Another way to cut back? Review all your bank accounts and make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck. Stick with the Credit Union where there are no maintenance fees or hidden service charges on our Youth and Student accounts.

Also, don’t be lured into opening an account at a random financial institution just because they offer a free T-shirt or other gimmick. They use gimmicks to try to entice students on campus and distract them from the real costs behind their bank accounts. In reality, that free gift could end up costing you a bundle in maintenance fees and hidden service charges.

If you are looking to get more back from your school than just a good education, take advantage of scholarships and bursaries your school may be offering. Most students are well aware there is financial assistance available, but are simply at a loss as to where to start. Try visiting your financial aid office to ask if there are any scholarships and bursaries that you can apply for. While it may not be anywhere near a full refund of your education costs, any little bonus back helps.

Finally, the best way to manage money as a student is to create a realistic budget you can stick to. Once the initial shock of costly tuition and book expenses has tapered off in late fall, monthly expenses should be predictable enough to lay down a budget. If car and gas payments are eating away at your savings, consider taking it off the road and making good use of that bus pass you’ve already paid for through your tuition. Again, make sure all the essentials are accounted for first and implement small cutbacks you can live with. 

If money is still tight, consider applying for a part-time job or even a student line of credit to help make up the difference. At Southwest Regional Credit Union, our lending specialists are more than happy to review products to fit your situation and help make money one less thing you have to worry about at school.