Think about being a senior and how expensive it is. It seems like it wouldn’t cost more than any other year, but that is just a common misconception. Senior year comes with many expenses and responsibilities.
Thomas Tran is a senior this year at Newton High School. He has spent a lot of money so far, most of it going toward his gas, food, and bills. He saves about 20% of his check and the rest of it goes to his parents to help them out with different costs. After senior year, he plans to get a job for the summer and then head off to college.
“Once senior year ends, I am going to pick up a summer job,” Tran said.
One expense Tran is not a fan of is being required to dress up in order to participate in football games. However, some people have nothing to wear for the games so they have to go out and spend money to be able to go support the football team.
“I don’t like the fact that we have to dress up for football games, that’s probably a downside,” Tran said.
Maria Lujano is another senior at NHS. Lujano will have 11 college classes done by the end of her senior year. The cost will not be too high because she did them In high school which means they get reimbursed to her. She budgets her senior year by splitting up her checks. Most of her money currently is going to her college classes, because the books are very expensive.
“The classes are fifteen hundred for first semester and another fifteen hundred for the second semester,” Lujano said
A plus side of spending money for her is that her senior pictures were free because they were done by her aunt. If she didn’t get the bonus, she would have spent between $200 to $500 on them. Lujano’s advice for incoming seniors is to think about your purchases and save where you can.
“Know what you are doing after high school and save before you spend,” Lujano said.
Senior Natalie Jones said senior year will cost too much for her budget. She estimates by the end of senior year, it will cost between $500-$1000. She is planning to attend college after high school at Washburn University. To make this transition easier, she is currently taking three college classes plus two AP classes.
“I am taking three college classes throughout the year so that will be about $800 and then two AP classes which are going to be about $200.”
A way that Jones budgets for senior year is by splitting up the money she earns from her job. She will take at least $100 into her savings account to help her pay for school-related things and save for college. Jones said it is understandable for seniors to pay this much for college classes, but she does believe that sentimental items, such as cap and gowns, are a little expensive.
“I don’t think a cap and gown should cost $80,” Jones said. “I feel like they are a little ridiculous in price, but I kind of saw it coming.”
