Browsing Tag

student

How To Handle Financial Stress In College

When you’re getting ready to begin your college career, there is an awful lot of change and transition that’s happening in your life. Even if you’re not going to a four-year college, the transition to your higher education can be a serious shift away from what you knew in high school and the years that came before it. Your elementary school and middle school experience was probably somewhat similar to your high school experience. The two are never very different, but your college experience is something entirely different. When you’re in college, you’re responsible for a lot more of the administrative details of your schooling. You’ve got to do things like pick your own classes and set your own schedule — and you’ve got to make sure that you’re taking classes which will fulfill both your general education requirements and the requirements set forth by your specific major. There’s a lot of responsibility that comes with being a college student, and it can definitely start to get a little overwhelming.

Another thing that comes with being a college student for the first time is freedom. You get a lot more autonomy than you’ve ever experienced when you graduate high school and get started with college. A lot of students are surprised at the levels of freedom that they experience, and it can be easy to spend yourself into a financial bind when you’re out on your own in college for the first time. Even if you’re not paying for your own education, college can be a time of serious financial stress. Some of the strategies that can help you deal with this kind of stress, however, are perhaps a lot more simple than you might have imagined.

February 14, 2013

General

The Most Common Financial Hurdles For College Students

You might think that getting into the ivory tower of learning is difficult, what with the vast number of students vying for only limited admissions. But just wait until you see the bill. While some students are lucky enough to have parents who can pay their way and others have the mad skills to nab them a scholarship for partial or full tuition (and even additional expenses, in some cases), far more find themselves on the hook for a lion’s share of the costs associated with seeking a higher education and earning a degree (which generally amounts to thousands of dollars each year). This can leave the average collegian facing some major hurdles when it comes to finances. But armed with the knowledge of what to expect you may be better prepared to face and overcome these challenges. So here are some of the most common financial problems that students face.

The main issue for many students stems from a marked inability to earn the money that would help them to cover expenses. In addition to the obvious cost of tuition and books, you may also have to pay for expenses like lodgings, food, and other extras. Of course, if you choose a school that is close to home you may be able to save quite a bit by continuing to live with your parents. Even if they can’t afford to offer you cash contributions they can almost certainly help you to save some money by giving you free room and board. But many students don’t have this option because they end up at a campus that is far from home.

January 24, 2013

Money Saving Tips

5 Of The Best Frugal Living Tips For Broke College Students

A college student with a limited amount of money; Gee, is there any other kind? Whether you’re on scholarship or financial aid, work study or you have a part-time job, no matter what your financial situation may be, there’s one thing that we know for sure: You’re trying to find ways to make your money last for just as long as you possibly can.

We’ve been there and we can totally relate. If you are looking for some frugal living tips, ones that will give you the ability to enjoy the college life without getting (financially) stressed out, we have five suggestions that can easily help you to reach that goal:

Cut out bad habits. Yeah, we know. College tends to be the time when you start certain habits more than you think about stopping them. But, if you’re a smoker, drinker or junk food eater, if you looked at the receipts for those purchases over a months’ time, it could literally cause you to go cold turkey. Vices come with a price, in more ways than one. Make sure to remember that.

January 9, 2013

Money Saving Tips

5 Ways Students Can Save Big Money

Students usually have to live on a tight budget as most of their time is spent studying rather than working and earning an income. As a result, it is important that students take advantage of the savings that is available to them. Below are just a few ways that students can save.

1. Save big on your banking. Most financial institutions provide free banking to university and college students. All you need to do is provide proof of enrollment and you shouldn’t have to pay monthly fees or transaction fees on your bank account. This perk can result in significant savings for you, especially if you do a lot of banking transactions each month. Remember to provide proof of enrolment every year to your bank; otherwise you will end up with fees after the year has passed. Most financial institutions won’t remind you, so be sure to mark your calendars to avoid fees.

November 7, 2012

Money Saving Tips

8 Ways I Saved Money As A University Student

When I attended university I lived on a tight budget. Here are just a few of the things that I did to help me save money while studying:

1. I lived with roommates to share the rent and utility costs. Four of us girls all lived in a house and the rent was less than $200 each. Splitting the utility bills 4 ways made it a lot easier on the budget.

2. I did a lot of tutoring and then got a part time job that worked with my school schedule. Tutoring is great because when you are your own boss you can pick and choose when you work.

3. I took a bus rather than buying a car. Rather than spending money on gas, car maintenance, and insurance, I took advantage of the student rate for a monthly bus pass. Whenever possible, I also rode my bicycle or walked.

4. I packed my own lunches rather than buying food at the university cafeterias and shops. I also brought along snacks so I wouldn’t be tempted to buy junk food from the expensive vending machines.

5. For my English literature classes, rather than buying all of the required novels, I borrowed some of them from the library. Whenever possible I bought used textbooks from other students or from the Archive bookstore on campus. I also took as many full year classes as I could because it reduced the amount of textbooks I would have to purchase.

6. I informed my bank that I was a student and got great discounts, paying very few fees. I also took advantage of other student discounts at retail stores, etc. Students get a lot of great deals!

7. When we first moved into the house we were renting, we had almost no furniture. We went to a few yard sales and it didn’t take a lot of money to furnish our home. I still have the rocking chair I bought at a yard sale for $10!

8. I reused my binders and other supplies every year rather than buying new ones.

June 19, 2009

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