12 Habits Of Financially Smart College Girls | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

12 Habits Of Financially Smart College Girls

Stack that paper.

31
12 Habits Of Financially Smart College Girls
Negin Mirsalehi

College teaches a lot of things, but it usually doesn't teach financial management. Learning how to make a budget, keep track of your spending, and start saving is super important for leading a successful and fulfilling life. Patterns of behavior you make in your twenties will stay with you for decades, so do yourself a favor and adopt these habits of financially smart college girls!

1. Make a budget every week

A financially savvy lady makes a budget at the beginning of every week. Look ahead to see major events coming up that you will need to account for, but also allocate for small purchases along the way. An easy way to do this is through a spreadsheet program like Excel or Google Sheets.

2. Track your spending

Keeping to a budget is only possible if spending throughout the week is tracked. Whether it's with pen and paper or a smartphone app like Personal Capital or Mint, a smart college girl keeps track of every dollar she spends.

3. Stay on top of paying tuition and rent

Rent and tuition are the usually the biggest expenses for college girls and they can cause major headaches if left unattended. Pencil reminders into your planner so that you never miss a payment. You'll avoid the stress and have one less thing to worry about.

4. Never pay full price for a textbook

Textbooks are ridiculously expensive, especially when professors want you to have the 15th edition (even when it's the exact same as the 14th). Financially smart college girls get around this by borrowing textbooks from friends, buying used copies, or renting them. People often post their old textbooks in Free and For Sale groups on Facebook, so make sure to hit those up when the semester starts.

5. Skip name brands at the grocery store

For some people, having the right name brand is super important. It's understandable to want a real Michael Kors bag or Nike athletic shoes, but there is no need to buy name brand foods. Choosing the grocery store brand over name brands like Oreos and Rice Chex is an easy way to cut costs. The best part? Generic brands taste the exact same.

6. Sell things you no longer need

Instead of letting old clothes pile up in a corner, use an app like Poshmark to sell them. It's super easy and quick, and you'll kill two birds with one stone: making some extra cash and de-cluttering your living space. Most of these websites take a small commission that covers the cost of shipping, making the whole process super simple.

7. Pay your credit card bill in full every month

Credit cards are a great financial tool, but they will become your worst enemy if you don't manage them carefully. The real danger sets in when you don't pay your bills and the interest piles up. Thankfully, there's an easy way to avoid this — pay the whole account balance every month and you'll never be charged interest.

8. Prep your meals for the week ahead

Going out to eat is expensive and the cost of meals out racks up quickly. Any easy way to cut your budget is to skip the restaurants and make your own meals. This can easily save you hundreds of dollars a month. There are tons of great recipes online (check it out here and here) that make cooking easy and fun.

9. Borrow outfits for special events

Costume parties, formals, and other events in college often require attire that is only applicable to that specific event. Instead of spending loads of money on outfits that you'll wear only once and never again, borrow what you need from your friends! It's a great way to increase the size of your closet without breaking the bank.

10. Don't project a lifestyle you can't afford

It's easy to get jealous of girls on Instagram that seem to have it all - the red bottom shoes, dozens of roses, fancy lattes, and trips to the Caribbean every weekend. These girls get tons of attention and it's tempting to copy them so you'll also get tons of attention and likes. It's not worth it though because you'll soon find yourself in debt and unhappy, always chasing the next thing. If the only reason people like you is your Instagram feed, you need new friends anyway.

11. Apply for scholarships

Even with the help of student loans, college tuition is still ridiculously expensive. The good news is that there are literally thousands of scholarships that will pay for your education so you don't have to. Even Beyonce is giving out scholarships. Don't think freshman are the only ones who get them either — you can keep applying for scholarships all throughout college.

12. Start saving for retirement

If you're a college student, retirement is probably the last thing on your mind. Although retirement isn't a sexy or exciting topic, it's still super important. People who start saving young have tons more money when they retire than people who don't. So do yourself a favor and open up an IRA right now.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

190923
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

15269
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

458133
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26768
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments