It is tempting for college students to just throw caution to the wind and enjoy life as it comes. I mean, you are only young once and there are so many things to enjoy while you at that age when you are totally energetic and feeling full of excitement and exhilaration. Why would you want to worry, adding stress lines to your young skin – with words like savings, wealth management and financial independence? Every gene in your body tell you to skip this article - a potentially boring article that urges learning proper money management for college students.



If you are still reading this line then I applaud you for breaking the mould of teenage irresponsibility. The best time anyone has to start building wealth with proper money management is when they have the energy and drive to do so. Who knows? When you get old you might just be stuck in a dead-end 9-5 job, earning a pittance and worrying about your personal finances for the next week, the next month, and even the next year. Nobody wants to end up there, and building a momentum when you are young ensures a bright future for any college student.

Save your money. That is one of the pillars of basic money management. Even if it's only a smidgen of what you earn, its still money in the bank - the maxim for any successful individual. Open a savings account or keep your money in a fixed deposit account and earn interest just by doing nothing. Think about opening up restricted accounts like money market accounts that earn a much higher interest rate (4 – 6%) and has rules and regulations about extracting the money – curbing any binge spending you might be tempted to engage in.

Know how much you are spending. With banks now mailing your transaction history and internet banking, keep a tab on how much you are spending. Put a limit on how much you can spend a month and keep to it.

Debit cards – the only way to spend your money in a cashless environment. Debit cards allow you to spend your money AS IS without owing any money to the bank. Also, it psychologically restrains you, because you know you can only spend as much as you have in your bank account, unlike the case if you made your purchases on credit.

Knowing that you have managed your money and have some a substantial balance in your bank accounts, it is next time to think about investing. The internet is full of opportunities and the world of trading is open for all. But before you dive in, do your research and invest a little to learn from the best. Wealth building programmes that allow college kids study at home and shine online. It can be a little, it can be a lot, but expert advice is something that college kids should all be familiar with. You are only as good as your teacher – and for wealth building, an excellent home based wealth building programme can certainly get you places.

Remember the key to monetary success – manage your money and invest it smartly. You could be retiring a lot sooner than you think.