February 9, 2024

It is about 6 weeks into the semester and you should be settled in and have a routine established. You have most likely made a late-night food run, experienced entertainment over the weekend, and maybe even attended a home football game. You have also had the flexibility to do things you’d like to do with little to no guidance from your parents. One of those areas that you have (or will start to have) control over is your money and how you choose to spend your money. If you’re seeking to boost your finances, there are numerous games on 벳엔드 where you have the opportunity to win money.

You are probably noticing how fast and how little it stretches without a plan. Money is one of the most challenging things to conquer. You will see that most of your spending will occur on entertainment (parties, events, and outings), food (food court, late nights, and groceries), and school related expenses (materials for presentations, decorating your room, and extracurricular activities).

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How are you doing with your spending? Do you have money coming in or do you need to find creative ways to stretch the funds you have. Do you have money for the rest of the semester? Good, you are doing well and keep up the good spending practices. If you are running low on funds, you may need to implement one of the tactics below.

1. Know how much money you have and how long it needs to last. Look at the total and divide amongst the weeks and stay within those limits. Consider any one-time expenses, travel home, and things on your list of needs.
2. Limit food purchases. Food is an easy way to spend money without having anything to show for it. Daily Starbucks, late night Taco Bell, and everything in between adds up and now you do not have much to show for it. You have a meal plan that includes enough meals to address your appetite. Your meal plan may also have bucks to spend like cash on campus.
3. Look for FREE events on Campus. There are events held every week that are geared towards students and are free for students. You have to make the most out of your experience and there are usually free events for every interest.
4. Consider other events on-campus that are not free. Do you plan to join Greek Life, do you need to pay dues to a club or professional organization?
5. Plan events accordingly. Go to the football game, enjoy a show in the theater department, or participate in a service project. Just keep in mind that you may not be able to attend every game, donate financially, or get the best seats in the theater.
6. Save. It is never a bad idea to save for an emergency, a rainy day, or a possible Spring Break trip. If you truly want to transform your savings by having an income stream, then a course like the Invest Diva course may be of great help.

If you’re like many college students, the second month of school is when the money crisis really starts to hit. The Christmas money is running out and Spring Break is just around the corner. Never fear-there are some great apps and some tips that will help you save money and keep a budget for the new semester.

First, always save your change! Every time you buy something for $1.25, put the other 75 cents in a jar of some kind. Right before a big purchase or trip, take the change you’ve been collecting and have it turned into bills. You might be surprised how quickly the change adds up! When I interned in D.C. last summer, I turned all my change into bills right before the trip-it was $85! The key to remember is that a little bit goes a long way.

Two, see if your bank has an app that lets you track your spending. These can usually be found on their website, and allow you to itemize your purchases based on what they were for, such as groceries, eating out, or entertainment. If your bank doesn’t have one, then the app Mint can be downloaded on your smartphone and synced to your bank account. You can then itemize your purchases based on type, and see where exactly you’re spending money.

Three, set a budget for yourself. Sit down with a list of all the money you make in a certain time period, and a list of all the bills you need to pay and purchases you make during that same time. Make sure to include all the important things such as gas, rent, and grocery money as well as the incidentals like coffee, going to the movies, and going out with your friends. Add up both of these columns, and you will see a more accurate representation of where your money is going. You may be surprised to learn how much money you spend. Once you know where your money is, then you can determine how much you would like to spend. If you want to save $100 a month for your Spring Break trip, then adjust how much you spend on dining out and going to the movies to make those numbers match up. Once you have a budget you like, stick to it! Post it on your fridge or somewhere in your room where you will see it, and then hold yourself accountable! If you prefer the digital route, the app Left to Spend will tell you how much money you have left in your set time period. This can help you keep on track as well.

Four, if you have a dining hall plan ­use it! You already paid for that food or those dining dollars, so not using it is just letting your hard earned money go to waste. Take advantage of the dining hall as it can really help offset a grocery budget, since you would be eating most of your meals in the dining hall. If your campus has dining dollars (usually paid for with a meal plan and then usable at on-campus locations), make sure you use these as much as you can! It’s the same concept as the dining hall meals; you already paid for it so don’t let it go to waste!

The important thing to remember about saving money is that no app or trick is going to be able to do it all for you. While these might be helpful, making a budget and sticking to it is all up to you! One thing that can be especially helpful is if you keep in mind why you want to save the money. If you’re going to the beach for spring break, print out a picture and tape it to your bathroom mirror to remind yourself to keep on budget! Use whatever tricks work for you!