Published on Sep 01, 2015
Col-lege – noun, an education institution or establishment, in particular; better defined as the best four years of your life.
Last week the Credit Union had the opportunity to participate in orientation day at Coe College in Cedar Rapids. Being on a campus and interacting with first year students and their parents brought me back to my college days.
I remember being so excited to get away from my small town, to meet new people and to start class. But, I also remember what a huge transition it was. I was leaving home, leaving my family and leaving my friends. And, it was overwhelming. Luckily, I adjusted to college life quickly and met some amazing people and had some amazing experiences.
I was on the cheerleading squad, spent a semester living in Denver, Colorado, volunteered, participated in student organizations, worked at the local Fareway and traveled to New York City. And somehow I even managed to graduate a semester early.
Even though I had a great experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world, I can’t forget about the stressful times during those three and a half years. The times where I didn’t know how to pay for school or where to get a student loan, the times I had car trouble and didn’t quite have enough in my savings account, the times where I wished that I had someone who could help me navigate the financial world after graduation.
I knew nothing about finances. Thankfully, I’ve learned a lot over the last two and a half years while working at the Credit Union.
So, I want to share some of that knowledge with you. Whether you just moved into your dorm, or you graduated in May and are settled into your first apartment, the earlier you know how to manage your finances, the better.
Here are my tips to get started on the path to financial success.
- Build your budget – Check out our budgeting checklist to make sure you’re on the right track.
- Learn how to manage your money. Use online tools like CU Online, eStatements and Money Meter. Being organized is a huge stress relief!
- Choose an account that’s best for you. Check out our account run down to see what features fit your lifestyle.
- Know about your credit score. Click here to learn what a credit score is, what can hurt your credit and to learn how you can establish a healthy credit history.
- And, remember, you don’t have to buy a brand new car right away. But if you do need some new wheels, we can help walk you through the process.
Although there are tons of financial resources on the interwebs, it’s a good idea to create a relationship with someone at the Credit Union so that you have someone to answer all your questions and help guide your decision making when it comes to your finances. If you have any questions stop into a Collins Community CU locations near you, today.
