College can be expensive; adopt smart budgeting habits and avoid financial debt.

Many of you are college attendees or graduates; therefore you know what it means to stretch a buck and what it feels like to have a bank account balance of $9.00 until financial aid is released for the semester.  A lot of us do not make the effort to research smart budgeting methods and/or execute these practices. 97 Ways to Save Money in College is a article posted on MRI Technician Schools blog site. I have chosen what I believe to be the top ten tips from this article that students can easily adopt and benefit from, financially, while attending college. Consider it a gift as I suspect many of you are currently headed into another semester of school and needless to say –another semester of spending.

10. Rent Movies From the Library: Public and school libraries alike often rent movies for free.

9. Take Advantage of Public Transportation: In larger cities with reliable public transportation or smaller towns conducive to walking, ditch having a car and all its associated expenses.

8. Barter With Friends: Figure out ways to trade goods and services with other students in order to get things done without ever having to spend a penny.

7. Buy Store Brand Goods: Store-brand goods are almost always as good as the name brands, and many stores offer additional savings when buying store brand products while using store discount cards.

6. Buy International Editions of Textbooks: In the occasional instance where used books are not available, buy international editions of textbooks online. They are usually much cheaper and contain the same content in the same language as the domestic.

5. Drink Tap Water: Ditch the bottled stuff and drink straight from the sink. You’ll save tons of cash.

4. Set Up a Definitive Budget: Budgeting money ahead of time is one of the best financial decisions anyone – not just college students – can make.

3. Apply for Scholarships: Apply to as many as possible to help defray some tuition expenses.

2. Eat at Home: Sometimes, the cost of a meal at a reasonably priced restaurant can be used to prepare 3-5 meals at home.

1. Save the Credit Card for Emergencies Only: Use your credit card only when faced with an absolute financial emergency…and sorry, but needing that adorable Coach purse does not qualify as a dire situation.

For more ideas on how to save money while in college visit 97 Ways to Save Money in College.

Marketing your organization can be tricky if you have no prior training or experience in marketing.  So where do you start you ask? We have three steps to follow while creating your marketing plan. If you would like more information on the topic feel free to leave a comment!

1. CREATE A POSITIONING STATEMENT FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION

Clearly define your organization by assessing its benefits, target membership and competitors. This information and your promotional materials will go hand in hand and will enable you to have a clear and consistent message.

Positioning Statement – (Fill in the blank with your organization’s info)

_______(Your Organization Name)_______ is ______(List 3 of Your Most Unique and Most Important Claims)_____  among all ______(List Your Competitive Frame *example: Student Organizations)______  for ______(Your Target Membership)______   because ______(Include Support for your 3 Unique Claims)_____.

•    Define your expectations for organization growth; do you want to expand your organization or merely preserve your current member base?
•    Use this information when deciding which channels to use while distributing your message (Channels are stated below)

2. CREATE YOUR PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL

•    Create a concise tag line using content from your positioning statement
•    Consider Your Audience When Choosing Benefits to Highlight
-Social organizations – Promote how your org will meet emotional needs
-Professional organizations -Promote facts and encourage “information gathering”

Promotional material should always include the following (but is not limited to):
•    Organization name
•    Message
•    Contact information
•    Website URL
•    Tag-line

Possible Communication Channels to Reach Your Qualified Audience:
•    Online: Organization website, School Organization directory and social media
•    Print: Flyers, Posters, Banners & Kiosks can create a consistent campus presence
•    Programs: Information included can educate prospective and current members
•    Broadcast: TV and Radio stations,  Campus monitor advertisements

3. CREATE A STRONG PRESENCE ON YOUR CAMPUS

•    Sign up to showcase your organization at the freshman orientation student org fair
•    Showcase your org along popular areas of your campus for the first few weeks of school
•    Create relationships with organizations that relate to your target members interest

CHECK OUT MY FUTURE BLOGS!  TOPICS WILL INCLUDE:
•    Marketing for Small Organizations – A Focused Approach
•    Creating a Marketing Plan for an Expanding Organization
•    Large Organizations and How to Keep a Consistent Message Across Campus

Before getting into the complexities of a college campus, it is best to step back and look at the big picture. People, in general, need a community to call their own, to live as a healthy individual. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs values this necessity to be in a community as number 3 of the 5 categories.  This proves even further that this necessity is even more crucial during one of the greatest growing phases in a person’s life, their time in college.

Maslow's Hiearchy of Needs

College students grow up with multiple cohesive communities such as their families, close group of friends, church, and other extra-curricular groups. They are nestled in these groups for so long, and most are unprepared for the dramatic shift from high school life to college life where they are forced to go out and find new communities. This is where the institution and the student affairs department come into play. Their role is to provide a gateway to the new opportunities for on campus involvement, so the student can choose from a variety of inviting communities.

The unfortunate part of the college transition is that most students fill their insecurities with even more seclusion. This can affect student academic performance. A study by the American College Health Association revealed several factors that affect performance including: stress, alcohol abuse, and depression/anxiety (American College Health Association, 2002).  Students can battle this by forming bonds and reaching out to other students which can be best developed on a “healthy” campus.

How can institutions make their campus “healthy?”
According to an article by Teanca Shepherd, assistant coordinator of Student Activities at The University of Memphis, four essential components must exist to maintain healthy campuses which are:
1.    Vibrant Student Organizations
2.    Co-Curricular Resources
3.    A Wide Variety of Academics
4.    Surrounding Community Involvement

What are the overall benefits of healthy campuses for both students and the institution?
Teanca Shepherd lists the following benefits:
•    An increase in student enrollment
•    Increases in funding for programs and organizations
•    Better recruitment of faculty
•    Increases in funding for programs and organizations
•    Better recruitment of faculty and staff
•    Students providing innovative ideas for better policy development
•    An increase in diversity
•    An increase in alumni support and involvement
•    Growth of the surrounding community as a whole

When a healthy campus has been achieved, the institution can combat those security walls that students put up and invite them to find the organization to foster development, experiences, and new friendships. In the end, these experiences are what truly set a part a successful college graduate from another graduate who missed out on them.