As college students, the pain of being flat out broke is one we all know way too well. Ever look at your bank account and wonder, "where the hell did all of my money go?" because I do.
The gym
Since graduating high school, I always thought it would be really cool to finally get into shape and build some muscle. There are so many different gyms to choose from, with prices ranging from $10 to $40 a month, depending on what gym you go to. For some people, it takes a while to figure out what gym fits them best, and for some of my friends, they were members of two different gyms at once before they figured out what gym was their best fit.
Textbooks
I recently read on Twitter that the cost of college textbooks has risen 812 percent in the past 30 years, which is more than healthcare, housing prices, and college tuition. My boyfriend is a biology major and spends well over $500 a semester on his textbooks, while some students are lucky enough to spend less than that, some may even spend more. It is a killer when the professor requires you to purchase the book he wrote for class (then offers to autograph it for you). Regardless, textbook prices are insane, and it is just going to get worse.
Tuition
With it becoming harder and harder to get loans for school, many college students find themselves struggling to make the necessary payments for their school's tuition. For those who do take out loans, once they graduate, they almost need a second job just to pay off the loans that allowed them to spend the last four years in school.
Gas
Thank god, gas prices have started to go down within the last six months because, aside from food, gas is probably the only thing I spend my money on. In reality, there is no way you can get to and from places, such as the mall, school work and even a friends house, and avoid spending money at the pump. My parents always wonder why my friends and I drive over 35 minutes to get ice cream or a burger, but it sometimes feel like the only thing to do at times.
Food
Most college students will admit to spending most of their money on food. Forget saving for something nice when you could easily drop $20 on a nice lunch for yourself. I cannot remember the last time I bought myself a nice outfit, or got a manicure, but I remember the last 10 places my friends and I got food from in the last week.