Yes, it’s true. I wish I could go back to the days when I was 20 years old and a sophomore in college. Do I miss the relaxed lifestyle where I sat around the fraternity house watching movies and sleeping in late? Well, maybe. But, that’s now why I wish I could go back.

If I could go back, I would have a completely different outlook on money and saving for my future. Even the smallest of contributions during college would pay off exponentially now and down the road. Nobody expects a college student to max out Roth IRA contributions each year, but what if you adjusted your budget or worked a little harder and put away $1,000 each year of college? You would be graduating with a chunk of money already in an investment account, ready to grow.

Now, I realize many students can hardly afford to get by in college let alone put money away. Unfortunately, this article is not for them. There are, however, many fortunate students who either have scholarships, generous parents, or other means of funding in college. I wish to encourage this group to think about their financial future, as weird as that may seem for you.

Some Easy Ways To Save In College

• Buy only the books you need - I had so many classes in college where I never even opened the text book. What a waste of money.
• Don’t be the guy that is always buying the rounds of shots - Let someone else order the rounds of 8+ Jaeger shots.  You might get a couple high-fives during the moment, but I assure you, nobody will remember your glory in the morning.
• Buy groceries

Putting ANY amount of money away at such an early age as a college student will put you so far ahead of the majority of people your age, you will never regret it. Any money you put away at age 20 could have over 40 years to grow and compound before you retire. I wish I could go back!

I recommend college students also check out the previous article called The 20s Money Retirement Plan to get some more details on the crucial retirement planning process. And like everyone says, you can’t start too early.

Are you a college student reading this blog? I’d love to hear from you and what steps you are taking to secure your financial future. Any steps would honestly be impressive. Add your comments below.

Popularity: 10% [?]