6 Money Things I Wish I Knew In College | Aja Dang | Budgeting In Your 20s

[@AshleyLoraAnderson]

I've been budgeting SO intensely throughout college and even though I had to take out loans I worked away at them as I went and now I'm gonna graduate this year without any debt and can actually spend more on having fun! I'm SO excited!

[@13anana13ri]

👏 👏 👏

[@howtoadultschool]

Ashley that's amazing! It's going to make the biggest difference in your life after graduation. Through a combination of being very fortunate and hard work I also graduated without any debt a few years ago and it opened up a world of possibilities! For example I was able to focus on starting my own business right out of school instead of having to take a job immediately to pay off loans. It sets you up so well

[@caoimhenimhuireadhaigh1303]

DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, SPEND. AT THE RATE. OF YOUR FRIENDS!!!! They might claim to be in the same financial boat to you, but we all know how the upper class like to claim to be "middle class" or "comfortable". If people try pressure you, call them out. It might be a bit awkward in the moment, but you need to stand your ground over people spending your money for you.

[@howtoadultschool]

Absolutely, this is great advice. A lot of people also finance their lives with credit cards and it's so hard not to try to keep up with them.

[@pri.sci.lla.]

Yep! And they’re all in debt spending $ they don’t have

[@tiarradesoto7626]

My advice to my college self: Stop partying every week. You’re going to hate it eventually, and you’re wasting your money on booze you hate drinking. Great video, Aja! 🥰

[@TheNerdGlasses]

i would tell my college self NOT to go into Sephora between classes 'just to look'

[@AjaDang]

omg haha

[@teresalu6859]

Dear college me, Stop buying all those cheap ass skimpy party clothes (from Charlotte Russe, Rue21, Body Central) you're only going to be able to wear once before they explode in the washer. You literally don't make enough money being a barista in the campus coffee shop to live like this... and fast fashion is bad. GET IT TOGETHER.

[@elliecbron]

I wish I had practiced being an adult before going to college. One year off to have a job and have to pay for rent/life would have provided me with soooo much needed perspective during school.

[@jinnymoon]

I've been saving all of my grants, working part-time, applying for bursaries, and spending within my means all throughout uni and now I'm gonna be in my final semester and I'll be able to pay off 90% of my debt upon graduation! I'm very happy with the choices that I made and have zero regrets on not overdoing any birthday or holiday for the past five years!

[@AjaDang]

INCREDIBLE!

[@howtoadultschool]

That's SO amazing Jinny! You're going to have so much freedom to decide what you want to do with your life if you're not saddled with heaps of student debt!

[@angelac9694]

9:40 True…unless you majored in engineering or a similar major. Adult life is 100x easier than what I had to go through in college. I had to say it for my fellow STEM majors who are devastated at the thought of an even more difficult life after graduating XD it gets better!!!

[@crystalmariegee4268]

How was the experience for you?

[@kellylincoln8244]

Agreed! After college life for some can mean a return to a full nights of sleep.

[@angelac9694]

@@crystalmariegee4268 School or adult life? School was stressful for me, personally. I didn’t have a social life and got about 4-6 hours of sleep on average (I need 8-9 in order to function normally). I didn’t have very many friends when I graduated. But after graduating I got a decent job and was able to pay off all my loans. I could actually enjoy my weekends. I could actually relax when I got home instead of worrying about studying and hw. I made friends at work and was able to go out and make up for lost time. I could take paid time off. I could go on vacations. School for me felt like a 80-100 hr work week. And when I started actually working, it was cut in half to 40 hrs. My mental health drastically improved when I left school.

[@sherai55]

I find the working world so much more enjoyable!! I studied/classes 6:30am-late (8 or 9pm) everyday of the week (yes! Studying all day Saturday and Sunday too) + worked 3 days a week. STEM life. Worth it though for the job I have now, Monday - Friday 8-4 feels like a breeze haha

[@ines3770]

I dunno i was a history major but I enjoy adult life better. The stress of getting good grades, working a job to sustain myself ANd trying to find experiences related to your field a'd networking because you chose an uncertain field took a toll on me. I like the certainty and fina'cial stability i have now.

[@ForeverTJTigress]

Love this video! But I will say, don’t invalidate how you feel about how tight your schedule is in college! What many forget is that the “real world” is apart of your college experience. Just because you’re in school it doesn’t mean that life stops happening during your college experience. Especially if you are someone who’s entering college who isn’t in the 18-20 age bracket with children, family life, or mental illness etc.

[@SamElle]

I wish I had this video when I was an undergrad!!! I was so reckless with my spending

[@giulianaalvia]

I'd love to watch a video about credit cards and how to use them in a responsible way!

[@howtoadultschool]

For sure, this is definitely something people need to learn about when they're in college!

[@joelyliriano]

I wish I was easier on myself in college mentally. I was working, interning, and budgeting hard but still feeling like I wasn’t doing enough because I had to take out more loans to finish school no matter how many scholarships I applied for. I was extremely stressed but it seemed like it was the norm because I went to school in NYC lol. I did my best

[@v_budgets]

"you don't know shit" is sooo true!! lmaooo

[@keeleygribb4729]

So relatable, Aja! Thanks for sharing your story. I'm chipping away at my nearly 100K bill down to 65K now!

[@AjaDang]

you got this!

[@huimingqi7294]

so real, this is me just graduating and now going for a full-time job, is so overwhelmed

[@drinaramirez1114]

A good thing I did was NOT going to a certain school where my parents had to co-sign student loans for me. I couldn’t bare the thought of not seeing school through and leaving them with that debt. Ten years later I’m going back to school smarter with finances and what I actually want to do

[@pri.sci.lla.]

Scholarships and grants are the way I’m going to get my two first degrees for free! In fact I receive checks from my school that I use on books and supplies.

[@AjaDang]

wow congrats!

[@alexissssrodriguezz2]

omg yes please talk about credit cards! i think it would be so helpful for the majority of us

[@zulyterrazas6791]

FIND A STATE SCHOOL. I really wanted to get the “college experience” and wanted to leave home so I went to a state school in the northern part of my state. I also got accepted into NYU in 2013. Tuition would have been 40k a year no room and board. I went to UNR and completed my undergrad total was like 55k. I got fafsa, and a scholarship that paid for 90% of it. I worked full time through all of college lived on my own, so I paid for my apartment on my own. I got the first year of college experience I wanted in the dorms by choosing the cheapest meal plan and cheapest dorm (my parents did help cover the cost my grants didn’t cover). I would probably be 200k in debt if I went to NYU. It also made it easy because I took a gap year after my freshman year to save money and moved home so I took some community college courses and all my credits transferred over when I went back. I have zero debt and just started a dream job. I did graduate with about $3600 in credit card debt for my final few classes but I was able to pay it off within a year and half during the pandemic.

[@hidayahmeep7625]

State schools have a pretty good standard of education too. And you can still network from there. Ivy league isn't necessarily good for classes, it's more for building networks and taking part in research projects (which you can still do at a State school.) I am not from the US, so even that is expensive though. Community college is also good for general elective classes such as English and Math (IMO they are a waste of time hahah) so you can really save. Even if you have the money, it's good to be frugal and use it elsewhere, such as investments.

[@zulyterrazas6791]

@@hidayahmeep7625 100% agree !

[@MarisaM]

I don't necessarily agree with this--sometimes big private universities are MUCH better equipped to provide grants and scholarships due to their endowments rather than state schools, which will likely give much smaller scholarships and prioritize giving you loans. Maybe things were different 8-10 years ago, but I just graduated this June debt free from a big private university and the total over 4 years was pretty much the same as going to UNR (assuming Nevada-Reno)...in fact, I think it was cheaper because during the pandemic the university raised our financial aid so I paid a lot less than my original aid package when I first got accepted. While I agree state schools are still good education, they definitely could not have had that flexibility ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ The key thing to getting that money though, is 1) getting accepted, 2) getting your FAFSA and CSS in as soon as possible, and 3) comparing and negotiating financial aid packages (or re-applying whenever your circumstances change). Unfortunately, that's just not taught to kids unless you already know people that went to big universities :/

[@zulyterrazas6791]

@@MarisaM I can totally see where you’re coming from because honestly I was the first in my family to go a university. In my experience UNR since I was an in state resident was about 75% cheaper than out of state schools. Honestly I wasn’t accepted into the few fancier private institutions I applied for. My only option was UNR or NYU but I still remember University of Chicago being 29k and NYU being about 40k without room and board. I applied for scholarships but most of them didn’t pan out besides a couple of state grants that pretty much sealed my decision. So if people do have the option to weigh pros and cons and can find a way to go to out of state or private universities they totally should. I’m sure I would have loved NYU just wasn’t in my cards (:

[@hopedossantos]

Aja, I loved this video! Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge with us. I graduated college last year and can relate to this video a lot. Keep up the fab content! xo - Hope from Toronto !

[@jaelynnroque628]

Great video Aja!! I definitely feel the “keeping up with the jones’s” 😭 I was SHOOK when I realize how much “disposable money” my friend had from their parents in comparison to me 😭 for sure isn’t worth spending your hard earned money!!

[@elizabethgracefashion]

You are such a light in this world!

[@AjaDang]

wow that's so nice of you to say. thank you!

[@Rosamgz1]

Omg! You really spoke to me! I am wasting my paychecks on stupid shit, my credit cards are maxed out, my money is gone and honestly! Yes, I’m in mid-twenties and I am first generation trying to get my financial shit together 😭😆🤣🤣🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️

[@bleepbloop9123]

Ooh great topic!!

[@dianabanana08]

I'm 24 and I'm so lost with adulting. I feel so inadequate and unorganised with life

[@leahmcdermott4189]

THIS! I’m also 24.. I literally don’t have a clue 😂😩

[@gwenae]

Personnally, I wish I knew some stuff about investing. Never too late for that, but it's still better when you start early! :)

[@melissa09251]

Bby girl, say it louder to the ppl in the back. Everything I wish I knew before, and now I’m paying for it 😵‍💫

[@bettinak.4]

I wish I could see this 10 years ago...

[@AjaDang]

i mean.. same.

[@howtoadultschool]

Right? I wish we all had access to this type of information before we strike out on our own. It would make the biggest difference in so many people's lives.

[@nineohsix9]

I'm going back to university after dropping out to avoid excessive student debt. I have worked in corporate and have saved enough money to be able to afford my tuition (hopefully no student loans are needed). Save your money and be wise about your loans.

[@Porcelynnn]

My tip for college students: throw $25 or $50 or whatever amount at your loans while it’s NOT gaining interest. I only took out subsidized loans.

[@bijoubijou7500]

Excellent video! I just sent this to my cousin who just started her first year at Howard University. I graduated from undergrad in 2000. I really wish that I understood the "realities of life" when I was entering college so that I would have been on my professional and financial grind from the beginning. I also wish someone would have told me how distracting boys could be! 🤣🤣🤣

[@AjaDang]

I've only heard the best about Howard. She'll have a great time.

[@jamiejanine4180]

This is so awesome! I want to buy one even though I know I may never ever go back to school. I also never had student loans because I was lucky enough for my parents to pay for school but definitely could’ve saved them a lot more if I applied for scholarships & grants. There’s actually high school programs called dual credit high schools where high school students can receive college credit for free! I have a few videos on my page! I have a friend who went to optometry school, and owed about $80,000 she was telling me recently that 10 years later after paying every single payment on time that she now it was over $200,000 after paying every single payment!!!!

[@anothersatellite2001]

Biggest tip I have that I'm thankful my dad made me do in college was pay off private student loan interest periodically with money I earned working while in school! Sucks but that interest gets added to your principal 6 months after you graduate and it is not a small sum of money I can tell ya that. No one wants to pay interest on interest.

[@NoneNone-qp3kj]

college student here! been watching your vids and applying the advice irl so happy you made one specifically for us!!

[@chanelpinnock8904]

I’ve been out of undergrad for almost 4 years. I wish I had that planner. I didn’t take my finances serious until I was in my senior year. I worked all throughout college but spend most of the money on going out and unnecessary things. The biggest thing I wish I did during college was make payments to my student loans while the interest rate as 0% and invest in a Roth IRA, even if it $25 a month. It would have started the habit sooner and give me a little head start post-graduation.

[@jerriandfriends]

Hey Aja, thanks for this video! I just graduated class of 2021 and ugh the way I wish I had your videos way back when! I would love a video specifically credit management (utilization, interest, etc). I’d also appreciate a video for those post-grad/early 20s, entry level years! Thank you for your content. Have a great day!

[@mayaautorino]

moving into college tmrw perfect timing!!!

[@anaruvalcaba993]

Thanks for this video! I love your content so much, you're such an inspiring woman

[@c0okie_m0nsterrs]

yes credit card video! even with my brothers help its still hard bc hes not with me

[@jennahuang1525]

Can you do a video on the other money management related yt channels you subscribe to as well?? 🤩

[@AntiKristTeddyBear]

I would double down on applying to scholarships and grants for my younger self, but because I denied myself SOOOOO many opportunities thinking I didn't qualify for really dumb reasons and using that as an excuse to deny myself even applying for it. Meanwhile, some people end up getting the scholarship simply for applying because they don't even have enough applicants submit so they might as well give it to those who did regardless of how "qualified" they may be. Those $500 here and $1000 there would've made a world of a difference.

[@DearDebt]

Ugh, wish I had been able to see this type of video when I was in college! So many mistakes. EEK!

[@nataliajasinska9712]

me: happy because Aja uploaded a new video me when I saw Aja's outfit: I.AM.HERE.FOR.THIS.MAMA 💅🏻

[@AjaDang]

It’s all Brian’s clothes haha

[@crystalmariegee4268]

Put this on repeat y'all!! 😆 Time flies by sooo fast.

[@phuongxha]

Yes! Video about credit cards please!

[@kgal1298]

I went to college with a girl who owned 5% of her dad's company and got mad she couldn't get aid because she made over a mill the year before and then she failed out of college. I was like "wow you can be handed everything in life and really take it for granted" she's great now her husband is also incredible well off and they just had twins, but like some of their hot takes on politics very much come from their privilege in life.

[@maeflower522]

My parents taught me this when I was 18 in college and worked retail part-time: Make sure to put $100 dollars from your paycheck into your savings!! At times when I had a full-time job, I chose receive a check in the mail so I put one check in my checking and the next paycheck in my savings account. Now that I’ve decided to go back to school and work part-time again, I’m back at putting $100 into my savings.

[@tr3eehugg3r]

I made all of these mistakes in college 😅

[@dangashh]

1. If you or your parents have significant financial changes since the tax year the FAFSA looks at, you can appeal! No guarantee there's more grants but it doesn't hurt to appeal based on your current financial status. 2. Focus on doing well in school to finish college sooner. 3. You don't NEED a cup of Starbucks every day, you can make coffee. You don't NEED to eat out every day, you can make food and take it to school. 4. Find a job on campus so your class schedule is factored in your work schedule by school. 5. Carpool or use public transportation to save money on parking permit.

[@Porcelynnn]

That time in college I bought $100 Steve Madden heels that I don’t even wear anymore lol

[@baileyryan8607]

College was SO expensive. I worked the whole time, spent almost nothing and still I had over $55K in debt. That said, if I hadn't been working my debt probably would have been about $130K so I guess I'm lucky~

[@annez1681]

1. Lobby your politicians to renew the education system of your country! Education is a fundamental human right. Just because other people "went through that" doesn't mean it's the right thing and everyone has to endure that twisted mindset.

[@robynwilliams9845]

Worked throughout high school for my own spending money, wish I saved it instead to help me pay for college instead. I wish I knew how to budget while I was in high school and didn't give into keeping up with the Jones. Great video!

[@whatsthat2316]

Thanks Aja! Can you make a video about credit cards? I heard you mention you don't use them before. Did you start? I'd love to know your take on that. I'd rather just save up for a sinking fund and spend that than use a credit card but there are so many opinions and sinking funds take time! I'd love to know how you manage the whole concept of credit cards! Thanks ❤️🤗

[@emilysm1230]

Keep your receipts! Depending on where you're from you can get tax deductions on your school expenses. I didn't keep shit so I paid fully for things I didn't really need to. Also, literally nobody cares about your cute stationery, just use the same pens you had last year.

[@jj58232]

On that 6th point, check what software your school computers have. If they have it on their computers they usually also will let you download it on your own computer through their educational license.

[@murcuryjenny]

This is what I would tell myself. You can go to a community or public school and STILL get an amazing degree. You dont need to go to that frat party or go for happy hour. Be reasonable with the amout of coffee/bubble tea/eating out. Do not spend more than what you make and make sure to ask friends and roommates to pay you back on time and keep track!

[@NancyPerez-ur8bh]

30 year old me to college me, “Why did you get more loans that what YOU ACTUALLY NEEDED” 😩

[@Nganthebread]

Set up automatic deposits to your high interest savings or whatever savings account so it’ll be even easier for you to save bc you wouldn’t even miss the money you never saw in the first place!

[@sandralantau7395]

Thank you, Aja, for concrete, relevant tips delivered in your kind and understanding style. Thank you for sharing your own mistakes so honestly

[@mikailagray]

I wished that I saved more during my first two years. I was receiving a allowance from the VA and it was a lot per month and instead I just spent on anything and everything (mostly food). I wish more money then because it definitely would’ve helped me through the rest of college.

[@shenelleramjewan2416]

Your planner is a great gift to give to people entering college!

[@AjaDang]

thank you!

[@homelysynthesis3110]

Thank u

[@Maaiissterr]

I wished I started making small payments on my student loans while I was still in school & to stop eating out so much.

[@AlexaStyleBook]

Loveeee 💋💋💋

[@diyafatah]

Great video as always!! Loved your look here as well :)

[@nicoletolliver8652]

What HYSA do you recommend?

[@lizanik8541]

This is my favorite video rn. My college planner came in yesterday I am so excited to get my life together asap!!

[@AjaDang]

Yay!! keep us updated!

[@monikamarcinkowska1973]

This is what I needed to hear. Thank you

[@howtoadultschool]

This video is so helpful Aja! I hope tonnes of people in college see this and take it to heart. I was super lucky to be able to graduate without student debt and I wish it was an opportunity more people were able to have because it changed my life. I worked my butt off through university to stay out of debt (Canadian schools are less expensive than big american schools, which helps) and it opened so many doors and opportunities after graduation. I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur and was actually able to pursue this because I didn't have the responsibility and fear of having to pay off student debt. It was the biggest game changer in the scope of my life!