🌸 how I managed money in COLLEGE 🌸

Everyone has to start somewhere, so I wanted to share how much I made between the age of 16 and 23 (now). I've obviously come a long way and work-intensive lifestyle shaped me.

But how did I manage my money?

Managing my money in college can definitely been a balancing act, especially with scholarships, grants, inconsistent income, and rent to consider. I’ve found it super helpful to create a detailed budget that tracks all my income sources and regular expenses. Scholarships and grants provide a great financial base, so I keep a close eye on when they’re disbursed and make sure to use them wisely for tuition and essentials. Fortunately, the inconsistent income from part-time and freelance jobs wasn't an issue fo rme. For rent, I’ve set up automatic payments to avoid missing any due dates. Plus, I always look for student discounts and free campus resources to help stretch my budget further. It’s all about planning ahead and keeping a close watch on your finances to stay on top of things.

My internship (required to graduate) didn't pay well BUT it was soo much fun and a great resume builder.Because of my FAFSA, I didn't have to pay for the 3 summer credits to get the "internship"to be counted as my degree program. I actually ended up with an extra $2000 for the summer from FAFSA since they provided extra money to cover material expenses that I didn't have.

After my internship, it took me about 4 months to find a job. It was VERY draining since I had several interviews each day and didn't feel like I was going anywhere. I finally landed a job that I absolutely love - there's so much flexibility, balance, it pays well, and I enjoy being with my coworkers. And it was a managerial position, so I can only go up from here (see, the internship did pay off). Although I don't want to be here forever, I am grateful that this is my first "big girl" job out of college.

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