But really, it is a big decision; one that deserves some thought.

My Experience
I majored in Marketing…  And I now regret it. There, I’ve said it.  What a weight off my shoulders!  

I chose Marketing during the second half of my sophomore year because I figured that it would get me more money.  I didn’t really know anything about it, and it sounded kind of interesting- that was about it.  Thinking back, I really can’t believe how little thought I gave this decision.  I originally started out as an Elementary Education major because I love teaching and working with kids. I switched after deciding that teachers are underpaid and overworked; and the demand for new teachers in my area was very low.  Seeing as I’ve already made this mistake, and hindsight is 20/20, I suppose I could tell you about a few of my ’should haves’.

So how can you find a major that’s right for you?

First, don’t panic!  Ha, I’m serious.  It’s okay if you don’t have your major chosen within your first year of college.  It’s a good idea to take a wide variety of classes to get a feel for what you like for the first semester or two.  Hopefully that will make your decision a bit easier as well.

Do something you enjoy.  This should be obvious, but a lot people may need to do some searching before they find something they really want to do.  This was my mistake; while marketing may be right for some people, it definitely is not right for me. I would seriously recommend reading What Color Is Your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles, and Do What You Are by Paul D. Tieger.  These books are both incredibly helpful when it comes to choosing a career path or finding a job.

Pretend that you already have the degree and you need to find a job. See what kind of jobs are available where you want to live, how many there are, how much experience they want, how much they pay, etc.  This will give you a better idea of what it’s going to be like around graduation time.

*Note: If I had done this in college I would have realized that every entry-level job in “marketing” in my town was a sales position, I would have switched majors so fast my advisor’s head would’ve been spinning. Now I’m stuck with a degree I don’t want to put to use (unless it’s within my own business, or I move).

Get experience.  I don’t mean a full time job.  Volunteer.  Get an internship.  Both will be more valuable than you can imagine.  It is really the best way to truly discover the job and figure out if it’s right for you.  Another added bonus is that both look great on your resume! Check out InternWeb if you’re looking for an internship; or VolunteerMatch if you’d like to find a volunteer opportunity in your area.

Make a game plan.  I know people are always pushing this, but seriously.  It really works.  Where do you really want to be in 10 years?  Most importantly, how are you going to get there?  Having a vision of your life after college will really help you out, even if you don’t follow it to a T.  Not only will it help you get to where you want to be career-wise, but it’ll probably help you avoid financial fumbles after graduation.

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We’ve all heard of the terrible Freshman Fifteen, and while we try to avoid it, we just can’t figure out how to make it work with our space and schedules.  I fell into this trap, and ended up gaining a total of about 40 lbs during my 4 years of college.  Luckily,  I’ve managed to lose all of that weight in the past year.  It’s definitely best if you never let yourself get in a situation like that.  The good news?

It’s possible to eat healthy and still be frugal.

These foods are all pretty fast, cheap, and easy:

• Tuna – It has a lot of protein, it’s fairly cheap, and all you need is a can opener.  If you don’t like it by itself, try mixing in some mustard or a little salad dressing.
• Eggs – During college I discovered that you can make scrambled eggs in the microwave.  It’s very easy and very fast.  They’ll cook in about 1 min, just be careful not to cook them for too long!  Hard boiled eggs are also easy, and make for fast breakfasts.  Just make a bunch and keep them in your fridge.
• Vegetables – I prefer fresh vegetables, but if you don’t have space in your refrigerator you can always go with frozen or canned.  All are fairly inexpensive.
• Potatoes, Rice, and Bread –It’s a good idea to go for brown rice and whole grain breads when buying these things.  Otherwise a bag of potatoes is really cheap, and you can easily microwave it for a quick baked potato.  Just don’t forget to poke it with a fork or knife first or it could explode.
•  Oatmeal- If you like oatmeal, then you’re in luck.  A large tub of plain quick cooking oats is really cheap, and super easy to make.  Add some fruit for better flavor.
• Bananas and Oranges – Both of these fruits are fairly cheap, and you can easily just bring them to class with you.
• Dairy Products – While dairy products aren’t that cheap, they are good for you, and they are affordable in moderation.  I always keep skim milk on hand, and occasionally some yogurt.
• Cereal – Cereal can be fairly cheap, and is pretty healthy as long as you don’t get the really sugary stuff.

What else can you do to save?

• Stop drinking soda. Water is the healthiest and cheapest way to go. Buy yourself a water bottle that you can refill.
• Stop eating out.  Not only is it bad for your waistline, but for your wallet too.  When it comes to getting fast food or delivery, just say no!
  
• Learn to cook.  Once you get out of dorms and get more space, this will be a huge money saver!  Keep an eye out for some good healthy recipes from yours truly.
• Be an example.  Help reinforce good habits for your friends.  Don’t give in when they want to go spend money.  This brings up an important point…

Dealing with the peer pressure of spending is probably the most difficult thing to deal with in college.

My friends were always shopping.  If not that, then they were going out or ordering delivery.  This is a bad habit to get into.  Don’t let yourself fall into it.  I am definitely going to write on the peer pressures of spending for later.  I think it deserves an entire post!

So, back on topic now.  What do you do to eat healthy?  If you have a favorite recipe or idea for cheap and healthy meals, share it with us!

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Photo credit: Gullig

9. Find free events near your college or university- There’s a lot going on, you just might not be looking for it! Most campuses have movie nights, concerts, game nights, etc. These events are usually free, and you may even win free prizes for going.

8. Pack your lunch- This can save you quite a bit of money in the long run. If you’re going to be on a meal plan, which one you choose is just as important. It may take a semester or so to find out how often you take advantage of the cafeteria, so you should remember to find out how many meals you used, and how many you had left, so you can possibly adjust to a cheaper plan for the next semester.

7. Don’t go bar-hopping- Buying drinks out at a bar or restaurant is ridiculously expensive. If you must go out, either drink when you get back or before you go out (this is obvious, but always have a designated driver). If you’re at the liquor store, go with friends and split the cost of the alcohol, or just buy something cheap.

6. Apply, apply, apply- For scholarships and grants, I mean. Believe me, in 4 years you will be so happy that you did. Don’t worry; if you’re already in school it’s not too late! Ask your financial aid office or a professor in your department about scholarship opportunities, or do some research of your own. Fastweb is a great place to search for scholarship opportunities. Remember, every little bit helps!

5. Don’t (over) use credit cards- The only time it’s okay to use a credit card is when you’re paying off the balance in full every month. I would suggest keeping a credit card only for minor purchases, just to build your credit. Use it once or twice a month to buy your groceries, then pay it off.

Also, if you have a credit card, never use them at the ATM. The interest rates for “cash advances” on credit cards are outrageous; usually between 20% to 25%. What’s even worse, if you have a balance on your credit card to pay off, they can save that cash advance so it’s the last amount that gets paid off, so they are charging you the highest interest rate on the cash advance amount for as long as they possibly can.

4. Open an online savings account- They get much better interest rates than regular savings accounts. Most of the highest interest rates can be found at online banks such as Emigrant Direct, E*Trade or ING Direct. Another good thing about these sites is that they have no account minimum, so you can start your account with as much money as you have, even if it’s only $25 or so.

3. Do NOT use your college bookstore- EVER! I cannot emphasize this enough. College bookstores will charge you an arm and a leg for a book that you could easily find somewhere else for much less. There are so many places where you can easily find your required texts for much cheaper. Some of these sites include:

Amazon

Half.com

eBay.com

Facebook Marketplace

And once you’re done with the class, resell any books you don’t want to keep using these same sites! Odds are you will make more money back then just selling them back to your bookstore at the end of the semester.

2. Go without a car- This is another important one. It will save you (or mom and dad) the cost of insurance, parking costs, and any payments you have left on the vehicle. It will also save you the hassle of oil changes and general maintenance.

Need to go to the grocery store? Walk, take the bus, or hitch a ride with a friend.

1. Avoid impulse buys- This is the one thing that really put me under during my freshman year. My $1000 in savings for “food and necessities” was wiped out before the year was over. Just remember: If you don’t need it, don’t buy it!

Photo credit: Jeff Keen