3 Budgeting Tips for Newly-Independent College Students

College is expensive - this is well-known. The real price of college doesn’t really hit new students until they are in the middle of their first semester sitting in their dorm room eating ramen and selling old clothes and shoes to buy one last book.

The rising tuition costs, student loans, and the real world costs of living on your own can hit fast, so preparing yourself for college life will benefit you more than you realize. It may not seem like it, but the decisions you make with your finances while you are beginning and in college will have a significant effect on your financial future. Knowing how to budget your money wisely – especially if you are taking out student loans – will be very important in the long run.

Live Within Your Means

It’s okay to go out with your friends and to make late night runs to the grab-and-go now and then, but don’t make it a weekly event. Knowing how much extra spending money you have each week and not spending more than that said amount is vital to staying afloat financially. You don’t need to order Domino’s every week, no matter what your roommate tries to convince you. The Federal Student Aid website also lays out some guidelines about how to not get behind on your finances when you’re in college.

Don’t Overestimate Your Income

If you work a job where your paycheck is about the same every week, that can make budgeting a bit easier to determine. If you have a college job where you earn your wages on tips or commission, however, this can be tricky. Overestimating your income or your paycheck can really hurt you when you open the envelope and it isn’t what you expected. That is why underestimating your weekly income and spending less than what you think you have will help you save money in the long run.

Start a Budget That Works For You

Everyone has different priorities and everyone spends their money differently. If you are looking to start a budget that works for you, Pinterest has a ton of great ideas for college students from how to balance school, a job, and a social life to where to put your money and what to spend it on.


No matter what school you decide to attend or how you decide to spend your money while you’re there, putting money into savings for books, school supplies and other necessities is very important. Finding a bank that will help you save for your future is also something that can benefit you greatly. St. Cloud Federal Credit Union is focused on your future, let us help you prepare for some of the greatest years of your life!

Purchasing a Home: Financial Preparation Planning

According to Gallup’s annual Economy and Personal Finance survey, 56 percent of Americans own a home and 25 percent plan to purchase one in the next 10 years. Experts say you should begin planning to buy your home a year before actually making the purchase. Having a game plan set up ahead of time may save you tons of extra time and money. Here's how you can prepare your credit and finances for your future home investment:

Start with Your Credit Score

Start with knowing where you stand and how lenders will look at you financially. Credit reports will show lenders whether you are routinely late with payments and whether you have run into serious credit problems in the past. Doing this first will give you time to work on building your credit score if necessary. Make sure you use an actual FICO score, as this is what most lenders see. Credit reports are kept by the three major agencies; Experian, Equifax, and the TransUnion. You can get a free copy of your credit reports annually from AnnualCreditReport.com.

Convert to a Conservative Budget

Downsize your current living expenses to put towards your new home purchase. Determine your budget with the amount you can afford to repay now in mind, not the maximum you're allowed to borrow. Keep in mind that life changes may come and careers might change down the road. Children, cars, and travel plans are just a few additional costs that can cut into savings, so make sure you have room for these costs in your budget.

Crush Your Debt

It breaks down to this: when you owe less money, you have more disposable income. As you begin to think about shopping for a house, think about other potential debts you have accumulated. Take the added income you have from budgeting and put it toward paying off your debt. Once you owe less on other debts, you’ll have more money to put toward your home (not to mention the boost you’ll see in your credit score). Another piece of advice while you’re getting ready for a mortgage is staying away from new debts, such as car loans or anything larger than $10,000.

Getting prepared to take out a mortgage may seem like a lot of work, but early preparation makes the entire process run much more smoothly. The American dream of owning your own home can turn into a nightmare quick if you aren’t prepared.


At St. Cloud Federal Credit Union, we can help you get that dream house and a real estate investment. Contact us today to talk with our mortgage department and find an approach that works with your lifestyle.

Preparing Your Finances for College

A college education can be one of life’s biggest expenses, but an education is one of life’s most rewarding experiences. Don’t let the financial burden of school deter your child. Help them learn to be financially conscious and prepared for college. Learn how you can help below:

1. Be Financially ConsciousIf you haven’t had much education in saving and spending money, now is the time to start. There are online courses, community courses, and a wealth of resources online available. This article from Dailyfinance.com can help you learn to be financially savvy. Learn how to budget, how to prioritize expenses, how to save, how to use debit and credit cards, how to use online transactions safely, and more. This can be overwhelming to the student learning to budget money for the first time, but laying down the groundwork will make the transition to college and adulthood that much easier. There are also tons of excellent phone apps to help you keep track of your spending and saving habits.

2. Save Early

Have a serious conversation about who is paying for college. Make it an expectation for your child to contribute to their education. Encourage them to get a part-time job throughout high school and college to help contribute to the cost. This can help your child develop a strong work ethic, become more disciplined with their finances, as well as help them gain professional experience and develop skills.

3. Learn How to Open and Use A Bank AccountIf your child doesn’t have a checking and savings account, teach them how to open and use each one. Learn how to use ATMs associated with your credit union or bank in order to withdraw fee-free.

4. Credit Card or No Credit Card?
It seems like the second students graduate high school, your mailbox gets inundated with credit card offers. If your child chooses to get a credit card, help them look for the best possible offer. Encourage them to sign up for a secured credit card, which helps establish a credit limit. Remind your child to use a credit card as a way of building credit, not as a way of spending money. Teach them to live within their means and use a credit card for expenses like gas or groceries - expenses which they can easily pay back each month.

5. Learn About the Financial Aid Process

Help your student complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible to help you and your child make financial decisions for college. Once completed, your family will receive information in the form of a Student Aid Report (SAR), an Expected Family Contribution (EFC), and a Data Release Number (DRN).

6. Research and Apply for Grants and Scholarships
Based on financial aid and/or merit scholarships, grants and scholarships are widely available and can help fund a major part of the college cost. Look for them at the national and state level in your community, through your high school, and more. There’s a treasure trove of money for higher education, you just have to put in a little elbow grease to find it.

7. Apply for Loans
The loan process can be tricky to navigate, but learn about the two federal student loan programs, the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program which offers four types of loans, and the Federal Perkins Loan Program, a school-based program for students with “exceptional financial need.” Although they are often associated with higher interest rates, explore the options of private student loans. Many institutions offer them, but explore your options carefully before choosing.

Picking a loan from a credit union rather than a major institution has many benefits. With a loan from a credit union, you can enjoy lower interest rates, flexible payment plans, and much more. Visit our student loan page to learn more and to get started.

A college education can be expensive, but far from impossible, and St. Cloud Federal Credit Union can help along the way. Plan accordingly and learn early on about how your family can best prepare for the financial expenses of college.