By Marisa Theriault

The first year of college could cost upwards of $5,000.00 more than what the college or university charges per year, due to extra expenditures.

“Money is like manure, it’s not worth a thing unless it’s spread around encouraging young things to grow.” Thornton Wilder may not have been talking about college costs, but he certainly is sending the same message that all the marketing representatives for department stores are trying to send to us. The message is: YOU NEED THIS FOR COLLEGE! College freshmen are moving away from home where they will need new this, and new that. Everything that they will use that first year will cost extra and the parents aren’t the only ones who are going to be footing the bill.

Things like junk food, fancy dorm room furniture, and toaster ovens can be eliminated in order to save cash, but others like the laptops and mini-fridges can force your budget to expand. Traveling costs alone will cost anywhere from $500 to $1000 depending on how far from home students decide to attend school. Sophomore, Brian Cappello says that there are some things you can do to prevent some of the extra costs from taking over your freshman year. “As a freshman at the University of Vermont, admissions notified us mid-summer about our roommate assignments. I got in touch with my roommate and we agreed to split the dorm necessities like the T.V. and refrigerator. This way we weren’t spending extra money on things that we only needed one of anyway. I also found someone on campus that lived only a few towns over from me to carpool to and from school on weekends and for school breaks. We saved a lot on gas money by only taking one car.”

To help with the costs of textbooks which can cost in the hundreds of dollars when new, there are some helpful websites that allow students to buy and sell used or new textbooks; www.bigwords.com and www.ecampus.com are just a couple. Most college bookstores will sell used textbooks as well. In addition, stores like Target and Ikea are inexpensive warehouses for college students looking for new furniture and supplies for a bargain. Another website, www.dormbuys.com offers dorm room supplies at 20-50% off full price.

The moral of the story: Save your money, get two jobs or learn to shop around. Otherwise, you’ll be in debt before you take out your first college loan.

Start-up costs:

1) School Supplies. Textbooks, paper, notebooks, pencils, pens, printer ink, scissors, tape, calculator: $900

2) Clothes: $200

3) Electronics. Laptop, TV, DVD player, software, iPod, digital camera, printer, stereo, video-game player, alarm-clock: $2000

4) Dorm Furnishings. Bedspreads, comforter, sheets, backrest, bath towels, lamps, comfy chair, laundry supplies, wastebasket, whiteboard, bulletin board: $300

5) Other Living Necessities: Toiletries $30, Laundry and cleaning supplies $25, mini-refrigerator $120, coffeemaker $50, hair dryer $20, cordless vacuum $30, fan $25

6) Transportation: $500 to $1000 (more or less depending on location)