| As soon as I entered college I instantly realized | | | | Student Aid (FAFSA). Fill out this application on the |
| that there were many things I needed to know | | | | internet or in your financial aid office. |
| that Mom and Dad never taught me. I am certain | | | | There are two types of student loans: Federal |
| that thousands of other college students were | | | | and private. Some Federal loans are the Stafford, |
| (and are) in the same predicament I was in. Now, | | | | Perkins, Parent PLUS, and Graduate PLUS loans. |
| I'm definitely not your mother, but I trust that | | | | Private loans may be obtained through a financial |
| the following information will be of great use to | | | | institutions. |
| you. | | | | College Cooking: |
| I cannot cover everything a student needs to | | | | Contrary to popular belief, cooking doesn't have |
| know before entering college in an article like this, | | | | to be complicated. There are plenty of simple |
| however, I will quickly cover a few important | | | | recipes that anyone can put together. In fact, |
| things including money management, obtaining | | | | loads of recipe books have been written |
| financial aid, cooking, and time management. | | | | specifically for college students! You ought to |
| Managing Your Money: | | | | consider investing in one of these great books. |
| I only have 3 money management tips, so listen | | | | When you don't want to pull out the recipe book |
| carefully: | | | | simply look at the food you have, choose items |
| 1- Create your budget. I know it's hard in the | | | | that would taste good together, and toss them |
| beginning but it'll really reduce your stress. If you | | | | into a frying pan. Most meals are meat based with |
| do not know how to create a budget, search the | | | | vegetables and sometimes noodles or rice. |
| internet or ask your friends or parents to help | | | | Managing Your Time: |
| you. | | | | Here are my tips for managing your time: |
| 2- Never spend more than you make. If you're in | | | | 1. Prioritize- List your most important tasks and |
| the habit of spending more than you are earning | | | | do those first. |
| you have two options: increase your income or | | | | 2. Schedule- Everyone needs a different kind of |
| decrease your expenses. There are hundreds of | | | | schedule. Try out different schedules to |
| ways to decrease expenses. | | | | determine which one works best for you.. |
| 3- Pay your bills when their due. Just do it. Do not | | | | 3. Follow your Schedule- When you are in class, |
| get into more debt than you must. | | | | BE in class. Do not dose off or text your friends. |
| Obtaining Financial Aid: | | | | If your teacher is really boring, do homework for |
| The most common way to obtain financial aid is | | | | a different class. When it's time to study, study. |
| through acquiring scholarships, grants, and loans. | | | | Do not stare out the library window for 45 |
| You can find scholarships at your college, on the | | | | minutes. When it's time to relax, relax. Do what |
| internet, through groups, businesses, and churches. | | | | you need to do when you need to do it. |
| The most popular way to obtain a grant is | | | | NOTE: Use of this article requires links to be intact. |
| through the government. In order to do this you | | | | To learn more about student finances please visit |
| must complete a Free Application for Federal | | | | our Managing Student Debt page. |