As you make
plans to enter dental school, it is important to maintain good financial
habits. The cost of a dental education depends on many factors, but the bottom
line is that with advance planning, dental school is an affordable and
worthwhile investment. Lauren Arguelles, a third-year dental student at the
University of Florida College of Dentistry, has some words of advice and
thrifty tricks for individuals applying to dental school and newly enrolled
students seeking guidance on costs incurred before and during dental school.
Make a Budget
This may seem
obvious as the first topic of advice, but I can’t stress enough how important
it is to create a budget. Committing to a budget is more difficult for some
than others. Those prone to overspending should try putting money for expenses
such as rent and groceries into a separate bank account to ensure funds for
living expenses are “untouchable.” Monitor your monthly expenditures to make
sure you stay under your maximum, which can assist with sticking to your budget
successfully. It is important to strike a balance between frugality and
indulgence.
Take Advantage of Good Sales for Scrubs
We all
constantly see the fancy, expensive scrubs in commercials all over Instagram,
but let me be the first to tell you: It’s not worth the money. Scrubs are like
any piece of clothing that needs to be replaced. During my second year, I
replaced several of my scrub tops because they were getting old. Most of us
live off student loans while in dental school, so using loan money to replace
terribly overpriced scrubs is not worth it! Most online or brick-and-mortar scrub
stores have sales, so take advantage of them. Purchasing your scrubs during the
summer blowouts before each academic year is probably the most frugal way to
buy them. I don’t own a single pair of scrubs that I didn’t buy on sale, so
don’t go with the hype of getting the best brands. Just make sure the material
is stretchy and comfortable, because you will be living in these clothes 24/7.
Meal Preparation > Restaurants
Pinterest will
become your best friend during dental school. If you aren’t a big fan of
cooking or spending time in the kitchen, find easy meal prep solutions that you
can box up on Sunday for the rest of the week. Meal prepping will not only help
you stay on top of your budget, but there’s also an incentive to improve your
health, especially during exam season. Having balanced meals already prepared
and ready to eat will reduce impulsive takeout purchases while engrossed in
those study sessions.
This is
applicable to coffee too! Invest in a coffee maker, such as a Keurig, to
conveniently (and inexpensively!) make yourself coffee in the morning while
getting ready. The coffee at school can be severely overpriced—due to obvious
supply and demand. Bringing your own mug from home will not only save you money
but also time waiting in line.
Don’t Break the Bank
When you start
applying for loans, you’ll see there are many different kinds. Many schools let
you take out up to the total cost
of attendance (COA), which includes expenditures for laptops, books,
housing, etc. Unless you absolutely need to purchase a new laptop for school,
try not to max out your loans. Borrow only what you need for that semester. The
extra money is not needed and, in the end, will increase your total repayment
amount unnecessarily. It all adds up.
We are
embarking on a rigorous and expensive doctorate program. At the end of the day,
these loans are still going to be hefty in addition to day-to-day expenses. It
is our responsibility as students and possible future business owners to
occasionally take a step back and re-evaluate our finances. Remember, you are
not in this alone, as we are all going through the same struggles. So breathe,
because we all are in this together.
About
Lauren Arguelles:
Lauren
Arguelles
Third-year
dental student
University
of Florida College of Dentistry
Lauren
Arguelles is a third-year dental student at the University of Florida College
of Dentistry. She was originally born in Havana, Cuba, and lives in Hialeah, FL,
with her family when she’s not at school in Gainesville. Lauren has
enthusiastically served on the ADEA GoDental Advisory Group as a dental student
representative in 2018.
In her free
time, Lauren is an avid lover of traveling to new places with her family and
friends and scuba diving off the piers in South Florida.