Author Archives: katiemcgwin

Budget-Friendly Ideas, Student Life

Greener Living on a College Budget

As a college student, while you may want to have a more “green” lifestyle, your ramen-noodle-every-night budget may restrict you from actually living a sustainable lifestyle.  Let’s face it:  you most likely won’t be going out to buy a brand new hybrid car, or putting solar panels on top of your apartment. In fact, when we compared standard cleaning products to natural or “green” cleaning products at Walmart and Target, we found that there appears to be an average of about 5 cent increase in price per fluid ounce or count.  That’s on average about a 69% increase in price!  That’s pretty significant when you’re already living on a limited budget!  This is why we decided to find some ways to help you live green, because it just doesn’t really make sense:  why does it cost you more to live a green lifestyle when it should actually save you money?

Use public transportation when you can, instead of driving.  In an article we read by Cecille de la Cruz at Suite 101, she explains that the less gas you use, the more you’ll save.  Especially with climbing gas prices, paying for a bus or commuter rail ticket could end up saving you hundreds of dollars per year and will help you live a more sustainable lifestyle.

Avoid wasting water when washing dishes.  In another article we read by Jen Boulden and Heather Stephenson, they explain that you can maximize your use of water by scrubbing dishes in stages.  Instead of running the water, you can fill one half of the sink (if you have a double sink) or a large container with soapy water to first scrub the dishes.  You will then only have to run the water when you rinse.

Avoid wasting water when you brush your teeth.  Boulden and Stephenson explain that by simply turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth, you can save up to 10 gallons of water per day.  That’s pretty significant, if you really think about it!

Take showers instead of baths.  Boulden and Stephenson explain that baths take about 50 gallons of water, while a 5-minute shower could only use about 20 gallons.  This is a great way to conserve water and to avoid high water bills.

Turn off lights and appliances when not in use.  In an article we read on the TLC website, a TV left on uses 100 watts per hour, a DVD player uses 12 watts per hour, a modem uses 14 watts, a standard PC uses 130 watts, a ceiling fan uses about .1 kWh per hour, and a space heater, and a space heater uses about .09 kWh per hour.  By turning these appliances off, you could significantly conserve energy and potentially save yourself hundreds of dollars a year in electric bills.

Use cold water to wash clothes.  According to de la Cruz, using cold water to wash laundry will leave them cleaner and will help you to save money and energy.  In fact, she explains that it can even prevent clothes from wearing and tearing easily.

Recycle and re-purpose.  Taking the time to recycle cans and bottles is worthwhile, as those materials can be used to make other products.  However, you can also reuse and re-purpose products around your home.  For example, if you still get plastic bags when you go shopping, you can reuse those bags later as garbage bags or to carry other things.  They don’t have to go immediately into the garbage.

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JumpOffCampus

We need your help!

We’re still looking for participants for our survey in relation to on- and off-campus housing!  Just click on the link below to take the survey https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?pli=1&formkey=dGJqMjBHZjIyRGluNDlkbllsUFVQRlE6MQ#gid=0

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Housing Advice

Reducing Home Allergens

While allergies symptoms can range from mild to severe, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, approximately 60 million Americans suffer from asthma and allergies.  Approximately 40 million suffer from indoor/outdoor allergies as their primary allergy.  The most common triggers being trees, grass and weed pollen, mold, dust mites, cockroaches, and cat, dog, and rodent dander.   Food allergies account for approximately 6% of allergy suffers, and the most common triggers are milk, soy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish.

If you have allergies, you may have experienced sniffling, sneezing, watery eyes, headaches, or worse.  It can be a very unpleasant experience when you your allergies flare up.  While there isn’t much you can do to rid yourself completely of your allergies, there are certainly some simple things you can do around your home that will help to reduce allergens.

Use an allergen impermeable cover to enclose your mattress, box spring, and pillows.  In an article we read by Mikki Hogan at The Allergy Spot, the first area you want to consider is your bed and your bedroom.  Dust and dust mites found on your bed can be a major trigger for your allergy symptoms.  These covers will help trap any allergens that may be on your mattress, and will prevent them from being inhaled.

Wash sheets, pillowcases and blankets in hot water at least once per week.  Hogan explains that hot water will kill all dust mites and removes allergens from the fabrics.  By accompanying this with hypoallergenic fabrics, you can greatly reduce the potential for your symptoms to flare up.

Vacuum floors regularly.  By vacuuming carpeting and other flooring, you can greatly reduce dust and other allergens that can accumulate.  You can use dry carpet cleaners to further remove allergens.  According to Hogan, shampooing carpets can leave residual moisture than can increase dust mite growth.  You may also want to consider using a vacuum with a HEPA filter.

Dust regularly.  Be sure to dust every area that could potentially collect dust.  You may also want to consider clearing any clutter or messes regularly to prevent the collection of dust.

Wash curtains and blinds monthly.  In another article we read by Clean Air Plus, when purchasing curtains, you will want to consider washable fabrics so that you can wash them safely without damaging them.  You will also want to take a clean washcloth and wipe down window blinds.  Both curtains and blinds are primary locations for dust collection.

Regularly vacuum and clean furniture.  Ensuring that couches, tables, shelves, etc. are regularly cleaned will also help to greatly reduce dust and other allergens.  Be sure to remove the appropriate cleaners for woods and fabrics.  Vacuuming can be especially helpful on cloth-based furniture.

Regularly clean shower and tub areas.  Because these areas are generally damp, they can become breading grounds for mold and mildew.  To ensure that mold and mildew do not build up, regularly clean these areas with the appropriate cleaners.

Avoid opening windows when pollen is active.  This is pretty self-explanatory, but this will help ensure that no pollen gets in and it will decrease the number of allergens inside your home.

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Housing Advice

Apartment Security

In our experience, locking the door for college students seems to be a problem sometimes.  We’ve heard many stories when we were in college of students getting their possessions stolen simply because they or their roommates had left the door open or unlocked.  This is why we decided to give you some tips to make sure that it doesn’t happen to you.

Gauge the safety of the area you live in.  You can check local police logs to see where crime is occurring in your area.  If you notice someone has been robbed only one block over from your apartment, you will want to be especially careful.  In an article we read at My First Apartment, they suggest using websites like Everyblock which will also help you to gauge the relative safety of your neighborhood.   They also advise you to be aware of suspicious people who may be casing your apartment, and to consider your risk tolerance.  This means that if you know you live in an area that is a little sketchy, you understand that there will be risks.

Make sure your apartment and your building has working locks.  You want to make sure that the locks to your apartment and to the building work before you start moving in your things.  Be sure to examine the locks to ensure that nothing seems to be broken.  Then you’ll want to lock yourself out (with someone still inside who can let you in), and try to break in (without damaging anything).  You want to make sure that you can’t break into your apartment.  If you notice anything, or you find it to be really easy to get in, you’ll want to let your landlord know immediately.

If you don’t have a deadbolt, ask your landlord to install one.  In another article we read at My First Apartment advises that this is the most important piece of security for an apartment.  Deadbolts are much more difficult to pass, as they require a significant amount of force to be opened.

Don’t let people into your apartment or your building who you don’t know.  You should not open the door for anyone you don’t know.  Before you open the door, it is important to ask who it is.  You should also beware not to let anyone into your building who you don’t know.  If someone approaches you looking to get into your apartment building because they “locked themselves out” and you don’t know them, you shouldn’t let them in.

Be sure to store important and expensive valuables out of sight and in not-so-obvious places.  In one of the articles we read, they suggest that you make sure that you store things out of sight so that if someone were to break into your home, that they may not be able to find all of your jewelry in one obvious spot.  You may also want to be sure that no one can see the giant flat screen sitting in your living room.  Especially if you have a first floor apartment, you’ll want to make sure that you draw the blinds so that no one can see in and that you may have added security on your windows and doors (i.e. bars or extra security locks).

Talk with your roommate(s) beforehand about security.  Although it sounds a little strange, you want to know beforehand if your roommate never locks the door.  Sit down together and discuss how the security for your place should be handled.  Can you leave the door unlocked if you just ran outside for 5 minutes?  Can you leave the door unlocked when you’re home?  Whose responsibility is it to make sure the door is locked at night?  You’ll also want to talk about the aforementioned items we’ve listed here and develop a strategy as to how you and your roommate(s) can prevent your pad from becoming an easy and obvious target.

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Ask the Expert, College Planning, Finances

ASK THE EXPERT: College Financial Planning, Part 4

For the fourth installment of “Ask the Expert: College Financial Planning” series, we wanted to know how college housing choices effect financial aid decisions. To find out more, we spoke again with Mark Kantrowitz, college financial planning expert and publisher of FinAid.org and FastWeb.com.

According to Kantrowitz, room and board are factored into the cost of college attendance, making it an expense covered by a student’s financial aid package. If a student chooses to live on-campus, their room and board would be based on the dormitory fees and the standard meal plan fee. If the student chooses to live at home with their parent(s) or guardian(s), rarely will they receive any financial aid for their housing accommodations.

If the student lives in an off-campus property (other than at home), the student will be afforded an allowance within their financial aid package to cover the cost of their housing. However, this price will be an arbitrary average rent price that is based on occasional rent surveys, and as Kantrowitz explains, universities are very reluctant to change these figures once they have been set. This means that if a student chooses to live in a property that is more expensive than the housing allowance, the university will not alter their allowance to accommodate the greater price. The only circumstances in which Kantrowitz sees this change being made is when the student has extenuating circumstances, such as a disability or having a dependent, which would require them to choose a more expensive residence.

For this reason, Kantrowitz advises students to try to stay within their budgets when it comes to off-campus housing. He explains “Just because you have an allowance that says you can pay up to this amount per month for rent, doesn’t mean that you should spend that amount. This is because in most cases the money that you’re spending on your living expenses is going to come in the form of loans, not grants.” By spending up to the allotted amount or above that amount, this will not only increase the student’s expenses per month, but it will also increase the amount of debt the student will have to pay off when they graduate.

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Cooking, Housing Advice

Starter Pantry Essentials Checklist

When you’re moving off-campus for the school year, there are a lot of things to consider.  If your living in an unfurnished pad, in particular, there are a lot of things you have to remember to pack.  While it’s important, I’m sure many of you may forget the important essentials you’ll need to stock your pantry with when you move in.  It’s not like at home where your mom always had some chicken noodle soup in stock.  You’re on your own!

Knowing from our experience, we wanted to make sure you weren’t left out in the cold if you didn’t get to go grocery shopping one week.  Thanks to a couple articles we read at MyFirstApartment.com, we’ve come up with a list of things that every college student living off-campus needs to keep themselves fed.

  • Canned beans
  • Canned soups
  • Canned tomatoes
  • Pasta sauce
  • Spices (you at least want garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper)
  • All-purpose flour
  • Sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Baking powder
  • Baking soda
  • Vegetable oil (optional)
  • Olive oil
  • Vinegar
  • Dried pasta
  • Instant oatmeal
  • Mustard
  • Ketchup
  • Coffee/Tea
  • Cereal
  • Honey
  • Hot cocoa
  • Rice

The articles we referenced:

http://www.myfirstapartment.com/2011/10/first-apartment-pantry-essentials/2/

http://www.myfirstapartment.com/2005/11/starter-pantry-and-staples-checklist/

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Housing Advice, Roommates, Student Life

How to Deal with Roommate Issues

Let’s be honest here:  You and your roommate(s) are never going to see eye to eye on everything.  Whether it is about doing dishes, who’s buying the paper towels, or whether they can have friends over at 12 am on a Tuesday night, things are going to come up that you just won’t agree on.  However, you certainly don’t want to end up in a bickering match or giving each other the silent treatment for the rest of the year.  This is why you need to be prepared before it comes time for you to have a talk.  In an article we read at MSN.com, they gave some tips on how to talk with your roommate when problems arise:

  • Avoid passive aggression.  The sticky note you leave your roommate detailing their wrong doings never goes over well (beware not get yourself on this site!).
  • Emphasize the positive.  Before you talk with your roommate, be sure to make a list of their positive qualities.   This will help to remind you what you like about them, and it will help keep you positive when you talk with them.
  • Consider how you could be contributing to the situation.  Usually issues in a relationship are never black and white.  Maybe your roommate never does the dishes because you never do.  You will want to consider how you could make changes too.
  • Be prepared.  NEVER GO INTO A SITUATION LIKE THIS UNPREPARED.  I repeat:  NEVER GO INTO A SITUATION LIKE THIS UNPREPARED.  This is perhaps the most important item on this list.  If you go into a situation like this with your roommate and you have not thought about what you are going to say beforehand, a myriad of (not-so-good) things can happen.  However, what will most likely happen is one of two things:  1) you won’t actually say what you meant to say, or 2) you won’t say it right and it will cause more friction between you and your roommate.  Be prepared!  Think about what you want to say and how you want to approach the situation.  You’ll also want to consider their possible reactions and how you will approach their responses.  You may even want to write down some notes and practice what you’ll say beforehand.  You don’t have to be afraid to talk with your roommate; you just have to be prepared.
  • Pick a comfortable location and time to talk.  You want to pick a time and place where both you and your roommate will be relaxed.  You may even want to set up a time with your roommate to talk with them.  This will help to prevent any outside influences (work, school, etc.) from affecting the outcome of your talk.
  • Be tactful, even-tempered, and clear.  Be clear about what you want to change, and make sure there are no “grey” areas.  You want to keep a cool head and be strategic about how you say what you need to say.  At least then one of you will be levelheaded.
  • Use “I” statements versus “you” statements.  Be sure to avoid focusing the discussion on what your roommate is doing wrong.  Instead focus on how the situation and their behavior makes you feel.  This way you’ll prevent them from shutting out what you are saying.
  • Don’t wait too long to talk to them.  Talk to them within a reasonable amount of time.  If your roommate had a party while you were away, you don’t want to wait 3 months after the fact.  Talk to them within a couple days of when you return.  This way it will be fresh in both of your minds, and it will prevent any future incidents.
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Apartment Hunting, JumpOffCampus

Apartment Hunting Checklist

Whether it is your first time renting or not, it can be difficult to determine what you should be looking for when it comes to your apartment search.  There are a lot of factors to consider, and this is why we’ve put together a checklist for you to bring with you when you start your search.

The checklist we’ve designed helps you to keep track of what the apartment includes, and provides you with a way to compare different properties all at once.    We have also included insider tips on the obvious and the not-so obvious things you should be looking for when you visit a property.

A checklist like this is a useful tool when you start your apartment search.  You should never rent an apartment based on appearance only, and you should never rent an apartment just based on photographs.  We always suggest that you actually visit the listing before you sign on the dotted line.  It is important that you make sure that the property is exactly as it was listed and that it fits your needs.

To download a copy of our checklist and to view other tips on apartment hunting, go to http://jumpoffcampus.com/resources/checklist.

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Budget-Friendly Ideas, Cooking, Student Life

10 Ramen Noodle Recipes

Photo from ramennoodlerecipess.com

Ramen noodles are the college student’s best friend; they’re cheap, they’re quick to make, and they’re tasty.  However, after a week of ramen noodles for dinner, you may get a little tired of them.  This is why we’ve decided to share some awesomely easy ramen noodle recipes you can try to spice up your meal!

The Ramen Breakfast Burrito

2 cups water

1 (3 ounce) package of ramen noodles

1 egg

¼ cup shredded cheese

1 flour tortilla

hot sauce

Directions:

  1. Boil 2 cups of water.
  2. Crack and beat the egg.
  3. Add the ramen to the boiling water, and then slowly pour in the beaten egg.
  4. Leave on heat for 3 minutes while stirring.
  5. Drain all but about 1 tablespoon of water from the pot.
  6. Add the ramen seasoning packet, along with the cheese and your desired amount of hot sauce.
  7. Wrap the mixture in a flour tortilla and enjoy!

Chicken Ramen Noodle Salad

2 packages of ramen noodles

2 boneless chicken breasts

½ cup of croutons

¼ cup of shredded bacon

½ cup of Caesar salad dressing

4 cups of water

Directions:

  1. Pour 2 cups of water into a pot and bring to a boil.
  2. Once the water is boiling, add in both ramen noodle packages.
  3. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until noodles are tender and have separated.
  4. Take the noodles off the heat and strain out the water.
  5. Cook the chicken in a pan until fully cooked.
  6. Remove the chicken from the pan once done and add it to the noodles.
  7. Add croutons, shredded bacon and dressing and then enjoy!

Doritos Ramen Salad

1 package of ramen noodles

1 small bag of Doritos

½ lb. of ground beef

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

taco seasoning (optional)

Directions:

  1. Put 2 cups of water into a pot and bring to a boil.
  2. Once the water is boiling, add the package of ramen.
  3. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the noodles are tender and separated.
  4. Take the noodles off the heat and strain out the water.
  5. Place beef in a pan and cook.  Be sure to fully cook!
  6. Once its done, mix together with the noodles.
  7. Place the Doritos around the mixture in a circle, and crumble any chips you have left on top of the mixture.
  8. Add shredded cheese and taco seasoning and enjoy!

Ramen Chicken Parmesan

2 packages of ramen noodles

4 cups of water

2 chicken breasts (boneless and skinless)

2 eggs (beaten)

½ cup of milk

1 cup dried bread crumbs

½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup of mozzarella cheese

2 cups of spaghetti sauce

2 tablespoons of olive oil

salt and pepper

Directions:

  1. Put 2 cups of water into pot and boil
  2. Once the water is boiling, add in ramen packages
  3. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until the noodles are tender and separated
  4. Take the noodles off the heat and strain out the water.
  5. Mix together milk and eggs
  6. Pound the chicken breast until they are ¼ inch thick
  7. Dip the chicken breasts in the milk and egg mixture, and then dip into the bread crumbs.
  8. Place the olive oil and chicken into a skillet.
  9. Cook until the chicken is brown on both sides and the meet is fully cooked.

10. Remove the chicken from the pan, and add the spaghetti sauce into the skillet where you just cooked the chicken.

11. Once the spaghetti sauce is warmed, add the chicken back onto the skillet.

12. Add the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese to the top of the chicken and heat until melted.

13. Add the ramen to the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes in the spaghetti sauce.

14. Remove from the heat and enjoy!

Caramel Ice Cream Ramen

1 package of ramen noodles (crushed)

2 cups of caramel ice cream (or any other flavor)

1/3 cup of vegetable oil

Directions:

  1. While the noodles are still in the package, break the ramen into small pieces.
  2. Put the vegetable oil in a pan and cook until the oil is heated
  3. Put the noodles into the pan with the oil and gently shake the pan as they cook.  Be careful not to burn them.
  4. Once the noodles have browned, you can remove them from the pan.
  5. Put your desired amount of ice cream into a bowl.
  6. Add the fried ramen to the top of the ice cream and enjoy!

Ramen Frittata with Ham and Cheese

2 (3 ounce) packages chicken flavored ramen noodles

1 tablespoon butter

6 eggs

4 thin slices deli-style ham, cut into medium dice

3 green onions, thinly sliced

½ cup shredded mild cheddar cheese

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Follow ramen cooking instructions and cook until noodles are tender.
  3. Strain out the noodles from the water.
  4. Melt butter in a large ovenproof skillet on medium-high heat.  Add ham and green onions and cook until tender (about 3 minutes).
  5. Whisk eggs and 1 packet of the ramen seasonings into a bowl and stir in cooked noodles.
  6. Shake skillet to evenly distribute ham and green onions.  Add egg mixture and sprinkle top with cheese.
  7. Transfer skillet to preheated oven and bake until eggs are set and the cheese has melted (about 6-8 minutes).
  8. Serve and enjoy!

Vegan Ramen and Rotel

3 oz package of ramen (any flavor)

10 oz can Rotel mild or original

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

2 tablespoons margarine

water

Directions:

  1. Crumble the ramen noodles while still in the package and then pour into a bowl
  2. Sprinkle the nutritional yeast over the crumbled noodles
  3. Open a can of Rotel and pour over noodles.
  4. Add ¼ can of water
  5. Cook in the microwave on high for 6 minutes
  6. Stir in margarine and enjoy!

Vegetarian Pad Thai Ramen

2 ramen packages

1 16oz package of extra firm tofu

1 bag frozen stir fry vegetables

soy sauce

sesame oil

peanut sauce

Directions:

  1. Drain tofu and slice or cube into bite-sized pieces
  2. Place into a bowl and add 1 ramen flavor packet with soy sauce.
  3. Shake in sesame oil and allow tofu to marinate for 1 to 2 hours
  4. Cook ramen noodles according to instructions on the package.
  5. Cook frozen vegetables by stir-frying until done.
  6. Add tofu with enough of the remaining liquid to pan and continue to heat.  Stir gently until heated.
  7. Add ramen noodles and mix well.  Allow noodles to absorb remaining liquid in the pan.
  8. Remove from the pan, season with more sesame oil and peanut sauce and enjoy!

Girl Scout Thin Mint Ramen on a Stick

4 packages of uncooked ramen

1 16oz bag of dark chocolate chips

14 drops of peppermint extract

2 drops of spearmint extract

2 drops of wintergreen extract

24 lollipop sticks or popsicle sticks

½ teaspoon butter (optional)

Directions:

  1. Empty package of ramen into a bowl and crush until it has the consistency of bulky oatmeal or rice crispies.  Do not crush finer as the recipe will not set.
  2. Lay out wax paper.
  3. In a saucepan, melt chocolate chips until they become smooth and creamy.
  4. If desired, add butter.
  5. Slowly add mint extracts to the chocolate, and stir for 1 minute.
  6. Quickly pour over crushed ramen and stir vigorously until completely covered.
  7. Immediately spoon mixture in tablespoons onto wax paper to form round cookie shapes.  Mixture should flatten and spread considerably, so be sure to leave plenty of space in between.
  8. Place a lollipop or popsicle stick into each cookie before it harden.
  9. Allow to cool completely for about an hour and then enjoy!

Taco Ramen Salad

1 package beef ramen noodles

½ lb ground beef

1 small tomato, chopped

½ cup onion, chopped

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Thousand Island dressing

Directions:

  1. Cook noodles according to instructions listed on package.
  2. Cook beef in a pan until fully cooked and browned.
  3. Drain beef.
  4. Stir in ½ seasoning packet.
  5. Stir in onion, tomato, cheddar cheese, and noodles.
  6. Add dressing and enjoy!

If you’d like to find out more about where we found these recipes, just click on the recipe title!

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Ask the Expert, College Planning, Finances

ASK THE EXPERT: College Financial Planning, Part 3

For the third installment in our college planning series, we wanted to know what were some of the biggest issues encountered by students when applying for financial aid.  Once again, we spoke with Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid.org and Fastweb.com and expert on paying for college, to give us his perspective on this issue and how students can maximize their federal student aid.

According to Kantrowitz one of the major problems he identifies is that students often do not fully understand the reality of the loans they receive.  Kantrowitz explains that students will sign their name to a loan so long as it enables them to fulfill their dreams.  Many believe that they will figure out how to pay back the loan when they graduate from college.  However, this is a major problem, explains Kantrowitz, as it is much more difficult to figure out how to pay back the loan after you have incurred that cost, rather than before.   He urges that “If you’re choosing a college and your dream is to study a field that doesn’t pay very well, you need to make sure you borrow less to match your expected income when you graduate.”  While this could mean going to a cheaper school, it could also mean just limiting other costs while attending school.  Kantrowitz suggests buying used textbooks, selling textbooks back to the bookstore, taking fewer trips home, and eating out less.  He advises  “You have to live like a student while you’re in school so that you don’t have to live like a student after you graduate.”

Another major problem Kantrowitz identifies is that student often will not file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) early enough, and will consequently receive less financial aid.  Instead he urges students not to wait until they have filed their income tax information, but rather file their FAFSA based on projected income information and their previous income tax information.

To maximize financial aid with FAFSA, Kantrowitz urges students to be aware that income is weighted much more heavily than assets, and assets in a child’s name count much more heavily (about 20% are counted against aid eligibility) than those in the parent’s name (5.64% or less is counted against aid eligibility).  He explains that if you currently have a Uniform Gift to Minors Act (UGMA) or Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (UTMA) account to help save for college, you may want to consider moving the money to a custodial 529 college savings plan account.  Kantrowitz advises that this is the most tax advantageous ways of saving for college, and that this will help students to maximize the financial aid they receive.

By saving, being frugal and being mindful, Kantrowitz explains that students can make the most of their experience, while still being able to afford college.  It is important that students stay informed when it comes to paying for college so that they may make decisions that are right for them.

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