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• Advice to new college graduates: Don't blow it

  Posted May 12 2008, 12:04 PM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: College, Credit, Saving, Karen Datko
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  "Money Smart Life" remembers the forced frugality of college: beans and rice, water on cereal because milk is too pricey, buying the cheapest beer, no matter how awful the taste.

  He also knows how newly employed graduates are tempted to spend. For them, he recounts the tale of the guy who went to an all-you-can-eat buffet after spending four years stranded on a desert island: He goes into shock and almost dies because his appetite wrote a check that his stomach couldn't cash.

  "Of course you won't die from overspending, but you can literally kill your financial future for years to come if you go on a buying binge," Money Smart Life writes in this down-to-earth post.   Read More...

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• Affording 'essential' beverages on a college budget

  Posted Feb 21 2008, 02:23 PM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: College, Spending, Saving, Karen Datko
  Rating:

  College students require three "essential liquids," writes Heather Johnson in a guest post at Grad Money Matters: water, coffee and -- you guessed it -- alcohol. Luckily, there are tricks to making them affordable. Heather advises, "Follow these 10 simple strategies and you will never go thirsty again (and you might even have enough money left over to pay your tuition)."

  First, no more bottled water. Just fill "your friend's empty $9 bottle of volcanic spring water" from the tap, Heather writes. If you must filter tap water, buy a Brita pitcher and don't change the filter. She swears you won't notice the difference. Brew coffee at home, or "caffeinate like a towny" at a low-cost coffee shop.

  Six of the 10 tips are dedicated to cutting the cost of alcohol, which she says is good to enjoy "every now and again."   Read More...

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