April marks Financial Literacy Month, a time when everyone can learn more about their personal finances and take steps to improve their financial picture. If you’re looking for a place to start, CSUN Saves, a campus partner of America Saves, provides 3 easy ways to assess your current situation and take action to save.
- Saver Checklist Tool – Check off your savings accomplishments to see how you’re doing.
- Assess Your Savings Tool – Complete the assessment to see if you are saving adequately and create a savings plan.
- Pledge to Save – Once you start saving, it gets easier and easier, and before you know it, you’re on your way to making your dreams a reality. The first step is to take the America Saves Pledge.
For college students on a limited budget, saving can be especially difficult. Dr. Linda Bradley, Assistant Professor with the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences in the College of Health and Human Development and Program Coordinator for CSUN Saves, reminds students to “start small, think big, and make saving automatic.” Simple steps such as developing and following a semester budget at the start of each semester; reducing eating out by packing a lunch and cooking at home; and, finding low cost alternatives for transportation can go a long way in freeing up money to put towards savings goals.
For more savings strategies and to take the savings pledge, stop by the CSUN Saves table at the Farmer’s Market every Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Cleary Walk East.
Savings starts when you take action; those with a savings plan are twice as likely to spend less than they earn, and save the difference. Celebrate Financial Literacy Month by making your savings plan today. Learn more at csunsaves.org.
Click here for more articles, books, media and more on Personal Finance from the Oviatt Library.
Professor Linda Bradley, Family and Consumer Sciences
