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8 Financial Tips For High School Seniors

Updated: August 1, 2024

The real world is fast approaching for high school seniors! If you know one of the millions headed off to college, share these financial tips for high school seniors! Students will be juggling a lot when school starts, so now is the time to talk about personal finances. College is expensive without the added stress of poor spending habits. Some of the tips apply to everyone, no matter what your age.

1. Open A Bank Account

Opening a bank account is a great first step in activating your financial freedom as an incoming college student. Having a checking and savings account allows you to keep track of your money, and your family has the ability to quickly send you funds if needed. Have a debit card that is accepted everywhere, so you can make necessary purchases and obtain money when you need it.

piggy bank
saving money in a jar

2. Start Saving Now

Summer jobs are a great way to earn extra cash before heading to college. Remember, set aside some of your earnings for the upcoming year. This extra cash comes in handy for textbooks and food outside of your dining plan. 

3. Learn About Your Credit Score

 

College is a great time to begin building your credit. It’s also a time when you will start receiving a lot of communication about loans, credit cards, etc. so, choose wisely.
 
Take the time to learn what your credit score says about you and ways you can increase it during college. A few suggestions:
 
  • Don’t apply for multiple credit cards
  • Become an authorized user on your parents’ account
  • Make small purchases on a credit card and pay them off monthly.

 

credit score
Budget plan: income, saving, expense

4. Start a Budget

If you’ve never followed a budget then now is the time to do so. You’ll have enough on your plate with classes, extracurricular activities, study groups, etc. Don’t put an extra load on your shoulders worrying about money. Write down all your expenses and all your income. Divvy up what money you need for bills, textbooks, events, etc., and then choose what to do with leftover funds.

5. Review Financial Aid

Visit the FAFSA website and review your Student Aid Report. Make sure all the information is correct and current. If you received more loans than you need you may want to look at declining some. Once school is over, you’ll pay these back + interest so make sure you only take what you need. There are many different loans that would be good to know about.

 

Financial aid
online shopping

6. Look For Student Discounts

Hundreds of companies offer student discounts on their products so don’t miss out! Apple provides a new student 15% discount every year. Another great one is Amazon’s 50% discount for prime services. 

7. Avoid Brand New Text Books

College textbooks can be extremely expensive and add up very fast. If you can, buy a used version. Look for a book exchange near your school that offers used textbooks for a discounted rate. Also, check the school’s library to see if they have the book available. Search for the “e-book” version or split the cost with a classmate.

textbooks
protect your identity

8. Protect Your Identity

This is an important one! Enrolling in college means you’ll provide the school with personal information for tuition and housing purposes. Always verify who the information is being sent to. Double-check the email address or website link you’re using to send your information. Learn more about security tips and identity theft.

 

We know the future can be intimidating, and it’s easy to get stressed out when it comes to financial decisions. Launch Credit Union is here to help. We hope these financial tips are a great start to achieving financial success in the upcoming school year.

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