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Gabriel X. Conde
Mrs. Herbert
English 12/ Period 6
02 September 2016
College Financial Plan
Introduction
Arizona State University has 82,000 students attending this year, 2016-2017. Next year, I
intend to be among them. I want to go to ASU because my grandfather works there and that
should give me a discount. With the discount it would be better for me to go to ASU for all of my
college years than a community college.
Housing Information
It is a hard decision between free or cheap living by staying with the folks or showing
independence by leaving the nest. Living independently includes living on campus or
renting an apartment. How much does independence cost?
On Campus Housing
ASU has two types of on campus living on its west location. Casa de Oro and Las Casas.
As a freshman, I would have to go to Casa de Oro. Amenities would include laundry, on call
maintenance, common room, etc. I could choose between having four or two roommates. Four
roommates is only $108 cheaper than the two roommate agreement. Two roommates, including
myself, cost $6,262 a year per person. It is required to have a meal plan. ASU offers many meal
plans, that rise in price the more years you go, but the required for freshmen is the Gold package.
The Gold package gives eight meals a week at the cafeterias and cost $2,726 a year. There are
other fees such as the Residence Hall Association fee which costs $50 yearly. Utilities are

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covered in the fee for living there. Living on campus would cost $9,038 my first year, then vary
based upon new dorms offered and forced meal plans. ASUs website.
Floor plan of dorm.

Standard look of inside of dorm.

Apartment Housing

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The second option is apartment living. The apartments on 1182 North 28th Drive have
several options; from studio to two bedroom living quarters. Some of the amenities in this area
include: basketball/tennis courts, a pool & hot tub, WiFi, laundry, pet friendly, etc. Assuming that
a roommate will be present, the likely choice is a two bedroom apartment, for privacy reasons,
etc. Two bedroom apartments range from $699-$799 a month with a $150 deposit fee. If split
down the middle, you and the other guy/gale split the bill, it will cost about $350-$400 a
month. It has 855 square feet of space to do as you may please. Food could be bought
exclusively for yourself or it could be split down the middle; buying food for the month with a
certain amount that must be spent. Spending $100 on food for a month and alternating months
with the roommate. Food cost equals $600 a year, but could be altered based upon roommate or
personal preference. Electricity could cost from $150-$50 a month depending on location. If on
the apartement is the under apartment then it will cost significantly less because the air
conditioner wont have to be on as much or as long. The cost also depends on the time of year.
Apartments usually have utilities like electricity, water, trash, etc. included in the rent. Living in
an apartment would cost about $6,600-$7,200 a year if I had to pay for food and Electricity,
assuming other utilities were included in rent. The website with the apartment.

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View from the pool

Floor plan for selected Apartment

Data
Expenses for 1 year On
Campus

Apartmen
t

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Rent

$6,262

$7,000

Food

$2,726

$3,000

Electricity

$0

$1,200

Extra Fees

$500

$0

Total

$9,488

$11,200

Housing Reflection
It turned out that living on campus was cheaper for me. What needs to be remembered is
transportation to school, parking, etc., but it would be easier to get to places if I was on on
campus. Some modes of transportation dont have many expenses, longboarding etc. I still need
a decent source of income to provide just for my living conditions, and well being. The $100 a
month for food could be stretched, because the campus food is all you can eat but doesnt taste
very good. If things got bad I could take a hamburger or something before I leave. In the
Apartment, things could depend upon the roommate; is the residency just temporary, would I
have to scramble to get a new roommate as as-soon-as-possible if the current one was to leave?
In the dorm, I wouldn't need to worry about a roommate leaving. Things could go awry very
easily so plans budgets must be made.
Financial Plan
A year of college at ASU isn't cheap. Tuition is estimated at $10,640 a year. ASU has
other costs like forced meal plans and other fees. Everything has a price, and they arent cheap.
Estimated Expenses
I think I would try to live on campus. I am not very social so depending on my location in
the dorm, I may be a happy camper or not. On campus living is going to cost $6,262, on top of
the $10,640 tuition and the forced meal plan of $2,726. Transportation could prove costly for gas
and registration, among other vehicle costs. Train or bus, maybe bike or longboard depending on

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distance, could save some cash. Since i'm on campus, I may as well just longboard everywhere. I
will also need more for books and other expenses. Having a job while on campus could prove
difficult with everyone trying to get work so close to school; the competition is going to be very
cutthroat.
Estimated Income
I may have some money from graduation gifts and a job. The pay for jobs could vary, but
since I have no official work history, let's assume I make minimum wage, $8.05 an hour. That
would only make $10,465 a year if I worked 5 hours every weekday. The time could vary based
on class times; I could work longer on certain days or work on the weekend to rangle in some
extra money. Finding work is going to be very cumbersome; I am going to need to be very
persistent and persuasive. I will need to work more hours or make more money, because as it
stands, I wont make tuition for a year.
Data
Estimated Income for 2017-2018
Item

Profeit

Job

$10,465

Gifts

$5,000

Scholarship $500
s
Loans

$3,000

Aid

$4,000

Other

$200

Total

$23,165

Estimated Expenses for 2017-2018

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Product

Cost

Tuition

$10,640

Books

$2,000

Apartment/Rent/Utilit
ies

$7,000

Transportation

$1,500

Personal Expenses

$150

Misc.

$300

Travel

$1,000

Total

$22,590

Financial Plan Reflection

I could barely skid by for a year, but i'm sure I will need even more money to keep
living life. I will have to give up or cut back on some of my hobbies and pastimes. I'm going to
need to work more or get a better job. I'm going to be very busy, which means the time I will get
away from school will be all the more sweeter and the temporary removal of hobbies will be all
right because my time will be filled gaining credits or cash. Debt is something I really dont
want, and ASU isn't cheap so I am still keeping community college on the table as a fall back
plan.
Conclusion
I could save more money by living on campus than an apartment. Apartment living could
prove to be more risky than on campus living as well. Either way I cut it, I will be required to
pay for a meal plan, which really annoys me because I could save a nice chunk of cash, so living
in the apartment wouldn't help in that situation. If the expenses prove too much and I have to
fall back, I intend to continue with the heavy work schedule and end up graduating from

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college, community, with an excess of money. ASU is still a first choice because it will grab the
attention of potential employers, even if it is going to cost me a pretty penny. The price for flashy
feathers is much more than the bland common feathers, but it may prove worth it in the end.

Works Cited