Budgeting Tools and Tips

Your Money Guide For Getting Through School

Did you know...

• 83% of undergraduate students have at least one credit card?
  
• 7.41% of students carry credit card debt with an average balance of $3071?
  
• 39% of students now graduate with unmanageable student loan debt?
  
• A third of college seniors graduate with $20,000 or more in student loan debt?
  
• Just over half of students who used loans to pay for college say they feel burdened by their debt?
  
• 73% of parents of graduating seniors said they expect their son or daughter to take a job at a salary that would require some sort of financial boost from them. Within that group, 38% said their child might have to move back in home with them.?
  
• Only 44% of college students clearly understand the term budget?

But just because budgeting is challenging that doesn't mean you can't do it. In fact, now's a great time to learn to how to create and live within a budget. After all, you've gone to school to create a successful future. Learning how to budget is one of the lessons that will stick with you long after you've graduated.

If you don't learn to manage your money now, the headaches your debts create may stay with you for a long time.

At Consolidated Credit Counseling Services Inc. we help many college students and recent graduates who are deep in debt from student loans and credit cards. We want to help you and other students avoid problems and become financially successful.

We've created this guide with two purposes in mind:

• To help you create a successful budget and use it.
• To give you proven strategies for avoiding too much debt.