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Part of your student’s college experience will be developing skills and routines they will use beyond their time at CU Boulder. These “life skills” can include cooking, completing household chores, running errands and paying bills. Here are some tips to share and resources to help your student develop these skills and become more independent.

Finances

Learning to create and stick to a budget is a skill that can help your student stay organized and save money. Whether your student has a regular paycheck, allowance or Munch Money balance, help them set up a budget and find effective ways to track expenses. Share these five steps for making a budget to help them get started.

With winter arriving soon, you can also talk with your student about ways to save money—especially if they are responsible for utilities. Encourage your student to sign up for a free EcoKit through the Environmental Center. This is a free service that helps students save money on energy bills while reducing their ecological footprint. EcoKits provide upgrades like energy-efficient light bulbs, window film and water-smart showerheads at no cost.

Cooking

Part of the fun of cooking is experimenting and trying new things. If your student has a meal plan, share these dining center hacks with them to add variety to their week. They can also try these residence hall-friendly recipes to make meals and snacks in their rooms.

If your student has a kitchen, share these meal upgrades or easy recipes to try this month. You can also plan to cook a few meals together from the Buff Family Taste of Home Cookbook the next time your student is home.

Living off campus

It’s about that time for students to start thinking about where they’d like to live next year. If your student is planning to live off campus, encourage them to do some research. They can start with a budget that includes what they can afford for rent, utilities and other costs. Then they can use , CU's rental database, to search for units around the Boulder area.

The is coming up on Oct. 28. Students will have the chance to meet with property managers, city offices and vendors. Encourage your student to prepare for the fair and think of some questions to ask property managers.��

Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations is here to help students with everything they need to know about living in Boulder. Students have access to free lease reviews and legal advice on rental concerns, and information on city ordinances to avoid citations.

Finding jobs and internships

It’s never too early for students to be thinking about their future. Whether your student knows what they want to do after college or is still figuring things out, Career Services can help.��

Encourage your student to join weekly workshops with career advisors. Your student will learn about resumes and cover letters, finding internships, networking and other topics. Wherever they are in their academic journey, they will get helpful tips. These workshops are also a chance to ask career advisors specific questions.