This time of year many young people are going back to school. Parents, dare I say Moms?, are anxiously running around town shopping for the best school supply and fashion deals. Have you seen those great Walmart commercials on TV? I love them. This is probably a familiar experience if you are the parent of a young child. In my case, however, I don’t have to worry little ones going to primary school any more. This post is directed at my oldest son, and anyone else for that matter, who is going to College or University, possibly for the first time. These students are older and must take on the responsibility of fending for themselves. I recognize the days of telling my son what to do and expecting him to listen are long over, but if you’re going to college or university and you’re willing to listen to advice from someone who has done this before, feel free to read on …
Okay, if you’re still at home before making the “BIG” trip to school, let your parents help you one last time! No big deal. Let them feel useful to you just for a little while longer. Eventually you’ll be on your own, and it would be nice to let your parents enjoy the feelings of a needy child for a little while longer. However, once you get to school … WooHoo! Party Time! Okay, it’s probably a good ide to enjoy yourself a little and make sure you get out to make new friends. Everyone is in the same boat. But don’t forget to do the laundry or all those new friends you’re making won’t last long. Oh yeah, have you learned how to shop for groceries? Survive on a budget? Make your own meals? The hop from high school to college is a big one. Education is obviously the main focus of students going to college, or at least hopefully it is. But don’t forget that for many of you, this will be the first time where you will be away from doting parents who will feed you and do your laundry. Yes, you may have more freedom, but at the same time you’ll have to learn to fend for yourself on the homemaking front.
Here are a few links that might help a university student learning how to survive on their own for the first time.
The Most Outrageously Thorough, Ridiculously Detailed College Shopping List You Will Ever See
Interactive Student Budget Calculator
10 proven ways for students to save money
Hopefully you’ll find the links useful. Let me know if you find other links that you find particularly useful with this hop.
Good luck with school and the next big step in your life!
Oh yeah, feel free to send me questions on how to optimize your shopping for student life. I’d love to help out if I can.