How to Afford the Cost of Rising University Fees
Whether you study in a classroom, or take an online degree such as an online masters of social work from Rutgers Online, university is expensive.
With fees rising every year, it’s becoming more difficult for students to manage.
While studying, you need to think about not only affording fees, but also general living expenses and buying course materials.
But you don’t want to be having to work every hour, neglecting your studies in the process, especially if it’s an intense course like the online MSW program.
Here are a few tips to help you get through.
Save When You Can
If you can put a little money aside, do it. Even tiny bits can start to add up. A change jar is a great idea. Or transfer a small amount per week into a savings account. This can quite quickly build up into a useful university fund.
Get Help
Look to see if you can claim any financial aid. This could be through bursaries, grants or scholarships. These should always be your first place to check, as you don’t have to pay them back.
If you are desperate for help, there are also federal student loans available.
Invest
If you know that you want to take your education further, make a small investment early on. By the time you need to pay for your masters of social work online, it might have made a reasonable amount.
Do your research and learn the markets before you make any investments. Never invest more than you can afford.
Budget
You can save so much money just by planning. Many people don’t realize how much they spend on small things.
Write down your expenses for a week. Then use this to make a budget, so you know exactly what you’re spending and how much you can afford to save.
Make Some Cutbacks
Once you’ve written that list of expenditure, add it all your bills. Take a good look at this list. Is there anything you don’t need, or is there a cheaper alternative available?
Could you walk places instead of paying for transport? Go for a run instead of paying for a gym membership. Loan books from the library instead of buying them. There are an awful lot of cut backs you can make to save money towards university costs.
Earn Some Extra Cash
Take a part-time job if you can. Or you could consider earning some money online. There are online survey sites that will pay you up to $5 to sit and fill in surveys or test products.
You could start a blog and make money through affiliate marketing. Or sell your photographs to a stock photo website. There are many ways to earn money from home.
Please don’t let the rising costs of university put you off furthering your education. Even if you aren’t eligible for financial assistance, there are so many ways you can make enough extra money to get by.
You may need a combination of these ideas, but there is almost certainly something amongst them that can work for you.
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Category: College, Student Loans
