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As a freshman in college, you鈥檙e never quite sure exactly how much of everything you鈥檙e going to need to get through that first year away from home. As we鈥檝e said many times, shopping for our kids without a strategy in mind is a surefire way to break the bank. And while college students can be notoriously careless when it comes to managing budgets and student credit lines, most of the overspending (and the overpacking) that takes place that first semester can be blamed on parents.

We mean well! We just want to fully prepare our kids for the rigors and challenges of college life that lay ahead. But even in the name of preparedness, there is no need to go overboard dropping hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars on stylish dorm accessories, brand new textbooks or deluxe meal plans. Remember: you aren鈥檛 sending them to Mars. There will be grocery stores, office supply stores, secondhand shops (and yes, probably even a Bed Bath & Beyond) somewhere near campus. If you forgot something and they really need it, they鈥檒l go out and get it.

That said, surviving as a college student (or their tapped-out parent) is going to take some creative budgeting. That鈥檚 why we thought we鈥檇 ask our readers for their very best frugal student living tips for this week鈥檚 Reader Tip Tuesday on our Facebook page. As usual, Simple Dollar readers had plenty of great new tips to share.

Here are some of our favorite responses with minor edits!

• 鈥淜now that all your transactions made as credit do NOT show up immediately in your online checking. Keep a check register and KNOW YOUR BALANCE. Don鈥檛 rely on checking the balance online. Or you鈥檒l end up calling your parents all frantic about overdraft fees. Or so I鈥檝e heard.鈥� -Jan M.
• 鈥淟ive at home, eat vegetarian, go to a state school in your own state (or live in Canada where the tuition fees are affordable). And don鈥檛 waste time in college. Get your degree fast鈥揺ach extra term is wasted in tuition and not earning a living.鈥� 鈥揂nne Caroline D.
• 鈥淯se a drying rack for your laundry. Oh, and don鈥檛 launder it if it isn鈥檛 dirty.鈥� 鈥揇enise H.
• 鈥淢ake as much of your own food as possible, but know your limits. If you never have time to make 鈥渞eal鈥� food, then stock up on the cheap-but-healthier options like canned soup or chili. And make sure you always have a Pyrex measuring cup. Try to keep your daily food budget at about $5, which is enough for plenty of food that is fast and easy. If you can do lower because you have time to cook, that鈥檚 even better, but $5 is perfectly reasonable for even the most time-pressed of people.鈥� 鈥揂manda A.
• 鈥淭ake your education seriously! You are not there for the experience or the social life, but to learn and get a degree. Failing and retaking classes, dropping classes too late, taking classes that don鈥檛 fulfill the credits you need, missing out on scholarships because of a low GPA, or dropping out and not graduating are all very costly. Also, try to test of your general education classes or take them at a community college.鈥� -Amy J.

A huge thank you for the readers that shared their ideas! Every Tuesday we鈥檒l post a new question on our Facebook. 聽We look forward to hearing and sharing your tips.

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