We all want to be the girl who has it all… That one girl who has all of her ducks in a row. The girl who seasonally renews her wardrobe, the girl who has enough money to go out with her friends, the girl who is always impeccably groomed, and the girl who has enough money to pay her bills or save up for that spring break vacation. There’s nothing like taking control of your own life without your parents’ penny. Ah, if only that could be you, right? Well, it can.
College is a place where you gain financial independence, and balancing a college budget is definitely a huge struggle that every girl faces. Don’t you just hate it when those little expenses magically add up out of nowhere, forcing you out of a social life because you’re broke? Let’s face it, ladies; issues regarding money will not being going away anytime soon. In fact, they’ll actually get worse (I know, cue the violins). However, the way you handle your money makes the biggest difference from having nothing to having it all. Check out HC Montclair’s tips and tricks on how to call yourself that girl below.
Your Wardrobe.
What girl doesn’t love fashion? Clothes and accessories are definitely items that collegiettes spend the most on. The greatest way to upgrade your wardrobe without destroying your wallet is by purchasing pieces in the opposite season, or right in the middle of the season. Buy all of your winter clothes in the heart of January or in the spring/beginning of summer, and buy all of your summer clothes in the heart of July or in the fall/beginning of winter. Why? This is the time that most stores are restocking for the new season and want all of last season’s items out of there, so everything is extremely cheap. Nothing like a great sale!
- The Compromise: By doing this, you will not be buying items of the latest trends. Quick fix? Don’t follow the crowd, and find your personal style instead. A quality wardrobe that includes timeless pieces is greater than a wardrobe that will go out of style in a year.
Your Social Life.
As hard as you’ll try, you will not have enough money for those five lattes per week, dinner with friends every Saturday, and that mani-pedi/spa day every Sunday. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself or go out. Do your nails at home instead of the salon so you can treat yourself to your favorite drink from Starbucks a few times per week. Want a facial but can’t afford it? Create your mask using ingredients from the grocery store instead. Desperately need a haircut? Realize that you won’t have money for that dinner with friends then. The key to enjoying yourself is to pick and choose what you want more.
- The Compromise: You won’t be getting everything you want, but you will be able to enjoy yourself just as much. The key to having it all is deciding what is most necessary. It is all about deciding what is most important to you.
Your Future.
Whether you’re saving for that spring break vacation to Cancun or saving for after graduation, it is important to be realistic about how much you can set aside each month. See how much your income is on a monthly basis and divide up your money. The way you divide it depends on your specific expenses, but you should always set aside at least 5% of your monthly income for your savings. For example, if you earn $600 a month, set aside at least $30. Websites such as Mint.com allow you to put all of your financial accounts in one place, and can tell you how much you will need to save for a goal in specific amount of time.
- The Compromise: Depending on what you’re saving for, you may have to plan way in advance for you to reach your goal by a specific date. Therefore, if you’re thinking about going on a summer vacation, plan now! This may also mean cutting back on a few personal expenses such as a latte, but I think we all can agree that a trip to Cancun is better than a latte.
Before You Go… Extra Tips!
- A great way to make sure you don’t overspend on unnecessary things is to make all of your spending money in cash, and to leave that debit/credit card at home. This way, you’ll have nowhere to turn when you have that urge to buy.
- To save, transfer any remaining cents from your checking account to your savings account. Some banks will automatically do this for you, so check if your bank does!
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