College
years are the time when many people establish financial habits that will carry
them for the rest of their lives.
Pay
attention to these items to get off on the right financial foot:
- Spending
plan: Know
how much money you have available for college expenses. Create a workable
monthly spending plan that balances income, loans, and gifts with
anticipated expenses.
- Records: Use an
app to track expenses or monitor expenses online. Tracking expenses will
help you see where your money is going and adjust your spending as needed.
Also, remember to review your financial statements every month.
- Credit
cards: Commit
to paying credit card bills in full and on time each month. Using credit
wisely teaches you how to live within your means while creating a positive
credit record that could help when buying a car, renting an apartment,
obtaining insurance, and even landing a job.
- Organization: Keep
all financial records, bills, and account statements in one location. This
will help you pay bills on time, avoid late fees, and keep an unblemished
credit score.
- Personal
information: Learn about
the different forms of identity theft, the kinds of personal information
you need to protect, and how to protect information—even, and especially,
from friends and roommates. Learn the pitfalls of careless use of
social media.
Apps make personal finance easy
There are many apps to help you manage your money. Here are a few to try: