know the score 2

The first week of February can get a little intense. All the money you earned during the holidays or your student loan installment #2 is disappearing – fast. You have become inventive with ramen noodles and stretching out meals. You are contemplating forgoing a bus pass this month and walking everywhere – it's the best form of exercise and an incredible way to explore this fine town, right?

Now that we are fully immersed in October, the realities of being a student are surfacing. It's not just about making new friends, going out, navigating new neighbourhoods, staying up late or getting good grades – day to day life has arrived and the finer points of being a ‘successful’ student need to be addressed.

With the school year just starting, it may be a little challenging to get out of our summer spending habits. Here are a few tips to help you ensure your schooling and necessities are covered – and – that you’ve allocated a little bit of spending money for entertainment.

With the Super Bowl just days away, thoughts have turned to football (and whether or not Katy Perry agreed to the NFL’s controversial ‘pay to play’ offer). This time of year also brings to mind money, or the lack thereof. Firmly into second semester, any money you managed to earn, save or receive as a gift is quickly dwindling away.

You’re almost there…just a few more weeks of school, report writing, exams, and then you’re on holiday! For some it will be time to travel home to family, for others a chance to stay on campus, but either way it will be filled with friends, late nights, gift exchanges, and, if you’re not careful, a negative balance in your bank account. With these simple tips you can avoid a spending hangover, as long as you put them into action before school breaks.

Exam season is right around the corner and you are a stressed-out student with the world at your doorstep but spare change in your pockets. Financial frugality in school can be difficult, if not impossible. Devouring ramen noodles and reusing underwear is no way to spend these cherished years.

A new school year is a fresh start -- a time to put last year’s questionable behaviours behind. Take some time to reflect on what you want to do differently, then outline how you’re going to accomplish that. Here are some of the most common offenders and helpful strategies for making this school year a healthier and happier one.

Is this some kind of trick question? The answer is so obvious! Or is it? Maybe you’ve heard your friend talk about buying a lottery ticket so she doesn’t have to worry about coming up with next semester’s res fees.

The holiday season is a time of over-indulgence and over-spending: gifts, going out with friends from home, travelling (even if it's just to and from home). It all adds up. And now the bills have come rolling in, right?

The start of a new school year brings about a lot of change: new courses, new friends, new schedule, new responsibilities. It also means additional expenses: tuition, books, utility bills, socializing, transportation, meals and more. It's easy to go through a lot of money—fast.