Be 聪明的钱 在大学

Being money-smart starts with basic financial planning. Follow these guidelines to set yourself up for success in college – 和 for lifelong financial well-being.

创建一个 预算

Creating 和 sticking to a 预算 doesn’t have to be difficult. Know your income, plan for your needs, 和 track your expenses.

• 收入: Know where your money is going to come from (home, 金融援助, a part-time job) 和 when it will be available (at the beginning of each semester, 一个月一次, 或者每周.) Do not spend more than your income.
• 需要和欲望: Know the difference, 和 cover the needs before wants. 例如, when considering expenses, buying groceries or eating in the cafeteria is a need, while eating out at a restaurant is a want.
• 提前计划: Prepare for big expenses (such as books 和 transportation back home) by setting aside money on a regular basis. Of, if you only get your income once a semester or 一个月一次, set money aside at that time before 预算ing for your normal weekly expenses.
• 跟踪费用: Keep track of where your money is going – using a spreadsheet, an online tool like 预算 in Patelco在线™, or simple pencil-和-paper. Make adjustments to your 预算 if needed, 和 remember that spending more in one area means spending less in another.

打开一个 checking 和 savings 账户

The right checking 账户 can help you manage your money conveniently 和 securely. Look for an 账户 that offers:

• 不收费，像帕特尔科一样 免费检查 账户
• A debit card to access your money
• online banking 和 a mobile app
• 透支保护

To avoid overdrawing your 账户, it’s essential to keep on top of your balance, which is easy to do with online banking 和 mobile apps.

打开一个 savings 账户 at the same time. A savings 账户 is a great place to 预算 for larger expenses. Saving additional money regularly, 无论大小, can add up over time to help you prepare for unexpected expenses too.

开始 建立信用

申请学生 信用卡 ——然后明智地利用它. Having a 信用卡 in college has two distinct benefits: it gives you extra security in case of a financial emergency 和 helps build a good credit history (when used properly).

玩得开心 信用评分 is important because it will help you get an apartment 和 make borrowing cheaper for larger purchases like a car or a home. Many employers also check 信用评分s when hiring – so it could help you get a job too.

To 建立你的信用 负责任:

• 选择一张带有a的卡片 低利率 和 没有费用 – don’t be tempted by a card just because it comes with a free t-shirt or other gift
• 得到 只有一个 信用卡
• 用这张卡 常规费用 that you can pay off monthly, like your cell phone bill, groceries, 和 gas
• 付清余额 每个月
• 得到一个 低信用额度 to keep your credit balance down
• Make your 信用卡 payment 准时 每个月 — late payments may be reported to credit bureaus, which will impact your 信用评分 和 make borrowing more expensive for you later
• 避免预支现金 – they have high interest rates 和 fees
• Don’t let others use your card – you’re responsible for all charges to your card

If you can’t pay off the card one month, revise your 预算 和 cut expenses to pay off the balance as soon as you can. And if you find you’re not being responsible with the card, close it. (Don’t worry – you can still make payments on your balance after closing a card.)

If you’re 21 or older, you can apply for a 信用卡 on your own. Otherwise, you’ll need another adult, such as a parent, to cosign for the 信用卡 application. (This makes the parent responsible for any unpaid debt 和 can impact their 信用评分 if the card is not managed properly.)

Source: Broadridge Financial Solutions, accessed June 14, 2019.