spectastic

I had a little over $2000 in my bank until I decided to upgrade my road bike and spent around $350 getting new parts. Then, there's paying for textbooks and utilities that I owe for the whole summer, so my bank account is going to be bleeding quite a bit in next week or so.

1. part time this semester; never was eligible for financial aid until this year due to international student issue; parents paying for tuition

2. nope

3. chem eng

4. no, I would probably break/lose it.

5. yea

6. 21

bnsxo0

I don't have any savings. The small amount of savings I did have went toward dorm supplies.

1. Yes. A combo of grants, scholarships, and federal loans, with a slight majority being grants. My mom isn't helping to pay any of my tuition, but she is helping me with living expenses. Dad has been out of the picture for over 10 years.

2. Nope.

3. Philosophy. I'm also doing the pre-med track.

4. I own a 13" Macbook Pro, 32GB 4th gen iPod Touch, and a Droid Incredible (purchased 2 years ago). My mom just bought me a new 2011 model car four days ago because my 1998 Beetle was so bad. It had constant problems and I didn't want to bring it to college with me. There were so many things wrong with that car, I couldn't even count them on my fingers and toes. We traded it in to the dealer and only got about $500 trade allowance for it. I also own a Sedu flat iron ($150) if that counts.

5. I don't have a job, so my mom pays for most things. Occasionally my grandpa will pay for things.

6. 19

noimagination

1. I am on a tuition+ merit scholarship. My grandparents left me money that would have covered much of the cost of college. By taking the scholarship, I've been able to leave that money in mutual funds where it belongs.

2. Not yet. I might study abroad junior year (under my scholarship).

3. Good question...

4. No. My parents bought me a $500 laptop and a family plan phone before I started school so that we could Skype/call; I would have been happy with my 10-year-old HP and prepaid cell. I don't own a car.

5. Yes. I buy very few material goods.

6. 19.

romanigypsyeyes

What really baffles me are the parents who aren't helping with tuition but have no problem buying their kids thousands of dollars worth of overpriced stuff.

turtlerock

I'm just going off a limb (since I'm completely independent from my parents), but it may be easier to drop a few lumps sums here and there for things they need for college rather than pay a payment plan for tuition or take out PLUS loans or something. Sometimes it's easier to think about 'Okay, $1,500-2,000 now to get you the physical items you'll need and maybe money here and there spread out.' rather than 'Oh, I've to pay $7,000-10,000 sometime between now and 9 months from now?'

Financial situations can get really complicated at the individual level, and just because they can afford even as much as a couple thousand a year for items needed for their child to do the things they need to do, they may not as esily obtain the financial resources to pay a tuition bill that can range 5x that much (or even higher depending on private costs and R&B) over a slightly longer period of time.

bigboi403

1. Yes, i am on financial aid.
2. No
3. Political Science
4. Paid 500 for a crappy laptop(should of went to craigslist) and paid 80 bucks for my htc Evo 4g(went to craigslist)
5. Sometimes
6.18

TracyJackson

1. No, and yes for the second part.
2. No, but am considering doing it sophomore year...maybe the spring one.
3. Political Science
4. Yes, I suppose so. As for Apple products, I have a Macbook Pro, an iPhone 4 that I'm using all 4 years. But I tend to not show off, my parents don't like that, lol.
5. Not really. I do get around $3000 in gift and birthday money from my family and relatives during Thanksgiving and the Christmas time, but I did work part-time at GameStop junior year in HS.
6. 18 currently, 19 in Nov.

thankyou4flying

1. Yeah, my school's really expensive but I got a half-tuition merit scholarship and a good chunk of the rest covered by fin aid (I'm a twin). My family's EFC is about $15K and I took out about $4500 in a Stafford loan so the overall cost is about $11K, which my parents are paying. It's really nice because I went to a private HS and the costs are almost the same.

2. No, although I'm minoring in Spanish so I might want to go to a Spanish-speaking country for a program in the summer, although I'm not sure how finances would work for that.

3. Biological Sciences (Pre-med)

4 Not really, I got my HP laptop for a base price of ~$600-$700. I have an iPhone but I got Iphone 4 so I got it for $99. I don't have many other accessories, at least not expensive ones anyway.I had a couple of really simple, cheap phones before the iPhone so it was nice to upgrade.

5. Well my parents put money in my debit account but I don't really spend much beyond food, going to movies, and necessary personal items. I did an internship this summer so I got money from that, and I'm also doing research this semester (most likely paid) so I won't have to really ask for much money from my parents as long as I get these paid jobs.

6. I'm 18, turning 19 next month.

NerdsareCute

I have like $900 in the bank from working in high school and during summer.
1. I don't qualify for any financial aid. I have a full tuition and other merit scholarships. Parents pay like $300 a semester for me.
2. Study abroad is too expensive and a waste of money for me.
3. Pre-Med, Nursing
4. Macbook Pro. uhh old metro pcs phone and ancient ipod.
5. Yep
6. 20

Thank you for answering. I look forward to your feedbacks.

lizpham

1. Yes for financial aid. It's mostly loans... I'm taking out about $4k in federal loans & my parents are covering the rest of tuition, fees, books & commuting expenses.

2. No studying abroad for me. Can't do it with my program & probably wouldn't be able to afford it.

3. Pre-pharm track.

4. I could care less about name brands and stuff like that. Sure, I have a few material goods here and there, but not everything has to be. I have a HP laptop that I got about three years ago. I'm going to purchasing a new laptop this fall probably a Dell or MacBook.

5. I have no source of income for myself. I live off of my parents & help by working at our family business.

6. 18-- Will be a freshman this fall.

ladeeda6

I have approx. $18 in the bank. I haven't had a job since December, so that has everything to do with it but I'm starting a new job next Monday. I am ecstatic.

1. Yes. I went to a CC for the first year and a half, roughly, so I was able to get almost all of those costs covered by Honors Program scholarships. when I transferred to a 4-year school, I got FA and used loans and paid about $2k to cover the rest. At my new 4-year (transferred again), the tuition is much cheaper but I still need some loans from Uncle Sam. But I'm getting the Pell Grant now so that's a big help.

2. Nope. I wanted to, but at this point it's impossible to squeeze in as a junior. Most of my schedule is all major classes that will have a hard time transferring and it would delay graduation for at least a year. It's not worth it. But I do plan on traveling when I finish school.

3. Biology, not pre-med. I want to go to graduate school and be stuck at a lab bench.

4. I got a Toshiba laptop for about $700 (that included $130 warranty and battery replacement that my mother insisted on getting). I've had this for a little over a year. My Dell notebook was stolen so I had to get another one. I have an HTC Incredible 2 that I didn't pay for at all thanks to an upgrade. The only Apple product I own is an iPod Nano (the one that has the click-wheel) that I've had for a few years. I love it.

5. Lately, no. I've been mooching off my mother, unfortunately, because it's been hard finding a part time job that works around my school schedule and doesn't require a 2 hour bus commute (but I did! Huzzah!). But when I have money, I use my own.

6. I'm 20.

TheVet

not enough haha not enough

caemin

1. Are you on financial aid? If not, are you or your parents paying the tuition? (indicate if you are part-time)

No financial aid and my parents pay for my tuition, room and board, and books. I choose an instate college and the money my parents saved for my education covers it. I am full time.

2. Are you studying abroad? If so, are you or your parents paying for rent/food? (indicate if you are International student)

I'm not planning on studying abroad. (Last year of school, so unless it's post graduation, it's not happening)

3. What is your major?

Philosophy, Politics, and Law and a History minor.

4. Do you own "expensive" acessories compared with others? Ex. Does your laptop cost more than $1000? Does your phone cost more than $200? If you own Apple products, please indicate.

I own a MacBook Air 2011 and an iPad. My phone is an iPhone. I've bought/paying off the MBA and the iPad. I've previously owned a HP netbook (bought myself after graduation). My laptop is a Sony Vaio that was a gift from my parents. I also own a very nice messenger bag that I purchased at an outlet mall.

5. When you purchase material goods for yourself, do you use your own money?

Yes. I've had a job throughout high school (summers) and used my savings from that to pay for my college expenses (outside of what my parents agreed to pay for). I've also had two jobs during the school year for two years now, as well as my summer job this past summer.

6. How old are you?

21. Whoo.

I've spent the vast majority of expenses this summer on groceries.

Thereisnosecret

Idk if this qualifies as "savings" but instead of having a savings account I play it risky with a stock portfolio margin account which currently has $11,000 in it. I also have approximately $16,000 in credit and an American Express Card; credit limit of the Express card never gets disclosed to you. I've racked up balances in excess of $4,000 on it and nothing happened.

1. I have merit-based scholarships, no financial aid. I explained my situation to a counselor and she smirked and told me to not even bother applying for need-based aid.

4. I have 3 computers, only one is worth more than $1,000. Only Apple product is an Ipad 3 with bluetooth keyboard.

5. Yes

6. 4th year

FdSciandNtrGirl

I have money in savings but I will be using that for this coming school year so it's not really extra money by any means

1. Are you on financial aid? If not, are you or your parents paying the tuition? (indicate if you are part-time)
I take out about $2500 in loans every year. My parents pay my tuition, books, and supplies. I am a full time student.

2. Are you studying abroad? If so, are you or your parents paying for rent/food? (indicate if you are International student)
I am not studying abroad nor am I an international student.

3. What is your major?
I am double majoring in nutrition and hospitality business management

4. Do you own "expensive" acessories compared with others? Ex. Does your laptop cost more than $1000? Does your phone cost more than $200? If you own Apple products, please indicate.
I have a $700 laptop, my phone is a cheap prepaid one because I pay my own cell phone bill, and I've had the same ipod for the last 4 years. I also have a printer. My biggest asset is probably my car which is a 2011 Toyota Corolla S

5. When you purchase material goods for yourself, do you use your own money?
Yes, except for the occasional gift and or gift card from my parents I pay for all of my stuff with money from my job, merit based aid, or loans.

6. How old are you?
21