We asked FastWeb users to pass on their advice about money management, based on their personal experiences. Here's what
they said:
"Start saving, tell your parents you want to go to college, ask them to start [savings plans] for you now,
before it's too late, and don't waste any time! As soon as you can, get a job. Don't blow the money on
awesome stereo equipment for your car, or that ski trip you've been dying to take or Christmas presents.
Dreams cost big. Are you prepared?"
-- Kacie Halonen, College of the Fraser Valley
"I have been through the tough money times, and the most important advice is... do not get a credit card! I made that mistake my freshman year in college. They were giving out giant bags of M&M's and
I fell for it. Now I am still paying off this card, and when you're a broke college student the interest kills
you! Coupon clipping and second-hand stores are also good advice."
-- Tiffany Coady, Oregon State University
"No matter how low your cash flow gets, do not apply for a credit card until you are out of college and on
steady ground financially. Don't ever give your credit cards to anyone whose name is not on the contract.
Finally, don't take the easy road to anything, because everything worth having in life takes a long, hard
time to get - whether it's a college education or financial security."
-- Adreka Majors, College of Charleston
"Don't get caught up in the excitement of being on your own. Have some sort of savings plan for your
bills. Don't be naive with your money; people really do want to get paid for their services and they will
make sure they get it."
-- Jaime Woolley, Oakland University
"Ask your parents to help you learn about investing in companies whose products you consume. Become
investors and consumers. I liked it so much that my grandmother wrote a book about how she taught me
how to invest. If students start to learn how to invest, they can learn more about the financial world of the
companies."
--- Danielle Flythe, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart
"Don't fall into a credit card trap like I did. I've cut down on spending but the bills are still high. Once the
bill gets out of control like that, it takes forever to pay off. The best thing to do is save. If you save, you
might not be prepared for all the extra expenses but maybe you'll stay afloat better than I did."
-- Matalya Dowdy, Mount St. Mary's College
"First, apply for scholarships. Second, try to teach yourself to make a habit of saving. It is no easy task, but
once learned it becomes much easier. Start with small things. For instance, if you're in the checkout line at
the grocery store, ask yourself, 'Do I really need that pack of gum?' The small things do add up. This kind of self-discipline will help develop a habit of saving
money, and it will help when you go to college."
-- Rachel Carpenter, Eaton Rapids Senior High
"Make careful decisions on your investments. Prioritize your spending according to your needs, not your
wants. When a situation arises where you want to spend money, don't exceed your limits."
-- Jill Stender, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
"It is very tempting to want to have a credit card. Get a card with a small limit on it and do not get more
than one."
-- Kimberly Hernandez, University of Connecticut
"The most important advice I could give is to study hard and to apply for scholarships. Student loans are
helpful if you need them, but then you are in debt as soon as you get out of college. I would also say to
listen to your parents. They are not as dumb as you think they are about money."
-- John Kaiser, Kansas State University
"I would advise anyone having trouble saving money to think to themselves: 'Do I really need this?' If the answer is yes, buy it; if the answer is no, return it! Someone else could probably use it more, and you might need the money for something more important!"
-- Julie Hunt, North Branch High School
"If you have a job, you should start saving 10 percent of your check, then use the rest however you like.
Try saving 10 percent of your check for one month. The second month save 20 percent. Each month build
on how much you save until you feel comfortable with the amount of money you are saving each month.
When you find a comfortable amount, keep saving that amount each month."
-- Angela Leno, Minnesota Business Academy
"Here is a list of things to keep in mind:
1) Save BEFORE you go to college!
2) Fill out every single scholarship you can.
3) Keep your grades up and get involved before your senior year so that you qualify for more
scholarships.
4) Sales and thrift stores really are good places to shop!
5) RAMEN NOODLES!!!!! Ten meals for a dollar!
6) Do not spend all your school money going out to eat!
7) Activities equal FREE food and other stuff.
8) Work!
9) Go out and have inexpensive fun (the cheap movies, ice skating, biking, intramurals, etc).
10) More laundry can fit into that little machine than you think!"
-- Kristin Broyhill, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
"First, if you're buying just a few things, take enough cash to buy only those items. Second, get a savings account and deposit your paycheck directly into it; don't cash it. Third, keep track of what you
spend and at the end of the month look over your records. Track the amount of money you spend on various expenses. Lastly, give yourself some play money too."
-- Carolyn Thomas, Sinclair Community College
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