Por: Charlestien Harris
It's that time of year when college-bound students will be transitioning from a familiar place to a college campus – whether far away or perhaps not very far from home. Regardless of the distance, your finances durante la universidad should be a top priority. Through my years of delving into the topic of financial literacy, I've come to realize that grasping basic financial skills and concepts is crucial for a successful financial future. Nearly all our adult actions, such as earning money, budgeting, paying off debt, and saving, heavily rely on our personal financial literacy skills. I acknowledge that some young individuals lack the necessary financial guidance to manage their finances independently, and college marks their first step toward financial responsibility. Thus, I'd like to propose some straightforward money moves that can assist college students in navigating this newfound financial freedom.
En muchos casos, los jóvenes universitarios deben madurar rápidamente, y una aspiración común entre ellos es lograr la independencia de sus padres. Sin embargo, los retos de la vida independiente a menudo difieren significativamente de sus expectativas. He aquí algunos movimientos monetarios que pueden, al menos, ponerte en el buen camino para convertirte en un experto financiero.
Money Move #1: Ante todo, esfuércese por adquirir conocimientos financieros. Esto implica aprender todo lo posible sobre finanzas personales. Acquiring personal finance skills helps you comprehend your earnings, monthly expenses, and aids in budgeting within your income or monthly allowance. Several college campuses offer basic personal finance courses, and some even house on-site student financial education departments within their financial aid offices. Colleges are rapidly recognizing that personal finance education is integral to their students' success and is also linked to the student loan debt crisis that numerous campuses are currently grappling with.
Money Move #2: En segundo lugar, domine el arte de hacer un seguimiento de sus hábitos de gasto. El método más sencillo para mantener el control de sus finanzas es supervisar en qué se gasta su dinero. Evalúe periódicamente sus gastos para identificar las áreas en las que puede recortar o gastar de forma más eficiente. Aunque el seguimiento mensual proporciona una visión más precisa de sus patrones de gasto habituales, también puede hacerlo diaria o semanalmente. Examinar sus gastos mensuales y compararlos con sus ingresos puede revelarle cuánto acumulan esas pequeñas compras diarias. Con esta información, podrá identificar los ajustes necesarios.
Money Move #3: El tercer paso es establecer un presupuesto universitario. Un presupuesto es una potente herramienta de las finanzas personales. Elaborar un presupuesto helps you plan your expenses for the month and enables you to anticipate any remaining income, if applicable. Abiding by a budget doesn't signify a lack of enjoyment; it merely ensures that your enjoyment won't jeopardize your bill payments.
Money Move #4: Considere la posibilidad de abrir un cuenta de ahorro. El ahorro constante es uno de los hábitos presupuestarios más difíciles de mantener, ya que exige disciplina y dar prioridad a los objetivos futuros sobre los deseos presentes. Sin embargo, ahorrar con éxito sienta las bases de una economía sólida cuando te gradúes y entres en el mercado laboral.
Money Move #5: El quinto movimiento monetario consiste en fijar objetivos a corto y largo plazo. objetivos financieros. This is crucial, as goals provide something to strive for and keep you motivated on your journey. Achieving a short-term goal can make attaining a long-term goal appear much more attainable. Budgeting and saving are skills that require time and practice to master, and your college years offer the perfect opportunity to make minor errors without grave consequences. If you find yourself occasionally overspending or making mistakes, that's alright. You can recalibrate to get back on track. Your focus should remain on cultivating healthy financial habits that will serve you for years to come.
Many college campuses are instituting financial literacy programs tailored to students. A significant number of these programs originated from personal finance departments on these campuses and boast adept staff members and well-trained interns. Typically situated within financial aid offices, or sometimes having their own dedicated spaces, they extend a variety of services to current and former students, ranging from student loan debt counseling to budget establishment. If you're a high school senior or about to commence your college journey in the upcoming fall or spring, I strongly urge you to visit your campus's financial aid office to ascertain the existence of a student financial education program. If such a program exists, I encourage you to take full advantage of the services provided. You won't regret it; it could be one of the most pivotal decisions shaping your financial future.
Hasta la semana que viene: ¡manténgase en forma desde el punto de vista financiero!
