Should you have a job while in school?
Even if your student loans completely cover your cost of tuition, college is an expensive time. Food. Books. Going to the movies. Buying a new jacket for the springtime. It all costs money. Unless you decide to cover all of your expenses with credit cards (bad idea), you might be faced with the decision of trying to find a job. But what kind of job is right for you? Here are some ways to decide.
First, make a monthly budget. Write down every expense you have, from your cell phone bill to your total food cost. How much do you usually spend on the weekend? Write it all down and add it up for the month. You don’t have to get it down to the cent, but this should provide you a clear estimate of how much money you’re spending.
Now is a good time to see where you can save. Instead of ordering out for pizza every other night, you could use your school’s meal plan. Instead of running up a credit card bill, you could use a card with a good rewards plan that will give you cash back on everyday purchases. Here are some more tips for huge savings.
Next, make a budget of your time. Never forget that your primary job in college is to study and get good grades so you can graduate. Do not take on a full-time or other such job that will cause you to take time away from class or study. How much time can you devote during the week? Should you work only on weekends?
Once you’ve figured out how much money you need and how much time you can spend, explore your options. Many colleges and universities are surrounded by businesses that cater to students and almost exclusively hire students. Some schools even have jobs on campus. One ideal situation would be to find an on-campus job that has some relevance to your area of study. If you’re in a biology field, for example, some schools offer paid part-time positions assisting in the campus laboratories.
Find a job with flexible hours, so you can take time off if necessary during finals week, for example. Be sure to check if you are eligible for federal work-study. If so, this could be a perfect situation. Many work-study positions are on-campus with flexible hours. Plus, it’s free money from the federal government that you don’t have to pay back.
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