If you’re a college student, there are lots of things you need to keep track of. This may include your coursework, extracurricular activities, making time for your friends, and searching for queries online such as “is there anyone who can write my assignment online.”
But one thing you should never forget is your financial responsibilities. Most students have little to no knowledge of how to handle money properly. From tight budgets to careless spending habits, students are often over-extending themselves.
This poor handling of money in your college years can not only cost you your money but also your peace of mind, and future career.
But you can save your money and your career by spending a little time learning how to make smart financial decisions. In this blog, we have listed the most common money mistakes students make in their college years that you should avoid.
You don’t have to make any huge financial moves, but it’s definitely worth your time to consider these financial mistakes college students make before it’s too late.
9 Common Money Mistakes You Need To Avoid
Here we have explained the 9 common money mistakes students make in their college years and how you can avoid them. Without further ado, let’s begin learning!
1. Not Making A Budget
The biggest mistake of students is not making a weekly or monthly budget. The first step to making sure you don’t overspend is to know how much money you have and exactly where it’s going.
There are many online apps out there that can help you budget, but the easiest way to start is by writing down every dollar you spend for a week or two. Then take note of areas where your spending isn’t as efficient as it could be (for instance, if you buy a coffee every day in addition to buying lunch each day).
You might notice that certain expenses are completely avoidable and you can easily save money by avoiding them.
2. Taking On Too Much Debt
While it’s great to get a loan if you need it, students should try to avoid taking out loans for things they don’t need or can’t afford. If you can take care of your living expenses with part-time work, that’s usually better than borrowing more money.
Even if the cost of college seems like a distant problem, don’t forget that student loans are one of the biggest financial burdens facing young people today.
While federal student loans feature lower interest rates and flexible repayment plans, private lenders offer higher rates (as much as 20%), and their terms are less forgiving.
The best advice is this: borrow only what you need. Avoid taking out more loans than necessary, and pay off those debts as soon as possible after graduation.
3. Living Off Of Credit Cards
One of the most common financial mistakes students make is applying for too many student credit cards while in college. The more credit cards you have, the less likely you’ll be able to pay them off in full each month. And if you’re using a balance transfer card or a card with an introductory 0% APR period, that high-interest rate will kick in before too long.
Remember, credit card money is not your money. If you can’t afford to pay off your balance every month, having multiple credit cards means there’s even more money being wasted on interest payments and fees.
4. Not Taking Advantage Of Campus Services
There are many different kinds of support services available on campus for students. This includes:
- Academic Support: Tutoring or academic support from professors is often available for students who need extra help understanding concepts in class.
- Career Support: If you’re having trouble finding a job off-campus, check out the student job boards on your college website. Many colleges have these resources available for their students to use. So they can find jobs that fit their schedules and skill set.
- Health Services: Campus health services and counseling are also available to help you if you have a physical or mental health issue. They can also help with your general health, from getting vaccinations to scheduling regular checkups.
- Security Services: For your safety measure you can take help from campus security officers. They are ready to assist students at all times in case of emergencies like sexual assault or stalking cases.
So instead of spending your own money on all these basic yet important services, take full advantage of campus services.
5. Eating Out Too Much And Not Making Food At Home
You may think that it’s cheaper to eat out than to make your own food. After all, restaurants offer convenience and variety. Not to mention the fact that you can get take-out from almost anywhere these days.
But when you look at the math, it turns out that this isn’t always true. Eating your own cooked food will actually save you money in the long run. When you pay for a meal at a restaurant or even a small food stall, what you’re really paying for is someone else’s labor of cooking your food for you.
When you make something at home yourself, by contrast, you only have to spend on the ingredients. You don’t have to worry about tipping anyone extra and this can save a lot of your money.
6. Not Having A Saving Plan
Make sure that each month some percentage goes into savings. No matter if there are bills due that month or not. This way savings will accumulate over time without waiting until something happens before putting money away. Because something can always happen.
We understand, that it’s easier said than done. You’re not alone if you’ve found yourself failing when it comes to keeping track of your spending habits. It can be overwhelming at first. But it’s important to start somewhere if you want to avoid making any financial missteps in the future.
Here are some tips for getting started:
- Track Your Spending: Spend a week tracking every purchase you make. Then categorize them into different categories as best as possible (food, gas/transportation, entertainment). You’ll be able to see where most of your money is going and prioritize accordingly. So that there’s always some leftover for savings at the end of the month.
- Make A Budget: Once you’ve tracked all your expenses for a few weeks, sit down with pen and paper (or Excel) and create an actual budget based on what came out from those tracking sessions. This will help ensure that there’s enough money coming into your savings account each month.
7. Buying Textbooks At Full Price
Books are expensive, but they’re also necessary. You can’t learn the material without them, so you’ll have to shell out some cash if you want to keep up with classwork. But you don’t have to always buy books at their full price. The good news is that there are plenty of other ways of getting your hands on these texts:
- Stop by your local library and see if they have any used copies. Many libraries have an extensive collection of textbooks that students have donated after completing their courses, or after buying newer editions.
- Search online for a PDF copy. Many professors make these available online for free download as an alternative to purchasing an actual book. And if you’re worried about poor-quality printing or scanning errors in these files, don’t be. Most websites offer high-quality downloads that should look just like their printed counterparts.
- If all else fails and none of those options work for you, consider renting a textbook until it’s time for finals week when you’ll need it most often anyway (and then return it). This will save money over buying one new book at full price every semester
8. Act Rich When You Are Not
You might already hear this, but it’s worth repeating: don’t spend money you don’t have. Likewise, don’t buy things that are not important to your life in order to impress other people.
The reason for this is twofold. First, it will help ensure that you don’t go into debt and get yourself into bad financial situations where you need the help of others just to make ends meet.
The second reason is more personal, it’s better for your self-esteem. When we buy things we can’t afford, we often feel guilty about it and try to hide our purchases from friends and family members. Because they know how much money we make or what our parents earn (and therefore how much money is available). Instead of basking in the glory of our new purchase, why not save up until we can afford something nice?
9. Take More Time To Graduate
The average college student graduates in four years, but some take longer. If you’re one of them, it’s likely because you’re working or have a family. But taking more time to graduate can cost you more money in the long run.
When students graduate on time, they start earning earlier than their peers who don’t graduate until five years after starting school (in some cases). This means that if you get your degree on time, you’ll be entering the workforce sooner and making more money than those who take longer to finish school.
Final Thoughts
Wise financial decisions while in college can save you a lot of trouble later on. Consider the above-mentioned common financial mistakes most students make in college. So you can avoid college debt and make yourself less dependent on loans and grants.
It’s a good idea to save money while in college because it will be difficult to save once you are out of school. Also, be smart about your finances. Realize that you have to pay back the loans and don’t get in debt for things that aren’t necessary. Take advantage of your school’s financial aid services and don’t forget to pay attention to your credit score. When you follow these steps you’ll be on the right path to having a strong financially secure future.