Short on cash? Want to start saving money for the future? Talking about money can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some easy ways to save money and invest in your future, courtesy of Lemoore College.
Budget. Budget. Budget! Make sure you know how much money you have coming in and going out each month. Set money aside for the things you really need and bills you need to pay.
Checking and savings. Make sure you have a checking account and, if possible, a savings account. There are lots of advantages to having a healthy relationship with a bank. Having a checking account makes it easy to auto-pay your bills and get your check or financial aid directly deposited so that you don’t have to pick up a physical check. Having a savings account makes it easy to save for your future. You can start small. Just put aside $10 in your savings account each month—which you can do automatically through the bank—and you’ll be on your way to savings in no time. A good rule of thumb is to try to build up a savings account that would cover at least three months of your monthly expenses in case of an emergency.
Become financially literate. All this fancy phrase really means is that you should learn how to manage your money. Take advantage of the many workshops offered at Lemoore College to learn how to manage your bank account and finances, watch out for identity theft, how to make a budget and handle student loans and more.
Get a job if you don’t already have one. This might seem like a no-brainer, but consider working while in college. There are many jobs at Lemoore College and in the community that will let you work around your class schedule. Having a job while in school will let you stay on top of finances and save a little for when you enter the workforce or transfer.
Apply for scholarships! Lemoore College offers thousands of dollars of scholarships every year. Don’t think you qualify for a scholarship? Apply anyway. There are dozens of scholarships with different criteria. You probably do qualify!
Buy smart and be thrifty. Look at all of your options before buying anything. Looking for textbooks? Buy used online or take advantage of the many Zero Textbook Courses that Lemoore College offers.
Take advantage of discounts. You’re a college student and that means that there are dozens of discounts out there for you everywhere from Amazon to Apple. Just google student discounts and you’ll find many ways to save!
Learn to cook. The Internet is a great place to find cheap recipes that will let you eat like royalty without breaking the bank. So stop eating out and start saving money while also learning a valuable life skill!