Money

Make learning financial-literacy skills a key college success skill. Understanding how to manage money has life-long benefits.

Create a budget and then live on it. Remember that it’s your budget, tailor-made by and for you.

Act on some of the suggestions offered in this chapter for cutting your costs. For most college students, cutting costs is even more important than increasing their income.

Learn as much as you can about the different types of financial aid. Find out what is offered to U.S. college students by the government and by your particular college, even though the term has already started. It’s never too late to take advantage of these opportunities.

Consider the pros and cons of working while in college. If you do work, consider how much and where you will work. Realize that students who borrow money and attend college full time are more likely to attain their degrees than those who use a different strategy.

Remember that you will finish college with two key numbers: your GPA and your credit score. Potential employers will check both your transcript and your credit report.

Learn the strategies in this chapter for wise credit card management. College is a time to learn how to use credit wisely.

Take advantage of help offered on your campus to learn financial-management skills. You can’t help it if you didn’t learn these skills before; you may not have had any money to manage!