What you know about how much things cost will make or break your college budget. So how do you measure up?

1. Your parents finally agreed to let you ditch the glasses you've worn forever. All in all, how much do you think your optical makeover costs?

1. About 100 bucks—$50 for the eye exam, plus another $50 for contacts.
2. Not cheap. There's the eye exam, lens fitting fee, contacts, solution … at least $200.
3. Not much more than $50.

2. True or false? Buying a new car is a good investment.

1. True. Used cars break down often; you'll save a ton of money on repairs.
2. False. The car starts losing value the minute you drive it off the lot.
3. True. If you keep it in good condition, you can sell it and make most of your money back.

3. When you ask your parents about hiring a painter to re-do your room, they say no, but that you should buy the paint and do it yourself. Why?

1. They're nostalgic about your childhood bedroom and don't really want to see it change.
2. You have no idea. It'll probably cost almost as much for you to buy the paint and do it yourself, and it definitely won't look as good.
3. It will cost way more to hire someone to do the job than it would for you to do it yourself.

4. Your part-time, minimum wage summer job will bring in enough cash to pay for:

1. Your textbooks for the first year of college.
2. A season pass to the water park this summer and your textbooks for the first year of college.
3. Your senior class trip, a season pass to the water park this summer and your textbooks for the first year of college.

5. You're thrilled when you come across a Burton snowboard on sale for $350. You don't have the cash, but you can take out a line of credit through the store. If the interest rate is 15 percent and you can afford to put $20 a month toward the loan, the snowboard will:

1. Cost twice as much and take a couple of years to pay for.
2. Be paid off in under two years and will end up costing you about $400.
3. Be totally paid for just in time for the season at an unbeatable price!

6. You'll be 18 when you graduate from high school. How much will your parents have spent raising you for all those years?

1. $60,000-$90,000
2. $120,000-$150,000
3. $170,000-$200,000

7. Some family friends are house-hunting, and you overhear them tell your parents they found a great three-bedroom house with property taxes of $5,000. You figure that amount must be:

1. Per year.
2. Per month.
3. A one-time fee.

8. Your mom gives you $40 for "something nice to wear for your cousin's wedding." If you go to the mall, that's enough for:

1. Something on sale.
2. Something decent with enough left to catch a movie with your friend.
3. One shoe—unless you shop at the outlet mall.

9. On your 12th birthday your grandma gave you a $500 savings bond that earns 8 percent interest. How old will you be when the bond is worth $1,000?

1. 19
2. 21
3. 35

10. Uncle Greg sent your family $500 for Christmas. What will that buy for your mom, dad, sister and you?

1. Awesome tickets for the four of you to see a Broadway show.
2. A big plasma screen TV and TiVO DVR service for a year.
3. Plane tickets for your parents to fly across the country to visit Uncle Greg.

11. Your best friend's dance recital is next weekend, and you want to get flowers to congratulate her. What's the most cost-effective way to show her some floral love?

1. Call a florist and have an arrangement delivered.
2. Buy a bouquet at the grocery store.
3. Order an arrangement from a florist and pick it up yourself.

12. You always start your day with a venti coffee from Starbucks (whole milk, two sugar packets). Your friend says you're crazy for spending so much money on hot liquid that tastes like dirt and thinks you could save at least $100 a year if you made coffee at home instead. Is your friend right?

1. Right about coffee tasting like dirt? No way. Right about the savings? Yes.
2. Doubtful. Fifty bucks, maybe, but $100, no way.
3. Not a chance. Coffee from home can't be much cheaper than Starbucks.

13. Your dad comes back from the dentist and says he's not sure which was more painful to get—the filling or the bill. How much did he pay?

1. Probably only about $50—your dad's always been kind of a tight wad.
2. Over 100 bucks.
3. Don't employers pay for stuff like that?

14. Which of these items are least likely to be comparable in cost (within a few bucks of each other)?

1. A half pound of lunch meat, a jar of peanut butter, a gallon of gas.
2. A college textbook, a pair of jeans, an oil change.
3. The monthly cost for a cell phone plan, a gym membership, a subscription to Netflix's basic rental plan.

15. Your mom has been your barber forever. She says you'll save a lot of if you find a friend to cut hair when you get to college. You think:

1. If you happen to bump into someone, great. If not, you'll try to wait for visits home to get haircuts and only pay for one when things get out of control.
2. Nice thought, but not necessary. Haircuts have to only be like $10.
3. Good idea. You'll start asking around when you get on campus.

16. On your way to a friend's house for a movie marathon, you stop to pick up junk food and realize you forgot your wallet. Raiding the change compartment turns up $7.43. That should be enough to get:

1. A half gallon of ice cream, a bag of chips, a two-liter of Coke and a party size bag of Peanut M&Ms.
2. A half gallon of ice cream and a bag of chips.
3. A half gallon of ice cream.

16-24 points: If innocence is bliss, then you're floating on cloud nine when it comes to knowing the cost of living. A lot of high school students are able to spend money freely—if that's you, enjoy your spending freedom while you can. At the same time, do yourself a favor and pay attention to how much you're shelling out for stuff. Check out menu prices at restaurants and take note of food costs when you're in the grocery store. It won't take much effort, and you'll spare yourself a serious case of sticker shock when you have to start paying for things yourself.

25-39 points: You have a decent grasp of the cost of living, but you've got a ways to go before you're ready to create and manage your own budget. Keep paying attention to what you spend on stuff, and ask your parents to help you learn more about money. Maybe sit down with them next time they pay bills. You can make a game of it by guessing what each bill is for based on the amount. In college you won't have to deal with all the costs of independent living (rent, health insurance and taxes—ugh!), but you'll definitely have more financial responsibility. And the more you know now the easier it'll be down the road.

40-48 points: You have an excellent understanding about how much everyday life costs. That's great! Now what are you going to do about it? You already know how quickly money can disappear—but the good news is that it sticks around a lot longer when you're a smart saver. Knowing the costs of living is just the first step. Next comes covering those costs. So use your money smarts to start saving for all those expenses that come with college living.