Money: It’s the number one concern of seniors and their parents when it comes to college. College expenses are overwhelming to say the least and they’re why UMass Amherst’s low tuition is becoming so popular. Saving up to pay for 100 percent of college costs before entering college is just unreasonable; however, there are small ways to save money that will make a big difference.

Saving for college is feasible even if just beginning to put away some money your senior year, although it is more effective if you start earlier. Teenagers should have a savings account where the money deposited is solely used for college. Not all the money you earn has to go straight to the account for you to be a successful saver.

Depositing small amounts each time you earn some cash can add up in the long run. For example, if you get a check from your grandparents on your birthday then deposit the majority of it in your savings fund and cash ten or fifteen bucks of it to add to your wallet for
coffee or a sub from Maria’s. Senior Haley Evans said, “I leave myself three quarters of my check and save the rest each week because I think it’s
unrealistic to save all your money at once.”

Making small, manageable deposits is much less of a daunting responsibility than spending all of your money and then realizing the August before college that you have $200 to your name and $600 worth of books to pay for, not to mention the debt you’ll be in when you
graduate from college.

The best way to figure out how much money you’ll be spending when at school is to look at your selected meal plan and judge how much food you’ll buy outside of this plan. You’ll be glad you saved when you’re dying of thirst and your roommate took the last Poland Spring out of your 24-pack of water so now you have to go to the convenience store for a $1.29 bottle. Senior Amanda Gillespie said, “I have an ATM card so I put half
my checks into my checking account and half into my savings account because I know spending money is crucial in college.”

Buying in bulk can save you a significant amount of money as well. Think about buying your toiletries in bulk so when you run out at school, your parents can send some more from the stockpile and you’ll avoid having to trek to CVS and pay for a bottle of shampoo.

It is essential to start saving for college right now considering the high cost of tuition and living expenses, and the sooner you can start putting money away the better. The cost may seem terrifying but the whole process of paying will be much easier if you start chipping away at it as soon as possible. Don’t take your paychecks for granted even if your parents are paying for  school, tuition is not the only expense to pay when you’re away at school.