Your Money

Sticking to a budget.

• Money does run out faster than what you would expect, so you really need to pay close attention.
  
• ATM fees... they add up!
  
• Figure out what your expenses are for the year and what your spending money is for each month. Then each month take that month’s spending allowance in cash and put it in your wallet so you can see it dwindle.
  
• Scholarships! Apply to every single one you can find. Ask your guidance counselor, or go to the scholarship web site to find them.
  
• Keep track of the money you spend on booze. It is so easy to loose track of the big picture budget.
  
• If you are not good with money, don’t get a credit card.
  
• Just don’t spend as much. Look out for the good deals you can get.
  
• If you can come out of school with little to no student loan, you are much further a head in the long run.

Keeping track of money at the bar.

• Taking a debit card to the bar is a bad idea!
  
• Accessing the ATMs when you are drunk is a really bad idea.
  
• Decide how much you want to spend at the bar and only bring that much with you.
  
• Put you cab money in a different pocket than your spending money.
  
• Don’t run a tab.

Money saving tips.

• The Student Union puts on a book sale at the beginning of every semester. There is a good selection and you save a lot.
  
• Ordering books on-line can save you a lot.
  
• Find out if there is a difference in the different editions of a book. Older = savings.
  
• Some books have online versions.
  
• Sharing textbooks may not be worth the savings when you can’t use them when you need them.
  
• Make sure you need the text book for the course. Sometime you really don’t.
  
• Find friends who are going to the States or to Quebec and have them import some liquor for you.
  
• Switch to BMO, because the public ATMs on campus are those and the savings in fees is really worth it.

Saving on food.

• If you can, you are better off making your own. It is just that time becomes a factor.
  
• You spend a lot more eating out.
  
• Don’t get the cheap Kraft Dinner. Get the name brand!
  
• Buy things that are on sale and in bulk if you can. Just not liquor... it gets consumed fast.
  
• The freezer is your friend.
  
• The farmer’s market on Saturday is good.

Best part-time jobs.

• Serving jobs are good, because you can work just two nights a week and make a lot of money in tips.
  
• The Work Study program is a good
  flexible job.
  
• The Student Union offers jobs as well.
  
• Some residences have positions for cleaning.
  
• I found that working took away a lot of time from my studies, though.