Back at College and Broke Already

ALBANY, NY (11/04/2011)(readMedia)-- Are lattes, name-brand jeans and an interactive phone with a web plan a few of your budget priorities? Without a spending plan, you may find yourself caught short when an unexpected expense comes along.

To avoid a budgeting crisis later in the academic year, the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) advises students to create a budget that will cover books and supplies, transportation, personal care items and other necessary expenses first.

Where does it all go?

Occasionally, despite careful planning, you may find yourself at a zero balance before the end of the week. But, if you find yourself chronically out of money at the end of each week and are calling home for additional cash, it may useful to track your spending. Small purchases can add up quickly. Here are some examples:

  • Bottled water – one, seven days a week can be $10.50 or more a week.
  • Gourmet coffee – a small one costs around $2.50; a large can as much as $5.00. Buying one every day could cost between $17.50 and $35 a week.
  • ATM fees – every time you get cash from an ATM that is out of your bank network, you may pay as much as $4.00 in fees. Two visits a week to an ATM could cost you $8.00 a week...$32.00 a month.
  • Buying online – When making online purchases, remember to plan for shipping charges. Standard shipping may be costly and may double if you choose express shipping. Plan ahead to avoid higher shipping costs...or try to find the item locally.
  • Cell phone plans – A national magazine recently noted that the average family uses only 735 talk-time minutes a month. After reviewing your cell phone bills, you find you are using around 700 minutes, or texting more than you talk, it may be worthwhile to switch from an unlimited talk plan to a more targeted plan at a lower monthly cost. Reducing your data plan may also save you money. Some pay-as-you-go plans feature upgraded phones and free international calling without a contract. Reviewing your cell phone use and considering what you want versus what you need may save serious money each month.
  • Impulse buying – Focus on your wants versus needs when you're shopping, especially if you are out with friends. Planning ahead and prioritizing your needs and wants can help you stay focused on your goals.

Take charge of your spending

The first step in budget rehab is to track your spending. Document every cup of coffee, every bottle of water, or anything you buy and its cost, for a week or two.

If you remain diligent for the tracking period, you may be surprised to see where your money went, and can identify patterns to help you re-evaluate and re-prioritize your spending to achieve your goals.

For example, if you find yourself buying bottled water every day at $1.50 each, consider getting a reusable water bottle and bring it with you. Not only will you save money, you'll save the environment, too by disposing less plastic.

Are the ATM and bank charges racking up? If your bank does not have an ATM on campus or nearby, consider opening an account with one that has. You'll save $2.00 or more with each transaction, which could amount to a nice-chunk-of-change each week. If your bank charges a monthly fee for making purchases with a debit card, try to estimate your cash needs for the week and use it instead of your debit card.

Use credit cards sparingly

A credit card is good to have when you have an emergency expense, but if you are using credit to purchase every-day items and carrying a balance, you may be digging a financial hole. The average graduating senior has as much as $4,100 of card debt, which may take more than ten years to repay when making minimum payments at 18.9 percent interest. That $4,100 balance may cost an extra $2,500 in interest – money that could have been spent somewhere else.

Empower yourself with a plan

After a review of your weekly or monthly expenditures, you'll have a tool to create a sound financial plan.

Your spending plan will help you set limits and prioritize. Plus, you will determine what you really need vs. what you want. You'll learn whether you can afford to purchase that pair of designer jeans or put off the purchase for a while.

A personal budget worksheet can help develop a spending plan; use one at HESC.org to start your own budget.

Keeping it real

Develop a sensible spending plan that you can live with. Include money for entertainment so you won't feel deprived; if you begin to feel negative about a spending plan, it won't be successful, so keep it real.

Your new budget may take some tweaking, and it may take awhile to get used to spending according to a plan, so it's a good idea to refer to it regularly. Before you spend impulsively, ask yourself...

  • Will this purchase fit my spending plan this week?
  • If I want to purchase an item now, what can I adjust to stay within my weekly budget?
  • If I charge this item on a credit card, how long will it take to pay for it and what will be the actual cost with interest?

Your college experience is a great time for you to spread your wings and experience independence for the first time -- and staying debt free will help empower you to reach your goals.

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About HESC: HESC is New York State's student financial aid agency that helps people pay for college and a national leader in providing need-based grant and scholarship award money to college-going students. At HESC's core are programs like the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), numerous state scholarships, the New York Higher Education Loan Program (NYHELPs), federal college access grants and a highly successful College Savings program. HESC puts college within the reach of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers each year through programs like these and through the guidance it provides to students, families and counselors. In 2010-11, HESC helped more than 413,000 students achieve their college dreams by providing $991 million in grants, scholarships and federal student loan guarantees, including $855 million awarded through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).