Tag Archives: college

What Every College Freshman Should Know About School

In a 2016 study, it was found that 43% of students do not track their spending while 58% said they do not save money every month. From that, it is shown that 7 out of 10 students are stressed out about their finances. It can be quite the adjustment for students to transition from high school to college. This new stage of your life can be filled with many mixed emotions and late night adventures. In just a matter of time you are living in a brand new environment, meeting new people, taking new classes and trying to figure out how to “adult.”

Trying to manage your money and set a budget are probably the last things you want to do, but it needs to be done. College can be exciting, challenging and rewarding all at the same time, so developing money-management habits early on is worth your time and effort. College tuition increases every year, and having tips on how to manage your budget can easily reduce additional financial stress.

Here are 3 ways you can cut costs while in college:

Buy Used Textbooks – As a freshman you will most likely take quite a few general education classes, which means more books at a higher price. To reduce costs, buy used ones; just one book can cost hundreds of dollars. You can also search for books on websites like Amazon and Chegg before looking at your university bookstore. Both places offer rental textbooks with a simple process to receive and return them. Keep in mind that you don’t have to buy your textbooks before school starts, it is often good to wait until the first week of classes to ask your professors about whether you need the book or if you could buy an older edition where it may be cheaper!
Purchase a Coffee Maker – When you’re a full time student, most of your time is spent on studies. Those early morning iced coffees and late-night lattes can add up fairly quickly. In an article from USA Today, studies have shown that college students have spent nearly $1,100 per year on coffee. To cut back on those costs, consider buying a coffee maker for your dorm or apartment instead of racing to the nearest coffee shop.
Find the Good Deals – Chances are your college town will offer student discounts. Take advantage of them! There are hundreds of companies that apply student discounts. Research and ask to find the best deals around town. Some discounts may be small and some significant – either way it can save you money. If you’re looking to buy textbooks on Amazon, Amazon Prime will offer a free six-month membership that includes free shipping. Looking for a new computer before school? Dell and Apple provide a certain percentage off of your purchase with an official school email address. Taking advantage of discounts can also provide fun, cheap entertainment for you and friends to have a night that you’ll always cherish.

College is a new and exciting part of life, just remember to track your spending and manage your budget. With these few tips we hope this will help reduce costs and save you more money! If you’re looking to work on your savings skills, open a savings account with us today!

Savings Tips for College Students

Exciting adventures wait for you while away at college. However, your spending habits may put a damper on the fun. Don’t become one of those students who falls into a deep hole of debt. Stay afloat with some of these simple tips you can implement today!

Avoid Late Fees

Late fees sneak up and build in a hurry. Be sure to utilize apps that will remind you when bills are due and cancel anything unnecessary such as cable or gym memberships.

Limit Eating Out

Going out with friends every Thursday, Friday and Saturday is fun for you, but not your wallet. Limit yourself to two or three times a month. Find some friends to stay in and cook with you – everyone is always up for saving cash!

Establish Good Credit

In college, it can be very easy to slide downhill into bad credit. Work off paying loans on time and establish some savings. This will help you stay on top of your finances, allowing you to have the credit needed to make large purchases, like a car or a home, once you graduate.

Bike It

No need for an expensive new car while working on your education. Continue saving your money instead and buy a bike. It will get you where you need to go – and cost you nothing! Plus, you get a nice workout in as you get from place to place.

Search for Student Discounts

With a school ID, students can get some pretty sweet deals. Before you go out, know where to go and who offers cheaper products and prices for students. Do some research and reap the savings.

Split Grocery Costs

Your roomie wants to save as much as you do. Split your grocery bill when shopping together. You can focus on making casseroles, soups and crock pot meals that will leave you with leftovers for work or in between classes the next day!

Check Out Campus Events

Instead of spending more money off campus, try looking into what your school is already doing. Many schools offer students free tickets to certain events – and they’re worth going to! Grab a few buddies and see what your campus has to offer.

Open a Savings Account

Savings accounts earn interest, so why wouldn’t you want to open one? Work on your financial finesse by letting us help you save your hard-earned money.

These tips are great for college students looking to get better with their finances. If you’re looking for a little more direction, let us help. We’re just a phone call away!

Saving for Tuition 18 Years in Advance

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After you get to see those little eyes open, it’s like a whole new world has unfolded before you. When you’re elbows deep in changing diapers, cleaning up whoopsies, and trying to sleep more than four hours a night, the last thing on your mind is college savings. At Iowa State Bank we understand the chaos which ensues with each new addition to your family. To help you prepare for this upcoming transition, we’d like to help you find the best educational savings account for your little bundle of joy before he or she arrives!

There are two primary types of accounts when it comes to saving for your child’s ongoing education. Similar to retirement savings accounts, both of these options do require various stipulations when it comes to distributing the saved funds. Here we’ll show you the pro’s and con’s to each option, to help you better determine which option will suit you and your needs best.

The Coverdell Savings Account: This account option utilizes after tax dollars, which means there are no taxes on distributions when the funds used for education. The account does have a nationwide $2,000 a year contribution limit, in addition to various income restrictions. While you and your spouse may manage and contribute to the fund, once the child turns eighteen, he or she will own the account and all the funds within it. However, once the child is of age, he or she may only use the funds for education related expenses without incurring an additional distribution tax.

The 529 Savings Account: This account option also utilizes after tax dollars, which again indicates no future taxes on distributions if the funds are used for education. The account does not have income limitations, however, each state stipulates their own yearly contribution limit, typically ranging from $100,000 to $350,000 per year. For this account type, the physical savings account, and the funds within it remain yours, only designated toward a specific beneficiary (which you can change up to once per year.)

Let’s compare the two when looking at national average college costs across the U.S.

If you choose to save using the Coverdell account option, suppose you save $2,000 per year for eighteen years, yielding a total of $36,000 of total out-of-pocket contributions. Add in the compound interest of those eighteen years, and you’ll find yourself with approximately $80,983 in total educational savings. Fun Fact: The national average for a year of in-state public college in the U.S. is $20,090 or $80,360 for a four-year degree.

Alternatively, if you choose to save with a 529 account, you can save more than $2,000 per year, say $3,500 per year instead. Multiply those contributions by eighteen years, and you’ll have $63,000 in total out-of-pocket contributions. After calculating your compound interest into the equation, you’ve grown up to $141,562 in total educational savings. Fun Fact: The national average for a year of any college in the U.S. is $35,370, or $141,480 for a four-year degree.

As you can see, both of these accounts allow you to make much more through the benefit of time and compound interest. Just like your retirement savings, the sooner you start contributing, the more interest you can earn. While the Coverdell allows you to give the account to your child, the 529 shows better savings opportunities, allowing you to maximize your potential interest.

If you’d like to learn how you can start saving for your upcoming chick-a-doo, stop by and speak with one of our dedicated personal bankers at Iowa State Bank today! We’d love to help your family continue to grow!

Best Part Time Jobs for Students

Savings

College is a time period in which you begin to choose your path in life. With decisions ranging from effort in class, extracurricular participation, and money management style, you will find yourself gaining more and more responsibilities each and every day. Continue to build your college experience with a part-time career to help you better manage your money, and support some fun on the weekends!

Dental Receptionist: With one of the best hourly wages for college students, this part-time job will help you learn the basics of scheduling and time management while allowing you to maintain flexible hours throughout the school year.

Library Assistant: On campus jobs are a great way to reduce transportation costs. Snagging a job at your university library can help you with your classes too! After being trained on all the offerings the library has available, you can have primary access to all the additional resources and study materials – not to mention great pay!

Restaurant Staff: Offering flexible hours, and potentially reduced food costs, this is a popular and reliable option for students. Especially useful for those looking to become restaurant managers or chefs, this employment can serve as a great stepping stone to future opportunities.

Tutor: Not only as a community service, but also as a career, this valuable job enables students to continue learning outside of their classes, and get paid doing so. By continually explaining processes and concepts to others, you can increase your knowledge on the subjects as well!

Bank Teller: Filled with customer interaction, number crunching, and accountability, this position will help teach you all about money management, and the responsibility of being accurate. Not only does this position offer a good wage and flexible hours, but it also boasts an added opportunity to network with impactful members of your community.

Bartender: Favored by many students, a position at your favorite college bar can provide flexible hours, socialization, and nightly tips to add to your pay. Remember to choose a bar with high traffic flow, to ensure a steady source of tips, and an increased potential to move up the rankings.

Fitness Instructor: Getting paid to workout, almost sounds too good to be true! For those select few who have fantastic charisma and a killer routine, this is the perfect employment for you! With many students and community members searching for exciting new workouts, most college campuses are searching for students to fill rotating fitness class roles. Pick and choose the classes you want to teach, and have some fun!

Social Media Manager: Now that social media is practically a mandatory part of any business, the need to manage those accounts is climbing faster than ever. Put your online skills to use, and see which local businesses could use your help. This innovative career can be completed from your room, or the storefront, so working for multiple entities could be a great opportunity!

If you’re ready to start searching for your next job, try browsing your college careers page! With campus wide services, there are always opportunities to find employment. At Iowa State Bank, we encourage students to learn about how to save and spend their money responsibly, using a monthly budget. If you’re curious on how to set one up for your personal finances, stop in today!

10 Ways to Save Money in College

10 Ways to Save Money In College

With delicacies such as ramen, easy mac, and PB&J, college doesn’t always seem as glamorous as it is in the movies. Learn how to build up your bank account this year with these helpful savings tips courtesy of Iowa State Bank! We’ll show you how to make the most of your dining dollars, classroom supplies, and other on campus opportunities!

Books. Instead of purchasing those $300+ textbooks, utilize your university’s library and study using the same materials without any of the cost!
Coffee. Get the best bang for your buck when you go for your next caffeine fix. Many coffee shops offer free wifi for studying in addition to free refills on basics coffee and teas. Simply purchase the size of your choosing, and stick around for a proper study session complete with all the coffee you need!
Meal Plans. Dining dollars aren’t just for dinner. Utilize those additional funds to purchase other necessities such as toiletries to ensure you never leave any allocated dollars unused.
Student Activities. Keep tabs on school events. With many university sponsored events offering free food or drinks, students tend to jump at the opportunity, so it’s best to arrive early!
Scholarships. You never know until you try, or in this case submit, but in many cases writing a simple essay and answering some questions is all you need to do to be considered for a $500+ scholarship.
Student Discounts. They’re everywhere; whether you’re on campus, or out and about, always be sure to carry your student ID to save a little extra money at various retailers.
Loan Interest. Start paying off your student loans ASAP. Compounding interest especially can rack up additional expenses quickly, so be sure to begin paying down your debt as soon as you can.
Cars. Ride your bike around campus instead of paying for costly gas, auto maintenance, and parking passes. During the winter months, you can skip waiting in the cold for the parking lot shuttle, and warm up as you cycle home!
Recycle. Those pop cans and soda bottles can be valuable. It may not seem like a lot of money at first, but over time you’ll find yourself saving more and more.
Work. Get a part-time job during the school year that offers great benefits like free gym membership, discounted meals, or free drinks!

Whether you’re a first year, or a PhD student, there are countless ways to save some green throughout your college years. Let us help you tuck away some of those valuable dollars with a structured savings account at Iowa State Bank!