Since April is Financial Literacy Month, the coaches from the NMSU Red to Green Money Management and Financial Literacy program would like to share some of their personal financial literacy experiences, tips, and information. In addition to this, we’d like to invite you to our Build Your Budget table in Corbett on April 18, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., as well as remind you of our workshops this month—Budgeting and Savings, April 15, 3-4 p.m., Corbett Rm. 329; and Lease of Your Worries, April 20, 12-1 p.m., Corbett Rm. 214.
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Karissa Chadwick, a senior Government major, shares her experience with private loans and FAFSA.
My name is Karissa Chadwick and I am a Financial Literacy Coach at the
Student Success Center-Zuhl. I have been a coach in the center for two years and have thoroughly enjoyed helping and informing students about financial services that are available to them. Financial Literacy is important to me because, like many students, I have been directly affected by the hardships of trying to fund your education while you are in school. My sophomore year of college, the money that I had to pay for school fell through. All of a sudden I was half way through the year with no way to pay off the rest of my housing, tuition, or the next semester. Because I was under the impression that I was going to have the year paid for, I failed to fill out my FAFSA application for that year. Therefore, I was forced to take out a private student loan. My sophomore year was right around the time our economy hit its all-time low and banks were have problems staying afloat. No student loan agencies were accepting new student loan application. The only option I had was Wells Fargo who could only offer me a student loan with an unfixed interest rate. After this experience, I do my best to promote FAFSA in any way I can as well as share my story with anyone who is willing to listen.
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Jeannette Villar, a senior Government major, shares her experiences and tips on budgeting.
While growing up, my mother was never financially aware or independent. We scraped by, living paycheck to paycheck. It was a treat to go to the movies one weekend or to go out to eat at a restaurant. When I started making money, I decided that I would not live this way. Thus I started budgeting and saving. I have been able to work and fill out scholarships so that I wouldn’t acquire debt while in college. I will be attending law school in the future, and then debt will be a different story. But I feel that knowing how to manage your finances is extremely important! I think we are in this financial crisis now because people were not aware of how to effectively manage their budgets.
Jeannette’s Budgeting and Money Saving tips!
- Use a checkbook register to write down every purchase – this will help you to become more frugal.
- Shop at discount stores – I like name brands, however Marshalls, Ross and other stores have great items at low prices! I even buy in bulk to help save!
- Look for store sales and use coupons! In one month, I saved over $50.00 on food, using coupons and getting specials!
