Mastering Money Management

by Jennifer Merritt

During your first few weeks at college -- face it -- you'll be homesick, which means you'll be calling family and friends scattered all across the country for support. You know you can count on them to make you feel better... what you didn't count on was having to pay for long-distance calls.

Money will soon be something you'll have to worry about, and like most college freshmen, paying bills will be the last thing on your mind. But since you do have to be your own money master, CB Teen talked to Eve McDowell, chief sales and customer fulfillment executive for NetBank, the country's first successful Internet bank, for her tips on money management.

CB Teen: What are your tips for sticking to a monthly budget?
McDowell: First, you need to sit down with your parents and think through who will pay the bills. Parents should oversee [things] to make sure the student account is managed properly. Next, find out from school officials what the demands on your budget will be. Most students [find] it ends up being more than they thought.

CB Teen: A credit card for that first year at college, or no?
McDowell: That should be a decision between you and your parents. It can be good for a student to build up a credit history, but it can also be dangerous.

[If you] go down the wrong path, you could have consequences that'll last for years.

CB Teen: What type of accounts do you recommend for students?
McDowell: Online banking is an ideal match for students. Nearly 100 percent of students are online every day. Students have unlimited checking, and can pay bills and set up scheduled payments online.