No money, Mo’ problems-Finance tips for NGU students
Chase Bridges, Assistant Editor
College is a financially difficult time for a lot of students all over the country. North Greenville University’s student body is no exception. Preparing for tuition costs, textbook prices, gas and other everyday needs can strain a student’s bank account quickly.
Luckily, there are a lot of things an NGU student can do to stay financially afloat. For example, the university’s work study program allows students to work while living on campus.
Students have various job options within the work study program. These jobs may include working with professors as their personal assistants or working with the media services team, which helps run audio/visual in events all over campus.
Students make minimum wage doing work studies, and since their jobs are on campus, the hours are very flexible. Work studies allow students to make money while living on campus without interfering with their studies.
Other students have said the best way to make money while living on campus is to start their own businesses. NGU Alumni Chloe Dalton started her photography business while living on campus and it allowed her to focus on school without having to worry about a part-time job.
“I got to create my own schedule and work without interfering with my studies.” Dalton said. “Plus, by the time I graduated my photography had grown so much that I didn’t have to go looking for a job.”
Finding a side hustle that could possibly turn into a full-time job after graduation is not a common occurrence. Although it has happened more often than you would think. Don’t be afraid to make that leap and try to build something yourself.
For those who don’t have a monetizable skillset, simple money management skills can go a long way with your time at school. If you are living on campus you have a meal plan that allows you to eat in the cafeteria as often as you want during meal times.
You also get one free meal swipe every meal period at the campus Chick-fil-a, to give a variety. You also start each semester with over $200 in “Crusader bucks” that allows you to buy from the Papa Johns, General Store and extra Chick-fil-a outside of the set meal equal times.
Using your meal plan and not eating out often help save money every week. Not leaving campus to eat also saves a lot of money when it comes to gas. Constantly driving fifteen minutes off-campus for Cook Out does some serious damage to your bank account.
When it comes to saving gas, another great thing to do is walk to class. For students who live all the way down in Crusader Court or other houses and not the main campus, it can seem really easy to drive to class. However, if you just leave a few minutes early and walk, you are saving money.
In 2015, Ohio State University did a study that found 70% of college students’ biggest stress-causer is money. Money can cause many students to drop out due to the amount of stress that falls on the student’s shoulders. Taking these steps may help reduce that stress and make college life a little better.
*Featured Image: change jar – photo courtesy of unsplash.com
