![[Biggest Financial Mistake Pic]](http://www.debtfreescholar.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/money-question-300x300.jpg "[Biggest Financial Mistake Pic]")
Occasionally, I write reader question posts. In this type of post I ask a question, give a short explanation, and give you the opportunity to answer the question in the comments section.
If you have been in college for a few years, you probably can think of many mistakes that you made as a new student. Today’s goal is to share those mistakes so that other new students can learn from your experience and avoid making the same mistakes.
What was the biggest financial mistake you made?
Think back over all of college. Did you drop out of classes, fall for a scholarship scam, or overuse a credit card? Please share the story of how you wasted money and, if possible, how other students can avoid wasting money in the same way.
A Little Motivation
To get the ideas flowing, I will simply point you to my list of 12 Ways to Waste Money in College. It mentions common mistakes such as overusing cell phones, eating out, and buying a new car.
Now it’s your turn. What was your biggest mistake?
Photo by AMagill
Related Posts...
My biggest waste of money was on books, definitely. I bought my books new the first two quarters when in reality I could’ve bought them used, found them online, or shared with a friend. I wasted a lot of money.
By my third quarter, though, I’d managed to work it out, and I only spent about $25 on textbooks.
Spending on food. The community college had great food(not fast food). I think I spent way too much on this during my first couple years.
-Nate
My biggest mistake through college had to be not thinking ahead enough and saving some money aside.
I operated on a break-even budget – I would take all the money I made with my part time job, convert it to cash, and spend it before the next paycheck.
I could have used a nice cushion on cash when I graduated, but didn’t have a dime or even a savings account opened.
The biggest financial mistake of my college years (undergrad and grad) was not having a WRITTEN plan (aka a budget) for my money. I had no real idea of how much money I truly had and so I thought of myself as “poor”. Once I started budgeting, I realized that I could have achieved so much more during those college years than I actually did. A smaller school debt (my second biggest mistake) would have been possible. A graduation “cushion” would have been possible. Study abroad perhaps…who knows?
My biggest mistake is slightly undefined but I think “Wasting a LOT of money and time” would certainly cut it.
I was just an average student in highschool, and I made all the wrong descissions. I could have been so much more today if only I was a bit more sensible.
That being said I now nkow exactly where I’m going and how to get there. I also have a life philosophy now. Something I learned when comming to terms with all the mistakes. Gues they weren’t all that bad after all, they served a purpose.
It’s been a long time since i was in school, but my biggest ever financial mistake: not asking for more $$ at a job when it was very clear they loved me. I am 100% sure i could easily have gotten $10,000 more in salary, probably even $15,000 more.
So while yes, in this economy, it could be tough finding a job period, if you are very good at what you do and you get clear signals from a prospective employer you’ve impressed them, be aware they WILL be willing to pay more for a well-qualified candidate. In other words, shrewdly assess your abilities and talent; if you haven’t worked long in your industry, don’t expect salary miracles, but if, as i said, you’re very good at what you do, don’t settle for less than what you believe is reasonable.
Thanks for the useful info. It’s so interesting
Dropping out repteadly.
Not just from classes, but from college in general.
Now I have to repeat classes to bring my GPA up.