10 Jul I’m Excited to Start College. But I Can’t Stop Thinking About How Expensive Everything Is

“As I get ready to go away to college, my biggest worry is how I am going to pay for food and everything else I need to live,” the author (not pictured) writes. (Photo by Alex Jones on Unsplash)

Commentary, Anthony Escobar

Graduating from high school should feel like a celebration, and in many ways, it does. But for me, it has also filled me with worry about how I will afford my future. As I prepare to leave San Pablo and start at UC Santa Barbara this fall, I keep thinking, how I am going to pay for everything as prices keep going up?

President Trump campaigned on a promise to “immediately bring prices down, starting on Day One.” But I have seen the opposite.

 I first noticed grocery prices rising when I went shopping with my grandparents at Costco. I noticed the prices of eggs, beef, cereal milk, and frozen foods were higher than before. And it was not just at Costco. Prices were also higher at local stores like the San Pablo Supermarket.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, grocery prices rose 2.2% from May 2024 to May 2025. Because of this, we’ve has had to cut back on things we thought we did not need, just to avoid wasting money on food that might go uneaten. For a family like mine, every dollar matters. There are times my mom even drives to other cities like Sacramento or Oakland to buy groceries in bulk. Buying in larger quantities helps us save money overall, even when you factor in the cost of driving. This way, we can stock up on what we need and make fewer trips.

It is stressful knowing that the basics are getting more expensive and we have to work even harder just to afford what we need.

As I get ready to go away to college, my biggest worry is how I am going to pay for food and everything else I need to live.

My financial aid package does not cover everything and I am not sure if I will get enough in the next few years to stay at a university. I have not made a budget yet since UCSB is far from home and it is hard to know what my expenses will be. But I am mostly worried about how I will afford food and a place to live. I want to get a part-time job or maybe an internship in sports photography since I enjoy it, but I will have to wait until I get there to see what is available.

When politicians talk about inflation, what they say does not match what I actually see at the store. Before the last election, some warned that prices would rise, while others promised relief. Despite these promises, I continue to notice costs going up. Now, with Trump back in office, economists warn that his new tariffs could make grocery bills even higher, especially for items like seafood, coffee, nuts, cheese and beef.

And it’s not just food. The news about school funding is also worrying. This is not just a normal budget cut. California schools are scrambling because the Trump administration froze nearly $811 million in federal grants for after-school programs, English-learner services, teacher training, and more.

Districts had counted on this money and now might have to cancel summer programs and cut important services. State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and others say this move is illegal and will hurt the students who need these programs the most.

I know I am not the only one feeling this way. Other teens in this area are also struggling with rising costs and financial worries. In a recent CC Pulse article, people still in high school or getting ready to start college like me shared their stories about how hard it is to afford groceries, pay for school, and plan for the future when so much feels uncertain.

If I could tell people in power one thing, it would be that the real cost of living for students is much higher than they think. Every dollar counts, and every price increase makes it harder for us to succeed.

Despite everything, I am determined to make the most of my time at UCSB and keep chasing my dreams, no matter how expensive the world gets.