Money Management: Helpful Resources for College Students

College students who may be managing their finances for the first time or those who have managed money but are looking to brush up on good habits should review the following resources.

Personal Finances 

Many topics are included in personal finance, and it can be overwhelming to know where to get started. Check out the list of articles below that can help you along the way: 

Saving, Budgeting, and Credit 

  • 360degrees of Financial Literacy provides easy to understand financial information and tips.  Created by America’s Certified Public Accountants, we believe that small changes to your money management can add up to big differences down the road. 

Guidance 

  • Throughout their college career, many college students may find themselves in need of some legal assistance. Whether it be landlord disputes, alcohol issues, traffic tickets or other legal matters, Purdue University’s Student Legal Services is here to help undergraduate, graduate or professional Purdue students find the legal help they need. 
  • Khan Academy’s library contains a multitude of online training options on everything from elementary arithmetic to Personal Finance.  

Investments 

You may have a savings account and think you are well on your way to a diversified investment portfolio, but saving is different than investing. The tools below help explain the difference between the two, and help you get on track with smart decisions early on. 

  • Invest in Your Future is a course from Rutgers Cooperative Extension with 11 units to guide investing. The course is designed to help you make smart investment decisions from the comfort of your own home. 
  • Savings and Investing is a fact-filled article that clarifies the difference between saving and investing. The site also lists other articles covering an array of related topics. 

Credit 

Do you know what credit is, how to build good credit, how your credit score is determined, or what credit even means? Below are some great resources to help you understand and use credit wisely. 

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (cfpb) knows your credit scores have an impact on your finances. Their resources can help you better understand scores, learn how to correct errors and improve your credit record over time. 

Indiana MoneyWise Matters offers information on smart use of credit and debit cards.