1st Mariner Bank Blog Staying Money Smart in College

College years have been stigmatized as a time for Ramen noodles, maxed out credit cards, scraping for spare coins, empty pockets and even emptier wallets. Well, it is time to break those infamous trends! It will take some hard work and discipline but it will be worth it-take it from a former broke college student. Here are 4 tips to help you take control of your financial future.1) Have Different Forms of IncomeCare.com Do you have a car on campus? Are you great with kids, pets, or the elderly? Are you particularly good at organizing or putting together Ikea furniture? Care.com is mostly known for finding trustworthy babysitters but you can apply to many other jobs, from dog walking to carpooling miniature soccer players to practice a few times a week.Get a job on campusYour campus is an extremely busy place and can use all the help they can get. Some schools find assistance within the student body through the Federal Work Study program which you can apply for through FASFA. The Federal Student Aid's website will tell you all you need to know about Federal Work Study.Getting a job on campus is all about finding your niche and then being paid to do it. If you are a natural-born leader, try applying to be a Resident Assistant. If you are particularly good at certain subjects, do some research to see if your school has a paid tutoring program. An extra benefit of on-campus jobs is that on-campus employers are usually flexible and accommodate your academic schedule.That on-campus job is out there somewhere waiting for you; you just have to do a little research to find it.Paid InternshipsUnpaid internships are becoming a thing of the past. Internships are a great way to get professional experience before entering the career of your choice. There are many ways to get involved with a summer or semester internship. Talk to your professors, search the web, or reach out to a few local companies to see if they are hiring. The opportunities are out there, you just have to find the one that best suits you.2) Keep Yourself Busy!You and your friends are chilling in the dorms, bored out of your minds. So what do you all do? You go out for a movie and food and before you know it, you've spent maybe a bit more than you planned for. Now don't get me wrong, it's OK to treat yourself now and then but try filling your schedule with free activities as well. College campuses are filled with free events so try to take advantage of as many university sponsored events as you can.3) Watch What You EatNo, this hasn't turned into an article telling you to try out the latest fad diet. This is me encouraging you to go on a spending diet rather. It can get difficult to stomach your school's dining menu but you have to resist the urge to order carryout all the time. Instead, try mixing up your diet by making your own meals. Get creative so that you have something to look forward to addition to your typical dining hall meals. Your pockets and your taste buds will thank you.4) When in Doubt, Coupon it OutMost college students do not know about all the benefits they have at their disposal just by flashing their student ID. That's right-you can get discounts just for being enrolled in college courses. Be sure to check out this list before you decide to make purchases in the future: Stores That Give Student Discounts.These are just a few quick tips for minimizing your daily expenses. The reality is there are many ways to save a buck; you just need to find what works best for you. And you'll be glad you did when graduation time comes and you have less debt and are more prepared to enter the "real world".About the author Kayla Malone is a junior at McDaniel College and is currently studying Mathematics and working as a Resident Assistant. She has spent the last two summers interning at 1st Mariner Bank across several different departments including: Human Resources, Marketing, Credit, and Loan Servicing. Tags: College student moneyBudgeting tips for college students