You've Run Out of Money at College - What Can You Do?
You would learn your most important lesson in college before the end of your first month, and it has nothing to do with paper writing. You must make new friends, and expand your network as soon as possible. Solitude might prompt you to spend more than your budget limit.
Loners may be exempted from the above rule, but they are not. Teenage students need all the support they can get, and those pressure-filled moments can find them running to no one. Everyone would have their own struggles, not to mention personal needs. And money comes into the picture. If you have limited budget, then you have no choice but to spend more time in your room. It could be unbearable unless you have included reading, watching movies (or TV shows), and meandering the Internet in your daily routine. (And these activities doesn't have to be arranged according to the length of time that you devote to each one of it.) There would come a time when you become restless, as monotony leads to loss of interest in it. Daydreaming doesn't have a price tag, and students of the School of Arts could benefit from it.
You can imagine America turning into a barren landscape with scarce resources, and New York becoming a mobile metropolis. It would have long, metal legs (similar to a spider), with what remains of the Empire State Building as the only surviving structure from early times. It would move around New England, searching for smaller cities that might be keeping any remains of the dwindling resources. And the New Yorkers won't show any mercy. (If they do, then they would let these smaller communities integrate to the Big Apple.) Alas, the inhabitants of the East Coast are getting desperate about hard times. They turn to the West. If you're studying Dystopian (and utopian) fiction, then you have a good chance of excelling in this course. You might be reading Philip Reeve's bestseller for the third (or fourth) time, though.
Daydreaming won't keep you from the alarming fact that you would lose money sooner than you wish for. Lessons must be learned from here.
5 Ways to Get Back on Track
Talk to your parents. This option may be the last thing that you want to hear, but the coursework would give you little time for other things (to think about). And you don't want to get distracted as often as possible. Your parents should help you on this one, and this (earnest) conversation must solve your financial problems. Make a rough estimate (before your meeting with them), and it must revolve around your urgent needs. There's nothing wrong about asking for an addition for the stimulation of your creative mind, as not a few School of Arts students have a hard time looking for their muse. Count yourself as lucky if the amount exceeds what you hope for. This won't be the right time to spoil yourself, though.
Find the right people (to talk about your financial struggles). Don't include your fellow students particularly your roommate. You're on the same boat, more or less, so you won't gain something from any conversation that you initiate (or not). Ask your tutor for advice. Don't be afraid to make that first move, and tell them about your predicament. They have been in your shoes before.
Look for a part-time job. If you can't make ends meet, then you must look for part-time opportunities. It would apply to those who are too proud to ask more money from their folks, but you should be able to draw the line. Keep in mind that this option could tempt you countless times. Earning should make you feel good, such that you would consider dropping out of college. Think of the bigger picture.
Borrow wisely. You must be serious about this option if you're a cash-trapped teenager without any options. (And your parents refuse to give you more money.) It may be safer to apply for a college loan, but think again. Take note of the interest rate, of how it can affect your finances sooner or later. You don't need to worry about it, such that it would affect your focus on your studies.
Stop spending. This might be easier said than done, which is true at all. It could prompt you to pass up those invitations to parties, where there's a possibility of spending on something (or someone). There's no other way than to buckle the belt. It would be a temporary phase, so this should help you in keeping a positive attitude about the situation.
If You Didn't Succeed, Then Try Again
There’s no room for harping about failure especially your finances. And you don’t have to blab about it (if you can’t keep it up for too long). Identifying the causes won’t take a few minutes. If you spend on your urgent needs (and nothing else), then you won’t have any problems. Christmas is around the corner, so it can be counted as an exception. Plan ahead, though.
