Managing Money- Tips from On Your Own: Navigating the Road to Independence

Do you find you run out of money before you run out of expenses?  That happens to alot of us!

On of the first steps in managing money is to establish a budget. Begin by keeping a list of every expense (and I mean EVERY expense) you have for two months. This includes soft drinks, gum, everything. Once you have this list done, you will be able to determine the categories in which you typically spend money. If you want more information about budgeting before next Tuesday, click on the following link On Your Own to find out more details. Next Tues. you can begin looking at all of your expense categories you have used so far. 

Spring Break

Many people use spring break as a time to catch up. That is a great idea, but be sure to allow yourself some "fun" time. For many students and faculty there will be about 6-8 more weeks that will be packed full of studying, projects and tests to complete before the semester is over. The good news is that you are almost through with this semester of school. Keep focused and ask your instructors what you can do to keep your grades strong, or to raise those grades that you are concerned about. But first, take a little time to enjoy your spring break. :)

Google Check

Sometimes we are asked to do things, or we think about certain things we may say or do, but we are not sure if it is a good idea to actually say or do that. We may even wonder if the words or actions are unethical and could get us into trouble.

When you find yourself in this situation, it is a good idea to do a "Google Check". A "Google Check" is when you think about what you are going to say or do and ask yourself, "If this action was posted on Google for all of my friends and the rest of the world to see, how would I feel about it?" If you would be happy for others to know you said or did this, then it is a good decision. On the other hand, if you feel you would not want others to know about this, you can choose not to do that.

Test Preparation

Many students are 4 or 5 weeks into the spring semester of school. This means you have probably had your first round of exams. If you did not perform as well as you would like, stop and analyze what you might have done differently. You can do that by asking and answering the following questions.
1. Did I understand the material discussed in class?
2. Did I do the assignments related to this test material?
3. Did I study the material in the course on a regular basis and not just the night before?
4. What can I do to improve my test scores?
5. Do I need to discuss my concern with my teacher?

By answering the above questions you may be able to significantly increase your grade on the next test.

If you need some study tips, post your questions below for more information.

How Not to Lose Points in Classes

This is a busy time for most students in school. Many assignments are due and tests are being given. Often if the assignment is turned in after the due date, or the tests are taken late, the student will lose 10 or 15 points off of the grade they would have earned if the assignment or test was taken on time.

Practice some of the time management skills discussed in this blog to help get things done in a timely manner.

Perhaps the best tip is to not procrastinate. I gave an assignment to students on August 25 that was due on October 21. Some students are turning this assignment in late even though they have had two months to complete it. Two month seems like such a long time to have to complete an assignment, however, you never know when you might get sick, have kids who get sick, have a death in the family, etc. Do not put off completing things that you know you are responsible for even though you think you have plenty of time.

Strive to always have things done a week early. Put the item on your calendar for the date that is a week ahead. That can keep you from losing lots of points over your school career.

Mid-semester

Many colleges and universities are approaching mid-semester. This is the time when students often begin feeling very overloaded with assignments and tests. They begin questioning if being in school is the right decision for them.

In order to deal with this time of pressure and uncertainly many students find it helpful to turn to their calendars and to-do lists. By visually reviewing the upcoming assignments and exams it allows students to prioritize their responsibilities and to better schedule their time.

Now is the time to push forward. In a couple of weeks students will begin saying, "I can't believe the semester is almost over!" Good luck on all of your upcoming work and keep your eye on the prize of successful completion of this semester. Best of luck.

How to save a few minutes out of your day.

I am always interested in the ways students find to manage their time better when they are in school. One of the easy things shared lately is to use paper plates and cups as they are easy to dispose of and do not require time washing and putting them away!

What time management tips would you like to share?