Have your heart set on an associate degree in political science? It’s never too early to start saving for college. Follow these tips for putting money away so that you can invest in your education, not to mention your future.
1. Open a savings account and contribute to it regularly. Take a percentage of everything you earn and deposit it into your savings. Every month, you’ll even wrack up a bit of interest, so long as you open up the right type of account. Speak with a banker for advice.
2. Get a job. If you’re still in high school, you won’t be able to work full time, but even a part time job will give you some money for both spending and saving. Plus, you’ll be able to add work experience to your resume, which will help you land a job when you graduate college. If you can’t squeeze a job into your schedule at the moment, consider seasonal work, like mowing lawns during the summer or shoveling driveways during the winter.
3. Sell some of your unneeded items. If you have old electronics laying around, websites like Gazelle will give you cash in exchange. You can also list some of your lightly used items on Ebay. Or, ask your parents if you can setup a garage sale during the spring.
4. Save money by using the library. If you want to read a new book, check out the latest edition of your favorite magazine, or rent a movie, check out the library’s stock first. You can read or borrow whatever you want without paying a penny, so long as you return the items on time.
5. Apply for scholarships. You can start doing this early, even during your sophomore year of high school.
6. If you have a skill or talent, enter contests to win money. Essay, video, and art contests are a great way to expand your portfolio while getting a bit of cash in return.
If you know you want to attend college, one of your main focuses during high school, aside from maintaining high grades, should be saving your money. College costs a lot, especially when you add in weekend entertainment, books, and extra meals. Saving now means having more fun and more peace of mind later.
