Where do students spend their money? Roughly speaking, their expenses are divided between transport, clothing, food, health and leisure.
A planned budget management helps to face unforeseen situations without the student acquiring very expensive debts. The key is to divide the money, even when it is low.
There are some recommendations that college students should take into account to manage their budget avoiding unexpected setbacks:
1- Cash
inflow Generally, university students receive economic support from parents or guardians, so most do not consider it necessary to plan how they spend that money. However, the story is different for those who have to work to support themselves, as they give much more value to any cent.
2- Budgets
You have to make budgets to organize your expenses. Without one, you will not be able to save, because you will not know where you are spending your money. To start making your estimate, take into account the expenses of the previous month and try to find a pattern. In it, you must include the amount you allocate to clothing, food, household income and entertainment. You will be surprised at the amount you spend in each category. This guide can also help you see where you can cut your spending to redistribute your money more efficiently.
3- Spending
Spent more than you receive? If so, you need to reduce spending. Entertainment bills are easy to cut, unlike accommodation and utilities. Keep saving until you have enough to cover your expenses.
4- Needs
You must consider your priorities again. Young people usually place more value on leisure, clothing and other less important expenses. And faced with a fatality, they end up having some health problem and end up getting into debt. Remember to always save a little at the end of the month for those unexpected expenses.
5- Fixed expenses
If you are independent and live alone, you have to pay rent, electricity, water, gas and telephone, even if you don’t have a fixed line. The biggest spending by teenagers comes from cell phones, representing 37% of youth spending, according to a Mexican study.
6- Food
More than satisfying the organic need, food is related to the social role of young people, as it is one of the other categories where teenagers spend their money. Think about how many times you can eat out. How much can you allocate to food? If that value is reaching a large part of your budget, try to buy food at the supermarket instead of eating out. Or, if you already do it, do it in cheaper places.
7- Studies
By itself, the university itself already represents an important expense, because additionally comes expenses with books, transportation, photocopying, etc. In the case of books, it is not necessary to buy new ones. If you buy used, you can save up to 50%. Try to acquire them among the older students of your college or in books, but do not forget to check if the material is in good condition.