By Denver Ellison
Peer advice can be some of the best advice to rely on when it comes to understanding college experiences. Our peers may have gone through similar situations and can help us learn from the mistakes that they made. University of Georgia junior Ajara Ceesay, a health promotion major from Jonesboro, Georgia, discussed how she thinks about money and handles her own finances during a question and answer session with College Connect.
Q: What are some of the main financial concepts you know of?
A: Well, I know about savings, budgeting and living below your means.
Q: Okay, so how do you use what you know to manage your own money?
A: I manage my money by coming up with bi-weekly budgets. My budget includes my necessities, such as groceries, gas and rent. Then, I put aside money for things I am saving up for. For example, right now I am saving up for my trip to Tanzania
Q: So, can you explain why you find it important to save money?
A: Well, I don’t find it as important to save for emergencies, because I can rely on my parents for that. I currently do not make that much money as a college student. So, whenever I do save, it is for short periods of time for upcoming expenses such as my upcoming trip to Tanzania and spring break.
Q: How do you budget your funds as a student who lives off campus?
A: It is difficult to budget your funds as a student who lives off campus because I commute to campus and spend a lot on gas. So, I try to reduce my gas cost by taking my apartment shuttle as much as possible.
Q: What are some of the important things you have to consider?
A: I make sure to put money aside for my rent and light bill first before I spend on anything else.
Q: What is the last item you regret purchasing and can you explain why?
A: The last item I regret purchasing was clothes for my spring break trip. I honestly didn’t even wear all the clothes I bought.
Q: How do you see yourself handling money in the future?
A: I see myself saving more and trying to have multiple sources of income.
Q: What steps will you take to make that happen?
A: I believe that having two savings accounts is a good step to better my financial planning. I would like a savings account for upcoming events and one that is long time savings account that I do not remove any money from.
Denver Ellison is a journalism major at the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
