Starting college often presents challenges for students, such as managing finances and time, which requires them to learn how to navigate and balance these responsibilities.
College students often face financial difficulties at a point in time, whether employed or not. The experiences of both employed and unemployed students were examined to understand how they manage their finances, time, and academic responsibilities. One employed student reported spending upwards of $300 each week and emphasized the importance of budgeting to manage expenses. With nearly 40% of students taking out loans, the financial struggles faced by college students continue to be a relevant and pressing issue.
Financial challenges can be easier for some students to manage than others. Employed students typically have more flexibility when it comes to spending and often spend more than their unemployed counterparts.
Students money often goes towards their housing, food, and leisure activities. Mariana Venzor, an employeed junior student at Texas State, states that she spends a substantial amount each week due to her various expenses.
“Including bills I probably spend like 350, 400 dollars a week,” said Venzor. “Since I am finically independent, I have to be very careful what I spend my money on and priotize budgeting.”
Other students balance their finances differently. Unemployed students often allocate more of their money towards leisure activities and less towards housing and utilities. Arabella Navarrette, an unemployeed junior at Texas State, claims that most of her money goes towards personal expenses.
“I get an allowance, so I have to manage my money good,” said Navarrette. “Since I don’t pay any bills most of my money goes towards groceries and fun activites.”
Managing Time
Another aspect of college is students managing their time and creating healthy study habits.
Students often manage their time effectively by distributing tasks throughout the week. They found it most beneficial to work on their studies at night because their schedules can get overwhelming.
Working at night also allowed students to have a depper concentration and fewer distractions. Alexa Hernandez, a Health Science major at Texas State, believes doing homework at night is the key to success.
“I find I focus better and long,” said Hernandez. “Something about how quiet it is at night in the library and how there’s less people really helps me concentrate.”
The Balancing Act
Achieving balance is entirely possible for students, allowing them to manage everything effectively while still having time for the things they enjoy.
Students often find it helpful to organize their week by dedicating each day to specific priorities. Some days may be focused on school, while others are set aside for their part-time job or personal life.
Venzor believes it is possible to achieve the perfect work-life balance, although it takes some time to adjust at first.
“When I first came to college, I was all over the place,” said Venzor. “Yes, you may feel very overwhelmed at first, but you will get the hang of managing school and work; you just need to set your priorities straight.”
With the right resources and skills, students can effectively manage all their responsibilities and achieve a healthy balance. This process may involve creating a budget to manage finances, prioritizing tasks to focus on what matters most, or even making some sacrifices to allocate time and energy wisely.
