I think at one time or another we all have heard or said something along the lines of “I can’t buy/do/go to X because I’m a broke college kid.”
Well, okay then. Maybe that’s true. Notre Dame is quite pricey and beyond tuition and housing there is a slew of other expenses that contribute to the cost of college. But to hear the excuse that someone is “broke” all of the time and so they can’t do something is particularly frustrating. There is no reason that we cannot be money savvy enough to put us above being “broke”. I pride myself in being a solid saver, and even though my savings may have taken a hit since I started college, I am by no means incapable of affording anything…which is what “broke” actually means. There are so many ways we can be better than the stereotypical ramen-eating student.
1. Save, Save, SAVE
What’s worse than not having money is not having money by choice. If you’re “broke” because you spend a bunch of money each month on clothes/going out/food then you’re making the conscious choice not to have any money. Let’s get something straight, if you’re reading this from any sort of smartphone, tablet, or laptop you are probably not “broke”. Excessive spending is a choice and can really bite you in the you-know-what down the line. Every time you earn money that doesn’t need to go toward some immediate payment, a portion of that should go into savings. If you don’t have a savings account then you should probz get one. Later on in life, once you have a career and salary, the money you put away will become a down payments or your kid’s college fund. It sounds like a long way off, but now is the time to get into the habit of saving some dough.
2. Get a job
I know we go to a really difficult university with tough academic standards to meet, but I find working to be fulfilling in many ways. Firstly, it’s a nice break from tough school work and long lectures. Also, a lot of jobs on campus have super flexible hours so you can work as little or as much as you want. 4-6 hours a week is totally doable and gives you a little spending money throughout the school year. Who knows, you might actually enjoy working some.
3. Use your resources wisely
Paying to go to Notre Dame really fulfills all of our basic needs. Two meals a day and is more substantial than most colleges and really, despite my complaints, the dining hall is one of the better (and if you’re smart, healthier) options for food. We also get 400 flex points a semester. Some people burn through this ridiculously fast, but does anyone really need a Frappuccino or $5 footlong everyday? It’s great that we can swipe our student ID and, wall-ah, without directly losing anything from our wallets we have that milkshake we’ve been craving from LaFun or that coffee we needed to get us through the day, but we shouldn’t abuse this and then complain about how “broke” we are. That’s not broke, that’s spoiled. The point is, use them wisely that way you don’t have to spend your real money as much.
4. The best things in life are free
Okay, I am not one of those people who really believes money can’t ever buy happiness. I think that practically money can provide us with cute clothes, PSLs, vacations, etc. These are all ways to achieve some sort of joy. However, so many amazing things don’t cost anything or cost very little. Genuine friends and conversation are things that we don’t buy… or at least shouldn’t. Throwing a football on the quad or running around the lakes are other ways that we can enjoy ourselves without opening our wallets. When money is tight, like it often is in college, then we should embrace these other ways to entertain and enjoy ourselves. Plus, everyone knows a superb pick of the Dome is priceless.
Maybe you don’t have any problems with money. Perhaps your parents generously provide you with money or you work enough to feel financially stable, which is great. But if you do feel “broke”, it can’t hurt to reevaluate your spending habits or consider taking a job on campus. There’s no reason that we have to fulfill the stereotype of a broke college student. In reality, the fact that we somehow pay for Notre Dame, whether that be out-of-pocket or through financial aid, means we already have someone on our side financially. Fiscal responsibility is just another lifelong skill that we can start to master in college. It’s one of those things that will lead us to become independent and successful. So refrain from breaking those piggy banks and go earn that monaaaay.
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