Last week was my 19th birthday and also my first week of sophomore year in college. In celebration I want to recap all things I learned when I was 18 and a freshmen in college:

1. Dress To Feel Good

This can go many different ways, especially in college. When I first started classes I would dress up and enjoyed doing it but as the days went on I got more and more lazy doing it and would find myself not caring what I wore. Although I love comfy clothes and to not care, it’s actually a proven study that if you dress good you will feel good. For those days you feel like it won’t be a good day, throw on your favorite shirt or pair of pants and trust me you will instantly feel good and have a boost of confidence.

2. Wear A Backpack

I learned this mistake quickly once winter came in full swing. This is primarily for girls who wanna look cute going to school and show off their designer tote bag. But trust me, you will want a backpack once teachers start giving more assignments and the weather turns to poop. It’s no fun walking from the building to your car or dorm juggling books, covering your tote and umbrella or snow coat; it’s just not a fun time.

3. Buy Your Books Used and Rent

Honestly though, the key to saving money in college step 1 by far is buying used books and renting. I prefer to buy my books off of chegg.com (totally not sponsored) but getting them used although they aren’t brand new is a life saver. Most of the time you won’t use your book very often and buying them will just cause them to sit in your room or be sold back for cheaper. Rent your books and not worry about having to sell them back, its quick and simple and saves you money for other things like food.

4. Don’t Go Out To Eat As Much

Which brings me to number five. I found myself a lot first semester especially always grabbing food on the go, whether it was on my way to school or after school. I probably spent well over $200 on food alone at one point, which is ridiculous. Pack snacks for your long classes in between meals and if your school provides lunches, eat there especially if it’s part of your plan. It will save you money and save you some pounds too while you're at it. Freshmen 15 gone forever!

5. Meet New People

This should be a no brainer especially in your first year of college. Whether you ran into them in the hallway, on your dorm or in a class, talk to new people and don’t be shy. Making friends will make your transition from high school to college much smoother and you will have people to talk to instead of being alone all the time. Even if they're just someone you talk to in class, it will definitely benefit when you have group projects.

6. Take Note

The main difference between high school learning and college learning is your teacher will never tell you exactly what to write down in your notes, you just have to know. I found it easier to take notes on my laptop and anything that was on the powerpoint I would write down. Yes my hands cramped sometimes, but it was totally worth it when the test came around.

7. You Don’t Have To Party To Have A Good Time

What I learned since being in college, especially being at a community college is that it’s okay if you aren’t out Thursday through Saturday getting drunk with your friends. A lot of people have this pressure to feel the need to party and if they don’t in college they're lame. But honestly, not partying all the time really saved my ass when it came time for grades and I was able to do other fun things that didn’t result in me throwing up.

8. Dating IS Okay

I once read somewhere to not date in college, to just have fun and experience. Although I can see one’s point, being someone who never dated in high school I found it prime time to go dating and meet new people. Being in a relationship isn’t the end of your college fun, it’s just nice having somewhere there for you all the time and not worrying if that person has been with everyone on campus or if they will call back. Go out and date and have fun!

9. It’s Okay To Not Have Your Sh*t Together

I wrote a whole article about this explaining it all. But to recap, you don’t have to know where you're going in life right at this moment. Your major may be hazy or your career but that doesn’t mean your on the wrong path. Being incollege and at least getting credits is a start and step towards your degree. Every year will be different the more you grow and get to know yourself better.

10. Save Yo Money

Although I didn’t learn this trick until this summer, it still helps a lot. Setting aside paychecks or any extra money you receive for later on is smart. Since next year I plan to transfer out, I decide to start saving for the things I’ll need to buy and try and limit the amount of debt I will be going into. Be a smart saver any amount helps!