3 things on my mind before I start at UT
I only have 3 braincells, so I can only think of 3 things at once.
I'm going to UT Austin in the fall. Here's what I'm thinking about as I rapidly approach college:
1
I don't want to be a broke college student. I have some money saved up from birthday/graduation gifts that I've put into the stock market, but I want to grow my savings during college, not deplete them. I made a spreadsheet with my estimated income and monthly expenses:
Of course, I haven't started college—so I don't know whether my monthly spending estimates will be accurate. Will I end up spending way more than $20/month on clothing? Will I need more groceries than I can buy for $70/month?[1]
I'm also getting my first credit card. Just gotta pay it off in full every month: that is the only responsible way to use a credit card.
2
I had three appointments this week, all with professions that start with 'D':
- Monday: My doctor told me I was pretty healthy. He gave me standard suggestions: exercise, eat healthy, manage stress. I'll do my best, doc!
- Tuesday: My dermatologist encouraged me to use more sunscreen. She also checked two potentially cancerous moles. Good news—I don't have skin cancer! I also had a wart on my hand frozen off.
- Wednesday: My dentist told me I had a lot of cavities.[2] It's a shame—I don't drink soda, eat generally healthy, and have good dental hygiene.
I'm thinking about how to take care of my body throughout college. I'll need to build some good habits.
3
What am I taking to college? I'm happy to leave behind a bunch of crap in my closet and bathroom. But I definitely want to take this LEGO set:
Set 10315: Tranquil Garden
To be serious: I have to think carefully about what I'm taking. I won't have a ton of storage space in my dorm room, so I want to take the minimum amount of stuff necessary.[3]