By Samantha Schaefer–
Every college student experiences at least some amount of stress on their path to graduation. The main cause of stress for college students is money, and sometimes this necessity can even cause students to stop their education completely.
Whether you have a scholarship, a job at UPS or a parent to pay for your tuition, college students still have lots of expenses. Managing money is one of the most difficult tasks for students. Why? They haven’t been taught how.
To avoid running into debt or ruining your credit score, follow these tips:
- Keep track of what you pay for. Write it down.
- Do not overspend. Though college should be fun, it’s also time for self-control and moderation. The habits you create in college are likely to follow you when you graduate.
- Build your credit. This doesn’t mean getting a credit card and using it on everything. Try using your credit card just for gas or rent. Use your debit card for everything else to avoid debt.
- Create a savings account. Put away unspent money for emergencies.
- Be realistic. Make smart decisions when it comes to your money. What do you really need? What do you just want?
Remember that money is just a number, and you’re much more than that. Try not to stress over financial issues. Instead, eliminate bad spending habits so that you have extra money where you normally wouldn’t. Save small amounts of money for extra-curricular activities. We tend to spend most of our money on necessities, like car insurance and food.
You still deserve to make time for yourself and the things you enjoy as well. Remember to be smart, but don’t let financial concerns control you.
