 TITLE: How Much Should I Get in Student Loans? CONTENT: Create a Budget\n---------------\nNow that you know how much money you'll likely have to help pay for school, it's time to put together a budget. In simple terms, a budget helps you track how much money you have coming in and how much you have going out. There are many ways to make a budget, from using an Excel spreadsheet to online apps that can partly automate the process.\nTo finish determining how much you need in student loans, you'll have to figure out the expense side of your budget. Your university should provide estimates on costs, which you can use to calculate how much you'll likely spend on tuition, books and housing.\nWhen adding up your expenses, you will also need to factor in additional monthly costs, such as:\n*   Food, if not included in your on-campus housing costs\n*   Rent, which may be included in your education costs if you plan to on campus (be sure not to double-count)\n*   Utilities, if your dorm or housing situation requires you to pay for water, electricity, internet and cable\n*   Transportation, such as car payments, a campus parking permit, gas or public transportation passes\n*   Entertainment, including the occasional night out and things like streaming services END