College-bound students should save part of their summer earnings every summer toward college expenses. Every dollar saved is a dollar that might not have to be borrowed and then repaid later. Most scholarships are for one year only. Parents are always expected to contribute to their students' educational costs. In Wyoming, college dorms are always the least expensive living plan, no matter how many roommates think they can share expenses together to save money.
Food goes bad, roommates' friends come over for dinner.
Barbie drinks Susie's juice, and Muffy has to buy a big jar of cream of tartar to make one lemon meringue pie. Send your student to college educated about the risks of using credit. Pick up a copy of the free statewide scholarship book and search for the free computerized scholarship databases on the web. Students must have some cash when they arrive on campus, even if they're getting bundles of financial aid. If you will make deposits to the student's account, send the receipts to your student promptly to reinforce good recording keeping practices.