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NO-BRAINER MONEY MANAGEMENT FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS

“Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.” Josh Billings

Build skills in all areas. Set goals. Success will follow.

MAIN TOPIC: Pay attention to your Spending

Esmerelda  is a college student with lots of money trouble; ATM fees, overdrawn account fees, credit card late and interest fees, rescinded credit card, late fee on tuition account, and overspending in general. Hundreds of dollars in fees and interest ate up her meager savings and caused her LOTS OF STRESS!!

I want to save you from Esmerelda’s troubles.

At the beginning of the school year, you college students are on your own for the first time with worries about friends, school and MONEY. I’ll leave the friends and school worries to someone else. But I CAN TEACH YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MONEY MATTERS while you are in college.

IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HANDLE YOUR OWN MONEY whether you get cash from mom & dad, loans, jobs, or any combination. Follow these steps and you’ll have LESS MONEY STRESS NOW & LATER.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Get Control of your Cash

1. Open a checking account and savings account with NO FEES, for college students.

2. Arrange with employer to have check AUTOMATICALLY deposited in your savings account.

3. Use an on line account or bricks and mortar bank or credit union.

4. Ask these questions and only open if they say NO FEES in writing:

Do you have an account for college students with no fees at all?

Does this account offer free ATM withdrawals?

5. If you need a loan for school expenses, go straight to the Financial Aid office for HELP. Work with them as long as it takes to get the money you need. That’s what they’re there for!

6. TOTAL ALL YOUR INCOME- Estimate income from job, loans, parents, scholarship, and aid. WRITE DOWN YOUR INCOME IN A NOTEBOOK or chart like this one. Categorize by month or lump sum.

 

INCOME

 

INCOME TYPE DATE RECEIVED AMOUNT- how often – fixed or changes HOW PAID- Check or on line (automatic or not) DATE PAID NOTES

Example:

Job

1st  of the month $350.00/ every month about the same On line automatic deposit to savings Last day of the month  
           
           
           
TOTAL MONTHLY INCOME          

7. Complete a chart like the following and write down every expense you are responsible for; cell phone, tuition, rent, utilities, car payment etc.; include amount; date due; how paid. These are charges that are FIXED and don’t have much flexibility.

8. Add up your expenses write in the last line of the chart.

9. Next, add any expenses that you control; beer, restaurants, entertainment, etc. These are your DISCRETIONARY EXPENSES. These are the easiest places to cut spending.

FIXED EXPENSES

Monthly

BILL DATE DUE AMOUNT- fixed or changes HOW PAID- Check or on line (automatic or not) DATE PAID NOTES

Example:

T Mobile cell phone

15th of the month $45.00 On line automatic deduction from savings Automatic on date due Check minutes balance mid month.
           
           
           

TOTAL FIXED EXPENSES

         

DISCRETIONARY EXPENSES

Monthly

EXPENSE   AMOUNT      

Example:

ENTERTAINMENT

 

$80.00

     
           
           
           
 TOTAL DISCRETIONARY EXPENSES          
TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES ( fixed + discretionary)          

10. TOTAL ALL YOUR EXPENSES.

11. If you have a credit card, use only for emergencies. If you don’t have the cash, don’t spend it!

12.  If you have a credit card, PAY THE BALANCE DUE IN FULL AT THE END OF EVERY MONTH.

13.  The money that is not due monthly, like your tuition or insurance, should be in your savings account. Make sure that the amount you will need for these infrequent payments stays in the savings account until you need it.

14.  Pay every bill early. At least a week before the bill is due, pay it.

15.  Bunch up bill paying into 2 times per month.

16.  Look at your income and expenses-Are you spending on things or experiences that are worthwhile to you? REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS ONE. If not, curb your spending.

17.  Read The Secret to Saving without Sacrifice here.

18.  Studies come first, but if you have extra time, consider partying less and get a part time job.

19.  Every month, put your discretionary money from each category in an ENVELOPE and label it. For example, $80.00 cash goes in an envelope at the beginning of the month. After you spend that $80.00 you are done with entertainment for the month!!!

20.  At the end of the month, analyze your income and spending. Complete another Income and expense tracking sheet. Make changes according to the info from the prior month.

ACTION STEPS:

Get a notebook and label it: “(your name) Personal Finance” and keep it by the computer. Use it to keep all of your personal finance goals, thoughts, activities, and plans.

  1. Read the entire article again.
  2. Choose one or two steps to begin immediately.
  3. Write in your planner the steps to take.
  4. After completing the first steps, repeat until all are completed.

Write in with your questions and experiences.

 

 

 

2 thoughts on “NO-BRAINER MONEY MANAGEMENT FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS”

  1. You might not realize how much your small, daily purchases add up to until you take a look at your income and expenses. As a college student, financial planning is probably the last thing on your mind.

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