Regan’s Remedies: April 24, 2014

image (2)By Regan Hoerl
SC Staff Writer

It’s come down to the end of the semester and budgeting money is always a problem—even for me. You walk into the Union and they have bulk packages of everything from Gatorade to granola.

From experience, I know it is tempting to buy your favorite candy bar in bulk. Fight the temptation.

Some of you will have leftover flex, while others are scrounging pennies to last them until the second week of May.

Here’s some advice on how to keep your bank account sailing smoothly until the end of the semester.

If you’re using an ATM, Debit, or Credit card, use online banking or text banking.

Both have immediate access to your money, and you’ll be able to keep track of every swipe and charge.

Knowing how much money you have left in the bank can help when it comes to buying that shirt at the Crossings or dinner later that night.

Recently, my sister overdrew her account while she was at school to an outstanding rate.

The bank charged her every time she swiped her card, and she needed to be bailed out.

She did not have text banking, and now she wished she would’ve. It’s a really good precaution to keep you aware of your account balance.

Make sure not to spend frivolously during your last few weeks on campus.

Going out with your friends is fun, but you want to make sure you have enough time to write your papers and study for finals.

You don’t want to catch yourself in a bind. Having to choose between eating lunch and having a few drinks is not a choice you want to find yourself dealing with.

If you haven’t done so already, try to create a savings plan.

Everyone saves money differently, so it’s good to research your options on savings. I like to save my one dollar bills.

Since I serve at TGIFridays in Easton, at the end of the week I take all my ones and put them in my savings account.

That way, I’ll have extra money that I don’t need to spend sitting in a safe place. That’s just one way of watching your money, but again, you have tons of options.

All in all, it’s really quite simple. There’s three weeks left, and it’s really down to crunch time.

Just pay attention to your spending habits. Keep your snacking and iced coffees to a minimum.

Most importantly focus on studying and preparing for summer. Good luck saving, ESU.

Email Regan at:
rhoerl@live.esu.edu