I realize that you might think me a little twisted and lacking in the romance department, but falling in love can definitely be a hidden cost of college. In fact, in my college planning workshops, I tell parents to go ahead and start saving for five years of college instead of four. When they ask why, I tell them that a marriage will likely cost them about the same as one year of tuition, and there is a darn good chance that their son or daughter will fall in love during or not long after college. Whether it is helping with the cost of a wedding, a honeymoon, or a ring, these are major costs that can come out of nowhere.

Now don’t panic. I’m not telling you that you need to start saving up for a wedding or honeymoon if you haven’t already started. But I am telling you that there is a good chance your student will find love in college, and that can result in some serious costs. What you do need to do is begin thinking about how you would handle the announcement of a cross-country relationship or—gasp!—an engagement.

Most importantly, begin setting reasonable expectations as soon as there’s something on the radar. If your student comes home head over heels in love, be glad for her. Embrace it, investigate it, and encourage it if it looks healthy. And, when the time is right, talk about what you can and cannot do financially if a marriage or long-distance relationship is in the future.