University life conjures up images of idyllic days separated between study and play, free from the stress and strain of the working world. But for many students, those days are long over.
Due to rising costs, many of today’s college students are getting jobs and hitting them just as hard as they hit the books. Approximately 57-percent of all college students have jobs, according to Sebago Associates college survey group. In 2000, one-in-ten college students attended classes full-time and worked full-time.
Today college students are working hard, before, in-between, and after classes. Students with jobs typically work off-campus 25 hours a week and earning between $6.00 and $7.50 an hour.
Many students are working to take care of the steadily rising cost of education.
College costs have gone up five times faster than family income since 1981, according to the College Board. In the 2000-2001 academic year, the average cost for tuition and room and board was $22,541 at a private university and $8,470 at a public university.
Most college students work out of necessity, while others work just to have extra money.
“Last year, I didn’t have enough money to do anything special for spring break, this year I am saving to actually travel somewhere,” Alva Dunigan, a junior business management major from Kenner said. Other students get jobs because they want more spending money.
“I have a job in order to make my own money,” said Gabby Jones, a senior electronics engineering major from Mansfield. “Making my own money means I do not have to depend on my parents.”
For whatever reason a student decides to work, they all get a crash course in money and stress management.
“Sometimes I feel as if I am getting stressed, so I try to cut back on the hours the I work,” said Dunigan.
Working students tend to be more focused and efficient in and out of the classroom.
“I work full-time and I attend school full-time and yes, it does get hard sometimes,” said Kimberly Mitchell, a senior psychology major from Monroe, who works at a local shoe store. “But, having so much to do means I have to manage my time and my money accordingly.”
“Even though I work long hours, I still find myself short on cash, I try to watch how I spend my money, but between the things I need and the things I want, it gets very hard,” said Terrence Williams, a sophomore business administration major from, Athens, Ga.
1. Track spending: Do it for two to four weeks to find out where your money is going.
2. Map out a budget: List sources of income, such as scholarships, loans, money from summer jobs and cash from your parents as well as expenses, such as tuition, books and groceries.
3. Good time money: Make room for that in your budget if needed.
4. Pace yourself: If you spend, spend, spend at semester’s start, you could be tapped out later and you will have to eat Ramen Noodles at the end of the semester.
5. Set your own credit line: Afraid you’ll spend as long as there is room on the card? Call your credit-card company and request that your credit limit be lowered.
6. Get real: You can do what you want, but you can’t do everything you want.
7. Pace yourself: Buy books and lab supplies as you need them. Check out prices on used books and online bookstores.
8. Ask for help when you need it: If you blow through your student loan money or rack up a credit-card bill you can’t possibly pay, there’s only one thing to do. Screw up some courage and phone home.
