How to be Budget Savvy in College

A guaranteed way to find out that summer is coming to an end is the sudden emergence of back-to-school gear in stores.  With the excitement of picking out bedding, new fall clothes and schoolbooks comes lots of bills.  Unfortunately, the money spending only continues as we ease back into or begin our college lives.  What’s a budget-conscious co-ed to do?  Read on to score some of my tips!

Say NO to Plastic

This saying applies to both the environment and watching your budget.  Many of us have credit cards, and it is so easy to be fooled into thinking that this means we have the money to pay for certain things.  Sadly, it’s not that simple- there are only a few times when credit cards are necessary to make a purchase (ordering something online is an example).  Using a credit card to make a purchase can affect your credit score if your purchase isn’t paid off immediately, which opens you up to a whole host of problems later.  If you want to be budget savvy, try only using your credit card when you need to, and otherwise pay for things with the cash in your wallet.  You won’t be fooled when your credit card statement comes in the mail.

Make a Plan

Divide your budget planning into a weekly affair.  Take a sheet of paper and map out how much income you make or receive each week.  Then consider what money you regularly spend each week.  Maybe a coffee date is set in stone each Monday with a friend- that’s perfectly fine.   Just copy down how much money you spend on your coffee and subtract that from the total.  Map out the essentials that you just can’t live without, including bus fares, the average amount that you spend on groceries and any social events that are attended consistently each week.  Be firm with yourself- while the coffee date with your friend is a must, are the other three that you end up having each week?  Once you have subtracted your weekly necessities from your weekly income, you have the net amount that you can spend each week.

Divide Your Spending

This is sounding a lot like math class, isn’t it?  It gets easier, I promise.  Once you’ve decided what your essentials are each week, put the money that is left over to good use.  Put half of it into a jar for unexpected expenses- these expenses might be in the form of a taxi ride that you have to pay for or a birthday cake for a friend.  The other half goes into another jar for fun.  Use this money to buy a ticket to a holiday ball or for a trip to the movies with some college friends.  If you continue separating out this money you will soon find that you can put the overflow into your personal bank account.  Win, win!

Start Saving

It might be difficult to imagine saving money while you’re spending money on textbooks, accommodation and tuition for college in the first place.  However, it’s not impossible.  Utilize a savings account if you have one, and start one if you don’t have one already.  Most banks offer a savings account specifically for students, one which doesn’t charge for holding the money in the account.  Be clear about your intentions when you speak to the customer service representative at your bank- if the bank is going to charge you anyway for holding your money, it isn’t worth your time.  Whenever you have an overflow from your budget- I’m talking just a few dollars here- pop it into your savings account instead of into your purse.  Out of sight, out of mind!  Another idea is to set up a Direct Debit to take five dollars from your checking account and put it into your savings once every week or every two weeks.  Little amounts like these will build up, and you can put it towards the summertime or an apartment after college.

Stay Savvy

It’s understandable if some days you veer off your budget and snap up the pair of boots that you’re been eyeing up, or you decide to road trip to visit your friend.  Some of the best times you will have during college are unexpected.  Take a little time to think about the price and whether what you want to buy or do is worth it. If it is, go for it!  Just remember to keep your impulse spending to a minimum and enjoy yourself!

Are there any additional tips that you have for being budget savvy while in college?  We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section! 

Deirdre Cunnane is a College Lifestyles™ intern and a third year law student at University College  Cork.  She is always looking for new ways to save money while still having fun in college.  Her favorite tip is to put any spare change into a savings account- if it’s not there, you just won’t spend it!