2 answers
Mason
Student
Grandville, Michigan
1
Question
Updated
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What is the best way to stay caught up with financials throughout the college process?
What is the best way to stay caught up with financials throughout the college process?
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2 answers
Karyn Auger, MHA
Medical Practice Executive
25
Answers
Dover, Florida
Updated
Karyn’s Answer
Hi Mason, great question! When I started college my parents paid my tuition and food card but I had to pay my own rent, IT/books. Plus I wanted a little money left over to hang out with my friends on the weekend right? I looked at my expenses for each year (4) the expenses I would be responsible for. My rent for example covered utilities so I did not have to worry about electricity or water, etc. So, I looked at my expenses each year, adding in gas, travel, date nights, etc. Then I broke it down by month, then week, then hours. This told me how much I would need to earn on my own. It turns out I had 2 jobs to make my budget. I hope this helps. Good Luck and take care and remember, enjoy the jouorney!
Karyn
Karyn
Kim Larson
Human Resources
5
Answers
Omaha, Nebraska
Updated
Kim’s Answer
One of the best ways to stay on top of your finances during college is to start by tracking your regular expenses—things like rent, food, gas, subscriptions, and school supplies. Once you know your average monthly costs, you can work backwards to figure out how much income you’ll need to cover them. Think about how many hours you can realistically work during the school year and what your hourly wage might be.
When you're not in school, like during summer or breaks, consider increasing your work hours to build up savings. That extra cushion can give you some flexibility when your schedule gets busy during the semester. You could also look in to budgeting apps like Mint or You Need a Budget to help you stay organized. Or you can use a more manual approach with an excel file to track where your money is going.
When you're not in school, like during summer or breaks, consider increasing your work hours to build up savings. That extra cushion can give you some flexibility when your schedule gets busy during the semester. You could also look in to budgeting apps like Mint or You Need a Budget to help you stay organized. Or you can use a more manual approach with an excel file to track where your money is going.