AROUND CAMPUS
MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 2008 | 25
Budgeting important for students College life brings new expenses for students to consider
BY CHRISTINE D'AMICO
cdamico@ku.edu
COLLEGE BUDGETING
Congratulations! You've successfully entered the ranks of college and begun the path to join 34 percent of U.S. citizens with a college degree.
But that's not all you've signed up for. You've also landed a four-year tuition bill of $27,510, or if not a Kansas resident, $72,246.
But let's be honest. It's doubtful you'll stay in a dorm room for four years. With bars, restaurants, parties and new friends, disposable income costs are high as well.
Budgeting is part of growing up. But in college, with multiple distractions, it can be hard to ground your spending.
Margie Gallaway, Overland Park
mother of an incoming freshman, is preparing to send her child away to Lawrence for college. Gallaway and her daughter have begun to discuss spending in the form of a monthly stipend, like most of her friends are receiving. According to the Student Monitor, the average monthly allowance for an undergraduate at a four-year college is $208.
In order to stretch those dollars as far as possible, here are some tips to tailor budgets to a college environment.
AT THE GROCERY STORE
Jenny Mohwinkle, Topeka senior, learned that hard way that the grocery store saves money.
"I don't buy anything I don't need." Mohwink said.
Unfortunately, her slimming
down at the grocery store led to more and more eating out. To really pinch pennies, make the grocery store part of your weekly routine. You'll save money and maybe even learn to cook.
Another way to watch your wallet at the grocery store is to buy generic brands. They taste just as delicious and leave you with more money.
AROUND TOWN
If you take out the cash you need from your account and only spend the cash, leaving you card at home, you'll come out ahead at the end of the night. Credit cards or debit cards can be swiped mindlessly, whereas when money starts to disappear
you'll notice.
If you leave your parking spot at the dorms, there is a good chance that another one won't be available. Carpool if you need to run an errand. It saves the grief of trying to park your car, along with gas money.
Your parents might push for good grades, but there might be more incentive than that. The better scores you receive the more chances you have for scholarships.
OUT ON THE TOWN
Before there is a party, there is usually a pre-game. During the pregame, students save money by purchasing a bottle of alcohol together. That way bar bills don't get out of
control.
Above all, when out on the town. avoid opening a tab. Tabs run up quickly and can be a devastating receipt to wake up to the next morning.
One solution to tight budgets is the college job. John Hale, Kansas City, Kan., father of an incoming freshman, said he encouraged his soon-to-be freshman daughter to take on financial responsibilities of her own. Although he doesn't want her grades to drop, he doesn't want to foot all of the college bills either.
"She's worked before." Hale said.
"It it's for her to work again."
— Edited by Sachiko Miyakawa
Student Senate leaders receive compensation
BY DEEPA SAMPAT dsampat@kansan.com
Under a new policy Student Senate leaders will now receive an award compensation funded by a University Endowment Senate account. Adam McGonigle, Wichita junior and student body president, said the new policy had passed through the necessary channels and would be implemented this fall. Senate leaders will no longer be granted tuition sponsorships by Student Success funds.
The new policy, proposed by former student body president Hannah Love and former student body vice president Ray Wittlinger, provided compensation to six Student Senate positions. The student body president and vice president will receive $3,000 per semester; Student Executive committee chair, legislative director and graduate affairs representative will receive $2,000 per semester and student body treasurer will receive $1,500 per semester.
McGonigle said he first learned that Student Success would not provide tuition sponsorships last April. The tuition sponsorships provided leaders with in-state tuition. He said that's when Love and Wittlinger came up with the new proposal.
"It was too late in the year for student senators to consider any sort of compensation increase on their own," McGonigle said.
Edited by Rustin Dodd
The student senators who will receive the compensation are also paid $8.50 an hour for 15-20 hours of work per week.
Executive Awards Compensation
Office Semester Compensation
President $3,000
Vice President $3,000
StudEx Chair $2,000
Legislative Director $2,000
Graduate Affairs $2,000
Treasurer $1,500
Total $13,500
Hourly salary for 15 to 20 hours of work per week
$8.50