike. Most campuses arrange bike rentals and exchanges. After all, without a bike, how can a student get from Chemistry class to Arts class in a building two miles away?

So, which of the above money problems did you face when you were in college?

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Erin Thompson

Erin Thompson spent years managing her own blog about budgeting and debt. Because of that, she has great insights not only about managing spending and borrowing but also about running websites profitably. When she's not writing articles for us, she's traveling and looking for new types of wines to try.
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The content on Cashblog.com is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not financial advice and we are not certified financial advisors. Cashblog.com strives to keep its information accurate and up to date, but it may differ from actual numbers. We may have financial relationships with companies listed on our site. We may receive compensation for the placement of sponsored products or services. We work hard to write authentic and accurate articles.