College for many people is the first time they will ever live on their own. There is no longer another person to worry over what they will eat, who they will share their room with, no one to do house chores for them, and especially no one to worry about money for them.
If this seems stressful for you, you can read here some ways to manage this situation, especially the financial side.
A good place to start is to think of all expenses you expect. Those costs are best approached with a good budget. This is only possible if you can itemize that list. There will be some fixed cost expenses, and others with varying costs. You have some you need to take care of yourself, and others which are covered by your parents. You, therefore, have to think of getting a part-time job. Housing, for example, will be a recurring expense each semester. You need to think of the costs and benefits of staying in campus housing, to those of choosing off-campus accommodations. Transportation is another factor, affected mostly by your choice of residence. You need to buy books and supplies, especially if here is no scholarship or financial aid.
A budget then helps you monitor your spending. You need to try and live below your means. By creating financial goals, all you do will be aimed at coming closer to those goals. You need to regularly review your spending, maybe on a monthly basis, to help you put in place money saving strategies where necessary. There are apps you can use to make the process easier and convenient for you. A good approach would be to prepare your meals instead of eating out all the time. The right meal plan helps you keep costs down, ensure you eat healthy food, and save time in the process.
You need to find out if there are other cost-cutting measures you can implement. An example is acknowledging your need for coffee, and instead of wasting money at a coffee shop, buying a coffee maker. There are also the college social events where they serve free food, which should motivate you to attend more of those. You can also focus on the discounts, and other offers most companies have for students. You can use your status as a college student to save so much when you use those discount coupons. If you are into drinking, do it responsibly and safely. Too much drinking not only affects your health, it is also not good for your financial health.
These tips should help you manage your finances well, and give you ample time to focus on your studies. You will discover more financial tips on this site.