By: Lindsey Mertz

Take Time to Career Plan

Regardless of the circumstances in college, you will most likely find yourself at one point or another checking your near-empty bank account and thinking twice about whether you can truly afford that Calculus textbook. It is inevitable when classes are not going to pay for themselves, and you can’t squeeze a full-time job into your already packed schedule. However, despite how broke you may feel now, it can be paid off sooner based on the choices you make today, even if you have limited or no income during the school year.

My number one piece of advice is to take the time to plan what you want to do for a career and act now to make that career a reality! Go to career services and work on your resumé. Talk to your friend’s mom about where she works and if there are any internship opportunities at her company. Not only will you end up with some extra money from the internships or research jobs you took, but you will also have an extra experience on your resumé for post-college. In the working world, experience is money. If you have experience on your resumé, your post-college salary will likely reflect that extra experience. Although job and internship hunting can be stressful and time-consuming, if you commit yourself to pursuing your future career now, your bank account will thank you later.

Limit Discretionary Purchases

Let’s face it, spending money is way more fun than saving it. One pastry from Rough Draft here, another cute Halloween costume there. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself confronted by a less-than-satisfactory monthly bank statement. Although saving money is not the most glamorous of financial wellness hacks, it is among the most important. I prefer limiting discretionary purchases and moderating my spending is what works best for me.

Take the time to consider what is most important to you. Is having a meal out with friends the best part of your week? Or is buying a new pair of running shoes going to help motivate you to work on your health? Those would be things to build into your budget, making sacrifices elsewhere. Think about what the non-negotiables are for you when it comes to spending and use your money for those things without regret. But when other money-sucking activities come along, think about whether it will further drive you toward your long-term goals.

Looking back on my days in college, these are the two tips I would hammer the table on. I wish you all financial wellness and happiness :)

Two Tips for Financial Wellness: College Edition

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