Teens should save money for these five things

Gracen+Nelson

Gracen Nelson

As I have been working since June, I have had plenty of money — and have spent plenty of money.

I have bought pretty much everything I have wanted.

With the money I have earned by working part-time, I have purchased Beats by Dre, a PS4, paid for an upgrade on my iPhone, paid for Netflix each month, and, of course, shopped.

I currently have pretty much everything I want.

But as college is right around the corner, I cannot help but think that I need to save all of my money for it.

Here are five smart things to save your money for, no matter if you work or not.

1. College

College is expensive. That is why I am starting at community college to save money.

Books alone can be $500 or more for one semester. I do not even average $500 in a check.

So when those green bills gifted to you on your birthday are burning a hole in your pocket, I would recommend saving at least a quarter of them.

If you start saving now, you could have a nice amount in your bank account when college comes.

2. A laptop

You will need a laptop for college if you do not already have one.

It is a good resource to have when you need to do schoolwork.

Microsoft Word is the most beneficial application a student can use, so you will also need to purchase that if it does not come with your laptop.

A laptop ranges from about $300 to $600 for a nice, average one.

If you are an Apple fan and are in the market for a MacBook, be prepared to spend over a $1,000 for it.

3. A car

If you work but do not have a car, I bet your parents, or whoever drives you to work, are getting tired of it.

A car is a necessity for life after high school.

Having a car gives you freedom, and, more importantly, flexibility.

With a car, you do not have to work around schedules for someone to give you a ride.

You can buy a used car for around $2,500.

It is a lot to save, but worth it in the long run.

4. Electronics

I love my Beats by Dre headphones. They cost me about $220, but it was worth it. I use them every day.

Maybe you do not like music as much as I do, but saving for electronics is a good way to spend money.

Maybe you want a new television for you room.

A 32-inch Samsung flat screen, which I bought by saving money, ranges from $200 to $250.

A 32-inch television is a good size for a medium-sized bedroom.

It was a big upgrade for me because I had one of those old box televisions in my room.

Another cool thing to buy is a GoPro Camera. The prices of each camera varies.

I do not own a GoPro, but many people I know do.

The camera is waterproof and durable. My cousin used his last summer when he went jet skiing.

The quality is amazing. I felt like I was watching an IMAX movie.

5. Clothes

Buying new clothes is smart because you can never have enough clothes.

Clothes can range from being fairly inexpensive to being expensive.

You can shop on sale and get lots of good deals or buy clothes full price if you want them that badly.

Some people say buying clothes is a waste of money, but I do not think it is.

If you do accumulate too many articles of clothing, you can always be a Good Samaritan and donate them.

So do not waste money on fast food or impulse buys — spend your money wisely.

If you spend a lot of money on things, make sure most of them are good purchases.