When you’re in college, or your early twenties, you don’t really think about your finances. Maybe you’re still on your family’s insurance plan, you’re paying half rent because you have a roommate, you don’t have student loans yet, or you’re still driving your paid off car from high school. Money isn’t an issue yet. When money isn’t an issue, we don’t look at the big picture. What happens when you’re twenty-five and you have to pay for your own health insurance, rent, water, electricity, internet, renters insurance, dental & eye insurance, car payment, car insurance, car registrations, gym memberships, credit card bills, student loans, taxes, groceries, gas, and the list goes on. You start to wish you would have saved more money during your earlier years instead of blowing it on silly things like clothes, late night fast food trips, parties, salons, Starbucks lattes, or piling up your student debt. There are so many things I wish I would have done differently. I’ve been taking huge steps this past year to make sure I’m financially setup for life. I’m partnering up with Regions Bank today to bring an awareness of your finances during the college and young adult years. A lot of my readers are still in school, finishing up with school, or about to head off to college. I figured this partnership was a great fit and hopefully you can learn a little. It’s a fun to change up the theme of my blog and this is a very important topic to focus on. I see a lot of my friends struggle with student load payments and I don’t want that to happen to you. These are also tips you can use for the rest of your life. 
When I turned eighteen, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I took my parent’s advice and decided to live at home and go to a community college. This saved me thousands of dollars in student loans. Going to acting school in New York City or fashion school in L.A. sounded like a blast, but staying home and going to a community college gave me time to think about where I wanted to be in life, and it saved me from spending tons of money on student loans today. Even though I saved money, I still wish I would have done things differently.
I’m twenty-five and have been on my own insurance for the past five years, I pay my monthly car payment, I live alone with a not-so-fun rent payment, pay for dental and eye care, gas, groceries, my dog’s expenses, internet, renters insurance, car insurance, electricity, water, blog hosting fees (surprisingly high), taxes, and the list goes on. There are so many unnecessary expenses I have cut or decreased in the past year that have really made a difference. I strongly dislike the word “BUDGET.” But, that word is going to be your best friend in your twenties. Some of the wealthiest people in the world stick to a budget and that is why they are so successful. I’m nowhere near perfect when it comes to being smart with finances, but being independent and self aware makes me feel very secure and financially confident about my future. I’ll be the first to admit that I LOVE to have fun with my money, but I make sure to be smart with it too.
Even though your expenses are your last worry in college, start practicing a budget immediately. Building a budget is super easy. Just calculate your monthly expenses and your monthly income. Save most of what you have left and give yourself a spending budget with the rest. It’s really THAT simple. You don’t have to cut out all fun just because you have a budget, but you should limit your unnecessary spendings. EX: Instead of going to Starbucks everyday, go twice a week. Once you start to pay attention to the unnecessary spending, it opens your eyes and you start to think twice before splurging. I agree with so many of the tips from “Saving Money While In College” provided by Regions Bank. I also have a few tips to add myself!
*Take advantage of everything your school offers: Use the school’s gym, eat school meals, join free school activities instead of spending money at the movies or mall. I was apart of theater and spent almost every night at rehearsals. One thing you may not want to consider that your school offers is the bookstore. Try to avoid it! Find out what book your professor requires and look for it online! You can find used books 70% off and sometimes free. Don’t buy your supplies there. Sometimes you’ll pay anything just to have a mechanical pencil for class, and they know that, so they mark up the prices (colleges, you know it’s true.) Make sure you stock up on all your supplies OFF campus. If you don’t want to leave campus, hello Amazon. Once your class is finished, sell your book, and put the money earned into a savings account.
*Get a roommate: Living alone is wonderful and I love my privacy, but if I had a roommate, I’d save $700 a month! I might actually think about getting a roommate just to save extra money each month. If you’re living off campus, get a roommate that you can split all your bills with. If you have an off campus apartment, consider meal prepping and using coupons to grocery shop instead of buying food elsewhere. Oh, and never grocery shop hungry! Try to carpool with your roommate or find a place walking distance to your campus. And if you’re a coffee drinker…GET A COFFEE MAKER, otherwise you’ll need to pull out an extra student loan for you morning brew.
Get a job on campus: When my mom worked at the college in Iowa, she had tons of student aids working for her. They’d come in between classes and work. This is great for making extra money while staying on campus! Saves you gas, doesn’t interfere with your studies, and it’s extra money in your pocket! You can get a job in the fields you’re studying too. Regions Bank recommends putting 10-20 percent of your paychecks directly into a savings account. They even have automated transfers that will do it for you each month, or however you’d like to set it up. I know that extra 10-20 perfect would be fun to spend, but it’s better to have it later in life than spent on some clothes you’ll never wear (or fit into) again. There are other fun activities you can do for extra money. Do what I did and start a blog, or sell baked goods! Sell some photography, tutor young kids, coach sports, babysit, sell your clothing to consignment shops, or start a small business! I also found a way to travel + work in college by going away to a camp each summer in the Hamptons. That was the life!
Regions Bank posted an article called “10 Money Tips College Grads Wish They’d Known.”
I think it’s very helpful and very important for college students (any age) to read. A lot of articles are directed at young college students, but college students range from all ages. You’re NEVER too young to go back to school. My mom actually got her degree when she was 47! You go girl!
On credit cards: “Get one credit card that you will stick with for several years, maybe even 10 years. Having a line of credit that had been open for more than 10 years is what made my credit rating awesome to afford my first home. “ — Janine G., Boston University
*I agree with the credit card, but young adults and credit cards can be scary. I know you want to be independent and make decisions for yourself, but don’t get a credit card unless you trust your own control. I recommend getting a card with a low credit amount. Don’t let yourself spend more than $500- $1000 on credit. Make sure you pay it off every month. I made sure to have my Dad monitor my spending. I knew that if he was watching, I’d be more mindful as to what I was buying. Oh, and my dad never failed to let me know I was spending way too much.
Student loans are a lot like credit cards. It’s great to spend all the money that isn’t yours yet, but don’t forget that you have to pay EVERYTHING + MORE back. Ever heard of interest? Only take out what you need, don’t get student loans without doing your research and try to get as many scholarships as you can. There are scholarships for everything nowadays. Debt doesn’t sound so bad until your graduated and left with tons of payments. And for the love of your pocket, go to class, and do not fail! If you fail, you’ll be paying for a “F” on your transcript. The only way to get rid of that “F” is to take the class over for more money. Just do it right the first time. Paying for a class twice can be worth just as much as your vacation to the islands.
Take a personal finance class. Not only will you get college credits for this, but you’ll learn a lot more about the importance of finances and how to keep your spending under control. It’s smart and sometimes crucial to build your savings right away.College doesn’t always have to be about saving money and your studies. If you save money, have a job and take advantage of what is given to you (while you still can), you can afford to do fun things. A budget will help you save, pay your expenses, and give you FUN money. Boy do I LOVE fun money.
It’s fun to travel while you’re in college, and there are so many ways you can do it without breaking the bank. You deserve to have fun and let loose, but do it wisely! Regions Bank has a great article filled with “Low-Budget College Vacation Ideas“ that are fun and will not break the bank.
There is nothing better than getting a group of your friends together for a camping trip. You just need a tent, split groceries, start a fire and just spend time under the stars with your best friends. You can also go kayaking and hiking on your camping trip.
Find cool places that aren’t too far away and take a weekend road trip with your friends. Split gas, groceries and hotel rooms! Sometimes visiting your college friend’s hometowns is fun. There are also hostels that are cheap to stay at and it’s such a cool experience. There are several neat websites that you can sign up for that allow you to house-sit around the world for free. If you can, study abroad! You’ll be studying, scoring credits and traveling while you’re young!
College is a fun experience, but sometimes we forget to look at the big picture. I love that Regions Bank is making a point to open up the eyes of young adults, so they can set themselves up for a finically secure future! They have so many great articles on their website that offer advice for everyone interested in learning about their finances.
Questions for You:
Is there anything you’d wish you would have done different (financially) in college?
What is your best tip for saving money in college?
Where you careless or careful with your money in college?
The post Staying on Top of Your Finances While You’re Young! appeared first on Simply Taralynn.