Fora lot of parents, sending their kids off to college is a bittersweetexperience. I think a lot of teenagers head to college without any idea abouthow money works. Don't let that happen to your college kid. Help themunderstand these issues before they step into that first class.
·Budget,budget, budget. So start by making sure you understand budgeting and havebegun to use it as part of your financial plan.
·Independencemeans responsibility. Living away from home means you have to take care ofyourself. Food doesn't just drop out of the sky, and gas doesn't magicallyappear in their car. Independence means responsibility.
·Even if your kid is going to a small community college, they'll still probablyhave a few thousand dollars of tuition to pay. If you break it down, one classcan cost $1,000 at the very minimum! And that doesn't even include books.
·Choosea major wisely. This isn't a must before they step on campus, but simplyplant a seed that gets them started thinking about what they want to do withtheir life. You don't want them graduating with a degree that leaves themunfulfilled or unable to find a job.
·Friendsmatter. Who you hang out with definitely influences how you spend moneyand the decisions you make. Without being overbearing, remind them howimportant it is to have positive friends who build them up instead of bringingthem down.
Remember,as a parent, just be there for support and to streng then these principles throughouttheir college experience.
a．College isn't cheap.
b．Cherish your opportunity.
c．Help your teenager find his or herpassion.
d．However, not all friends can be reallydepended on.
e．New friends mean new opportunities andsocial situations.
f．Do your best to prepare your son ordaughter for what that means.
g．If you aren't using a budget, it'll bedifficult to convince your kid to use one.
