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You
can beat the cash-strapped blues by being
aware of your spending habits and college
lifestyle.
Get With the Money Program... Now!
By
Paul D. Rosevear
August/September 2002
The
CollegeBound Network NewsClick --
You'd better enjoy the free home-cooked
meals,
mom-handling laundry loads, air-conditioning,
and paid personal telephone lines while
you can,
because the bills will be arriving in your
mailbox once you step foot on campus! Fret
not, though. Getting a grip on your finances
is a struggle all college students deal
with, but before long, you'll discover there
are all sorts of ways to cut cash corners
and save precious pennies.
Believe
it or not, say students, the best way to
keep your wallet in check is to be aware
of small purchases that will slowly but
surely deplete your dollars. This,
of course, means you'll have to make some
sacrifices.
Sure, you'll think twice before you buy
those $60 jeans. But would you second-guess
a quick slice of pizza or a snack between
classes? Probably not. However, this is
this type of splurging that will sneak up
on you later.
"I
try not to eat out if I don't have to,"
says Chris Spoust, a student at Rutgers
University School of Business, Newark, NJ.
"I know I'll be on campus all day,
so I will usually pack a lunch, either a
sandwich or some pasta." In other words,
a little effort goes a long way when it
comes to saving a buck. Besides, your money
is best spent at the grocery store rather
than at the nearest fast food joint. And,
that's for both financial and health
reasons.
You
obviously need to pay your phone bill, buy
school supplies, and make sure you have
plenty of soap and toothpaste! But, do you
really need a new pair of sneakers (especially
when you just bought a pair last week) or
the latest CD of your favorite music artist?!
Glenn
Kessler, like Chris, has his own savings
strategies. Glenn,
a recent graduate of New York University,
New York, NY, would
do most of his city traveling on foot to
avoid the cost of public transportation.
"It
doesn't sound like a big deal, but cab and
bus fares add up," he says. "It's
not something I absolutely had to do, but
I knew that it would eventually allow me
to spend money on other things."
So
if you've got the urge to splurge, consider
how it'll affect your pocket later on when
you really want a new so-and-so. Or, when
you need to pay for a book you need for
tomorrow's class.
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