University is a time where you take your final steps towards adulthood. One of these steps is learning how to be a successful student on a budget. University is all about juggling your academics and social life, on top of that you now need to be responsible for your own cash flow.

Knowing how to be a successful student on a budget is easy when you take the time to plan. Planning your budget for every month is extremely important. As soon as you know how much money you are going to be getting in at the beginning of the month you need to set aside money for the following:

• Rent
• Groceries
• Stationary
• Books
• Cell phone
• Car
• Insurances
• Social life

If you are fortunate enough to still be supported by your parents, you may not have to worry about budgeting for all of these aspects. However, it is important to remember that at some point you will be taking over all of your expenses. If you can learn how to budget appropriately now it will help you in the future.

The most important aspect to remember about university is that you are there to get an education. If you are on a budget, put more money towards making sure that you have all the necessary items for your studies before your social life. You can still enjoy going out with your friends, but this should not take precedence over your studies, especially if going to university is a privilege. If you have had to take out a loan in order to attend university then you need to try pay off the loan as quickly as possible. You can do this by putting any extra money you have left over for the month towards these payments. Realistically you should pay off your student loan within five years, so as to not accumulate too much interest.

You can still enjoy a social life on a budget. There are money activities that you can do that do not require a lot of money or any money at all. Depending on where you go to study, there are fantastic outdoor activities that you can enjoy. Whether it be going for a hike,spending the day at the beach or exploring the city center. It is not always necessary to spend a lot of money to have a good time. Once you take the time to set out a strict budget for yourself you will be able to enjoy being a student on a budget. All you need to do is be realistic about your expenditure and set short term and long term goals for yourself in regards to your budget and lifestyle.

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