—C  FORUUT to
It's a Cheap Student Life

Melissa Beedle, Features Editor

   
   
 
 
    

 
 
 

Click Number 4» Living (read: not living well, not surviving, just living)
A : ere is common sense, but it’s still good to remind q
There’s a whole section about home entertainment
from the library (free!), and throwing potluck ding
heaper and given the right company, just as fun!
> all the time, there’s a whole section called “Out
and cheap entertainment like plays, concerts, mo
inment for your buck. There’s even a section al

reat (and Cheap) Dates (i.e. Take classes with

Okay, so it’s the beginning of the semester and you have lots of money saved up,
and you are prepared for a checkbook-in-balance semester. Or not. If you’te am
aes like me, you have a student loan, most of which will be spent on 1

  

   
 
     
 
   
 
 

  

 
 

   
   
   
 

ing (and sa’
infamous
fast ferries

For the sake of having an example, let’s use my current financial situation (just
don’t point and h when you see the holes in my financial pockets—my mama
never taught me how to balance a checkbook, alright?
Here’s a quick rundown on my “situation:”

      
  
    
   
       
  
    
   
 
  
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
    

"According to the site, there are lots vays to manage your debt:
* Don’t pay others to do what you can do—do it yourself.

* Always shop with a list in order t d unnecessary purchases (lol, now t

funny).

_- Cut back on entertainment (i.e. no re bar tabs or glasses of wine with

    

 

  
 
 
 

   
 

° Porsiie more 2 Mind enter
games—which reminds me,
the first time. And ye

* Rent: $300/month

¢ Car insurance: $150/ month
* Car payment: $200/month .
* Gas: $80/month —
* Parking: $50/ month |
¢ Laundry: $20/month a
° Cleaning producg™ $10/ month (I use vinegar for everything)

en film rentals, library books, bj
1 game of poker the other nigh
could be another income-ear

 
 

* Medical: $50/month
* Clothes: $100/month ofilest a
° Cell phone: $45/month

. ae aes debt: $700.
* Grand total of expenses: $

¢ Student loan: $4,675

= Leftover financial need: $1, 009

So, according to this budget, I’m in the. red. \

ure out how to cut costs by $1,009. Let’s check or
what’s there.

Click Number 1: The Financial Planner
Here you'll find an education cost calculator. You pick your school jaod our pro-
gram and the guide will tell you your total cost down to the dollar, tuition, books,
fees, and supplies all included. Grand total for my two-year Print Futures diplom
is $8,586.08. Down to the cent. Say you want to compare the costs of other ‘col-

leges, it’s all there (too bad I didn’t find this before I started college).

  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
  

Click Number 2: The Online Budget Planner
You enter the totals and batta-bing batta-boom, you've got a budge In my case,
I think T’ll have to keep my part-time job and work more hours. T heees are two
things I will not give up: my cell phone and my ear, so off to work I go. —
Click Number 3: Selecting a Bank
There are lots of tips on choosing a bank. And since Ym the Queen of. eine lots of creative and dirt cheap ways to make some extra dough. Or at teaee td
Service Fees, I think I should spend some time here. Credit unions appear to be out of the red like me.
the way to go. Any bank with no-fee banking, as far as I’m concerned, is the way The Debtfree Graduate guide is also available in book format at the Do
to go. College Financial Aid Department.

 

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