Financial Awareness Ann Elinski Senior Advisor Office of Financial Aid
Dec 23, 2015
Decisions About Money
No one told me….Be honest with yourself about
your financesKeep good habits, change bad
onesLife happens, be preparedBad decisions happen, you can
recover
Know Yourself First
Before you can manage your money, you need to know how you spend it
What do you like to spend your money on?
How do you pay for your expenses?
Jane’s Story
Jane only received one year of help with tuition from her parents, and has been working to pay her expenses. But she does use credit cards to pay for extra things she wants.
How Do You Spend Your Money?
HousingEconomical- you live with 5
roommates to save on housing costs
Moderate- you live in the dorms with a meal plan
Elaborate- you have a nice apartment that you can barely afford
How Do You Spend Your Money?
Groceries/FoodEconomical- you use coupons and shop every sale
Moderate- you use your meal plan, and eat out 2 times a week
Elaborate- you have a meal plan and don’t use it. You eat out at fast food a lot.
Jane’s Story
Jane eats out breakfast, lunch and dinner on the days she has class
$22 a day at least 3 days a week = $3432 a year
How Do You Spend Your Money?
EntertainmentEconomical- you take advantage of
free activities on campus or you only go out 1-2 times a month
Moderate- you go out at least once a week to eat, the movies or to the club
Elaborate- you go out two to three times a week to the movies or the club
How Do You Spend Your Money?
TransportationEconomical- you drive an older car
that is totally paid off, but in need of a few repairs
Moderate- you drive a newer car that you bought used, and you still make monthly payments to your car note
Elaborate- you drive a brand new car, and you have 4-5 years left to pay on the car note.
What’s The Big Deal?
If you eat out at Wendy’s twice a week and spend $7.00, you will spend $728.00 a year on fast food
$4.00 a day on Starbucks = $1460.00 a year
Jane’s Yearly Expenses
Rent - $0.00Food- $3432Entertainment $3120Car- $3600Insurance- $1200Total yearly $11,352
Jane’s Yearly Expenses
Total yearly expenses $11,352 Jane earns $7,000 a yearJane is charging $4352 a year
on her Credit Cards! After 5 years of college Jane will
owe $21,760 on her Credit Cards she doesn’t change her spending habits!
What Are Your Goals?
To be financially aware, you need to write down what you spend
Define your future goalsCareer GoalsEducational GoalsFinancial Goals
Take actions to reach your goals
Jane’s Goals
Jane wants to move out of her parents house
What can she do to get her expense under control to reach her goal?
How Can Jane get Control of Her Expenses?Go to the bar only once a
weekEat breakfast at home and
bring lunch on days she has class
Shop around for cheaper car insurance
Use student loans instead of Private loans or Credit Cards to pay living expenses
What about Student Loans?
Jane is about to graduate with her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting
She made some changes to her spending habits and she used Stafford Loans instead of her credit cards to pay for school
What about Student Loans?
For every $10,000 in student loans you borrow, you will repay about $115 a month when you graduate
Jane’s Loan Debt $30,000 in Stafford loans = $345 a month
Jane gets a job
Jane got a job as an Accountant that pays $45,000 a year
Taxes take about 25% of her income which leaves her $33,750 to live on
$2813 a month to pay her expenses
Jane gets a jobIncome per month $2813Less Student loan bill -$345Less Credit Card bill -$400Less Car Note & Insurance
-$400Less Phone/Cell Bill -$100Less Apartment Rent -$900Less Groceries/Gas -$300Remaining Salary $368
Is Jane doing okay?
Are You Already In Debt Trouble?
You don’t know the amount of your monthly expenses
You only pay the minimum or less on your bills
You are near the limits on all of your credit cards
You don’t know how much you owe and you don’t want to find out
Are You Already In Debt Trouble?
You use a credit card to buy food and gas
You use credit cards because you don’t have enough money to live
You have more than eight open credit cards
Are You Already In Debt Trouble?
There is no specific amount that means you are in debt trouble
You may be able to make your own plan
Or you may need help
Debt Education/Credit Counselors
Many organizations are non-profitNot all services are freeStates Department of Justice
provides a list of approved Debt Education Agencies on their website
www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/ccde/de_approved.htm
Debt Education/Credit Counselors
Will a Debt Management plan affect your credit score?It wont hurt your score but it may make it hard to qualify for new credit
Credit Reports
Each of the nationwide consumer reporting companies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — is required to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months
How do you establish good credit?
Pay your credit balances on time every month
If you can’t pay your balance in full make the minimum payment
Don’t charge your card to the limit
How do you lose good credit?
Pay your bill lateExceed your credit limitWrite a bad checkDefault on a loanFile for Bankruptcy
Websites
www.nelliemae.comwww.truecareers.comwww.salary.comwww.collegeboard.comwww.optoutprescreen.comwww.ftc.gov