The college life is upon you and you're excited to attend. Tuition is covered and paid for, and your dorm or apartment is waiting for you. Going to college will incur a lot of expenses that you may have not fully planned for. We have some helpful tips to consider when planning for the day-to-day costs of the college experience.

One of the many mysteries of going to college is what being there will actually cost. Yes, you know there’s tuition. But how much will you or, if you're a parent of someone going to college, your child need to make it through the first semester? The first year?

Here’s what to plan for first: the start-up costs of being a college student.

Start-up costs include a variety of things, but a great place to start is school supplies—consider the following:

• Laptop or tablet
• Textbooks
• Class, studio, and lab fees
• General school supplies like a backpack and notebooks

Consider these items to purchase if you're moving into an apartment or dorm for the first time:

• Bedding and towels
• Furniture such as a desk, bed, dresser, couch, or dining room table
• Dishes, cutlery, pots, and pans
• Small appliances like a microwave or toaster
• Groceries

You may already have some things to use, which will save you money. To help make the initial cost a little easier, it's wise to focus on the essentials first and then build up to the "nice to have" items as you go. That way you'll have enough to get started without breaking the bank.

Also, some colleges share roommate contact information before school starts. It's smart to get in contact with your roommate and figure out how you can share expenses, and avoid duplicating efforts. Maybe they already have a microwave, so you won't need to purchase one. But in the case that you do buy an extra microwave, always save your receipts to ensure that you can easily return items you won't need.

You may be amazed at how fast cash can disappear if you’ve never lived on your own before. The amount of things that you'll suddenly be responsible for can be overwhelming. Making a budget will help you spend money mindfully. Consider starting to budget by splitting your funds between: needs, wants, and savings.

A need includes the everyday or vital things that you need to survive like food, utilities, toiletries, and laundry.

Your wants can be other things that can make your college life fun but can be cut in a pinch. Things like concert tickets, going out to eat with friends, and other entertainment options.

Finally, your savings. It's smart to dedicate part of your budget to saving towards an emergency fund and long-term savings every month.

Being aware of what you're doing with your money can encourage you to save and help you get what you want out of the money you have available.