Student Guide to Managing Finances

By Damian Papworth

A higher education has become more important to achieving success in life more now than ever. Unfortunately, the cost of education has gone progressively up; fact of the matter is, for many people getting a college degree is nearly impossible without some form of outside financing. Yet, there are means to get the cash you need to get that coveted college degree and it's not nearly as difficult as it may seem.

Finding a means to pay one's way through college is usually one of the top concerns of incoming students; in fact, many may put off getting that coveted degree because they simply can't afford it. Being a full time student means that it is highly improbable that you'll be able to build a tidy amount of savings while you are studying.

The stereotype of the poor student just scraping by is actually not so far from reality. The majority of students, except for a lucky few, don't actually live lives of luxury. In fact, most students have to give up a fair amount of luxuries they may have grown accustomed to while living under their parents' roofs. Meals at restaurants, new pairs of shoes and clothes, going to the movies-such indulgences become far less frequent. As a student, you usually can't spare the extra cash to go out all the time.

Learning how to manage your finances is key when you're a student. It's the perfect time to get a grip on the real world and learn how to handle money. The experience you gain from learning how to create a budget and plan your financial future will be of great help to you later in life. Starting early is a good idea-the sooner the better.

Of course, no one said that living on a budget, especially a tight student budget, would be easy. It does take a fair amount of planning, restraint and balancing. You have to make a list of numbers and calculate how much you can afford to spend per month. This entails calculating the cost of necessities and balancing those out with those expenditures that aren't necessarily vital.

Start out by making some calculations. Figure out what you can live with and what you can't. Your top priority should be living expenses, i.e. rent, food, transportation, utilities, internet, etc. You should also factor in books and university supplies.

Start figuring out a budget as soon as possible. Don't dally. The more time you waste, the less time you'll have later to get everything in order and it will be harder to do. Don't wait until you're actually in trouble to try to get things in order.

Most universities offer free financial planning sessions and workshops. Your bank will probably offer cost-free financial counseling as well. Sign up and pay attention. Learn about how to plan responsibly and how to stick to a budget.

Credit cards can be useful, but use them with caution. If you're the type who cannot pay the bills on time, you may think twice about when and where you use your card. Remember that credit cards are convenient but they also require jurisprudence-think before you buy.

You need to be able to track your spending and if you do get behind in payments, get right back on track. Don't sink yourself further into debt.

About the Author:

0 comments:

Guides Complete