If you’re an aspiring college student who’s concerned about making smart financial moves, you're not alone in wanting to get off on the right foot.

College can be an effective tool to help you achieve your dreams, but it’s also a big investment. Like any other investment, it should benefit you — not burden you — in the future.

So how do you know if you’re planning for college responsibly? Create a personal financial plan. This takes some time and research, but there are many resources to help you along the way.

Get familiar with the FAFSA.

Since high school juniors can’t fill out the FAFSA yet, it’s important to start understanding how financial aid works.

“Start researching the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA),” says Cameron Neal, Senior Student Advisor Manager at Full Sail. “It’s a free application that determines a student’s eligibility for federal grants and loans.

”Use the Federal Student Aid Estimator to learn about your options for Federal Pell Grants, Federal Loans, and Federal Work-Study Programs.

Look for supplementary financial aid.

Scholarships are a great option for an additional source of financial aid. There are several different types of scholarships, including need-based, merit-based, government-funded, and others for students pursuing certain areas of study.

“Extracurricular activities and good grades will make you eligible for more opportunities to apply for scholarships,” Cameron says. “You should always balance the options a college or university offers with your own research. There are free scholarship search engines that let students explore options based on location, demographic, and course of study."

Grants are another option. They are typically awarded based on financial need and are often provided by the government or a college or university, and they don’t have to be repaid.

Make a list of non-tuition expenses.

Many students are understandably focused on the exact, per-credit-hour costs for the schools they’re interested in. However, it’s easy to overlook the costs of books, supplies, housing, and transportation — which are key factors in building out an accurate college financial plan.

Does your desired university have on-campus or off-campus housing? What are the costs of living in the city where this school is located? Will you need a car or use public transportation?

Consider other living expenses. Will you purchase a food plan? How much can you afford to spend on other groceries and personal care items? Will you need to pay for a phone or car insurance?

Check the net price of your college of interest.

It’s important to understand the difference between the cost of attendance and net price for a college or university. The cost of attendance – sometimes called the “sticker price” – is what you’d pay without accounting for any financial aid. The net price is the amount you’d owe after scholarships and grants are deducted.

Check out this overview of the Net Price Calculator to learn more about calculating your financial aid.

Determine how you’ll finance your expenses.

“Whether you’re paying for college expenses out of pocket, with financial aid, or a combination of both, always examine the ratio of your own prepared finances in relation to the costs of the degree,” Cameron says. “The financial aid office is always a resource for students to learn about their options, discuss current and future costs, and examine repayment options.”

Savings help, too. And as the adage goes, the best time to start saving is yesterday. If you haven’t started yet, though, today is the next best time to begin. By developing a habit of saving money, you can create a solid, stable foundation upon which to build your life and career.