Listen up freshmen. Take a hint from the millions who have trod in your future footsteps before making colossal financial mistakes during your first collegiate year.  You will be let off a very tight leash, very soon, and the new freedoms will make your head spin.  Sleeping in, huge chunks of free time during the day, and professors who love to call "walks" are part of the perks you'll enjoy during university. 

But you'll have a myriad of clubs, shops, and credit card poachers waiting to steal every extra penny.  Maybe Daddy Warbucks funds all your expenditures right now, but if you don't learn how to live responsibly these early years, you'll find yourself fresh out of college with poor spending habits and, as a result, a pile of debt.

Whether Mommy and Daddy have everything covered or you are paying your own way, here are several ways to be proactive with your money over the next four years:

1. Don't join a fraternity or sorority.
While I get the family atmosphere and generational tradition of the panhellenic system, it is beyond me why anyone would want to pay the outrageous membership fees and dues associated with them.  It may give some great networking, but so do the thousands of other clubs and associations your university has to offer.  Because of the time requirements involved in extra curricular activities, I've known many students who've suffered irrevocably poor GPAs made during their first semester.  

To give you an idea of cost, one prominent easy coast university (not Ivey League) offers new membership for $500-$3250 the first semester, $500-$1900 in dues each semester for members living out of the house, and $1600-$5000 for in house members.  Add in the extras for formals, informals, t-shirts and you end up paying huge amounts just for friends.  My university offered an open house each semester advertising academic, service, and social clubs that require smaller dues.

2. Buy the smallest meal plan you need.
I assume most freshmen are terrified they'll go hungry away from Mom's cooking, which is why most young students have hugely inclusive meal plans that they don't utilize.  And the freshmen fifteen is no myth.  Think about the quality of the food you'll eat in the cafeteria and how often you'll actually use it.  Then downsize.  Invest in a small refrigerator and microwave for your dorm if you live on campus for healthier and cheaper snacks.  

3. Consider your living options.
Dorm costs may seem prohibitive, but there are many financial perks to living on campus.  Free laundering rooms, security, transportation savings, included electric costs, and dorm living camaraderie can make residing on campus worth the extra bucks.  Get a roommate though--you'll be lonely and broke otherwise.  If you prefer the solitude of a residence outside of university limits, think about renting a house with several friends.  Depending upon your area, houses are usually the cheaper options as long as several folks go in together.

This summer Apple retail stores are offering free “camps” for kids. The three-hour workshops range from creating movies, music, slideshows and photography.

You must register, as you can imagine space will be limited, but there is no limit to how many your child can attend. Apple stores will supply all the equipment needed, but you can bring your own Mac laptop running Mac OS X or cameras if you have them. Kids are also encouraged to bring favorite photos, movies, and music to use in their projects.

The workshops are recommended for kids ages 8-12, and a signed Camp Permission Statement (PDF) and copy of their registration confirmation is required. Parents must accompany kids under the age of 13 for the entire workshop.

Here are the workshops being offered...

Itching to get outta dodge this summer with little cash to spare?  Traveling and studying abroad doesn't have to tack another huge debt onto your student loans.  With extra planning you can fully experience another culture for much less than traditional programs.
 
1. Contact a university directly to make arrangements
If you connect with a college abroad, often they will be able to recommend a summer program with dorm or family housing and appropriate classes for your language abilities.  By doing the work yourself to arrange a study abroad with a university you can tailor it more toward your goals and save money.

2. Pick inexpensive destinations
The following are generally less expensive yet safe locations for studying abroad.  Parents, don't discount non-European destinations for fear of crime--most tourists who are aware of their surroundings have a higher likelihood of getting mugged in Detroit than in South America.

Guatemala continues to be a beautiful location for language study and great scenic travel.  Antigua is one of the cleanest and most visually appealing cities in the Americas.  From Mayan ruins to beautiful beaches, students headed here will make the most of their travel budget.
Head to Southeast Asia for cheap, tasty food, great sites, and cheap programs.  Saigon tops the list for must-sees.  Flight costs are not as prohibitive as you might think.

Believe it or not, Colombia is once again a safe place to travel.  Medellín is a delightful city with beautiful, lush greenery and welcoming Colombianos.

Before crunching numbers and working out a fine tuned college payment plan, first consider why you want to go in the first place.  Generation X and Y were born in a unique era--most of us went or plan to go to college because "that's what you do after high school".  We didn't enroll with an end goal.  Ask any professional student what they actually plan on doing with their diploma and nearly 90% have no clue (and think that's just fine).  What we see is an entire workforce convinced that degree equals job.  

My peers fresh out of college have no applicable skills, little real world experience, and an "I deserve it attitude".  So this is why a decade later those same sixth year seniors are finding new ways to enroll in post-grad work to wander through the wasteland of higher education, delaying even more life.  This speed off to more class mentality leads to idleness or, even worse, disillusionment.

1. Get an apprenticeship
If you don't have feel for your vocation, take time off or work during high school to learn from a professional who specializes in something you like.  Offer to sweep floors, answer phone calls, shine shoes, anything to get a feel for the occupation.  Owners love to employ free slaves.  Devote a good amount of time to experimenting in different fields so you have a better picture of what your skills are and what you actually enjoy.  This will save you thousands in tuition from switching majors three and four times, like I did.

2. Take advanced placement classes and tests in high school
I have mixed feelings about this one.  Being a former secondary teacher I have seen both the beneficial and nasty sides of AP tests.  The College Board sets such outrageously high standards that many colleges don't even meet.  And check with the universities you plan to attend to see if the have a limit on the number hours accepted for credit or if they accept AP scores at all.  Inquire about taking CLEP tests instead--they are college specific and have, historically, been easier to pass.  That being said, the class work involved to prepare students for the test sets a good pace for college level learning.