THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23. 2008
6
Living on a limited income in college
When it comes to paying your rent and your bills, each apartment complex has something different to offer. Some are the standard where you pay them your rent, and each utility bill comes separate. Other apartments have a payment plan built into the monthly rent, which includes utilities up to a certain amount.
BY KATY SAUNDERS editor@kansan.com
Now that you're out of the dorm and living in your first apartment, money plays a much bigger role in your life. Between the rent, the utility bills, groceries, and anything fun you want to do, the monthly cost of living is not cheap. Some students are doing it on their own with jobs and loans, while others are riding it easy with much appreciated help from Mom and Dad.
When you're living on a limited income, budget becomes a very familiar word. You find yourself choosing what is more important, a case of beer or detergent and laundry money. You learn to make things last longer and the infamous Ramen Noodles diet is a definite on the list of any budgeting college student.
Student Housing provides the way to have one big bill with everything included, but rules and Resident Assistances come with the package as well. For those students who want the freedom, but still need guidance, Jennifer Warnelink, Associate Director for Resident Life, said that some staff members will offer programs on financial planning and will bring in recourses and speakers to prepare those students for the financial adjustment of living on their own. Matt Chase, Wichita sophomore said he prefers living in student housing for the community life that he finds living in the Battenfeld Scholarship Hall. With help from a scholarship and his parents, Matt's housing costs are covered, but he does rack up some costs.
"I'm a really picky eater, so I actually do end up spending some of my own money on groceries."
Molly Kretzer, Wichita sophomore, said the apartment she lived in includes the utility bills up to $200 dollars each month in the monthly rent. When it goes over that amount, a separate bill is sent for the amount due. Molly's parent's pay for her rent, but everything else is up to her. She has a job for spending money for things like groceries. Living with three other people can also make budgeting difficult. Molly said she and her roommates used to grocery shop together and split the bill four ways, but now she says they live by a 'if you didn't buy, don't eat it' policy.
Learning to budget your money is a skill that takes some of us a very long time to master. Not only do you have to learn to set aside money for
bills, you have to remember that each bill has a due date and that there is a price on lateness, think of what you can buy with 10 extra bucks in your pocket. I bet you could think of something better than using that money to pay a late fee. With budgeting comes responsibility. Buy a calendar, and write down the due date of the bill as soon as it comes. They even make paying bills a no-brainer these days as some banks offer an online bill pay option, which means it automatically takes it out of your account, no stamp or post office needed. All you have to do is tell it how much and what day you want it to come out of your account and it is done.
The bottom line is, in order to live a minimal to stress, free life, you must first learn to budget your money each month and organize yourself enough to pay bills on time. When looking for apartments, compare rent costs, check into utility plans and determine the most efficient way to budget your money so you always have some cash leftover.
Max Rinkel/KANSAN
Most students living in college are living on a tight income. They find themselves wondering whether they should spend their money on weekly groceries or beer for the weekend.