HEALTHY SPENDING HABITS NEEDED FOR UNIVERSITY

Have you ever noticed how young people these days tend to waste their money? I have noticed over the past few years that people my age have not yet learned proper spending habits. Let me tell you, as a person so cheap where I abhor spending five dollars, I cringe every time I hear someone talking about spending large amounts of money on a hobby or non-essential thing.

This is especially so when I hear that same person utter those words that I have come to know well over the years, “I only have like four dollars in my bank account” when asked if they want to do something. Now, do not get me wrong, spending money on a hobby is fine. It is just if it leaves someone wondering if they even have double digits in their bank account, I struggle to see the logic behind the purchase. The wild part is that I continue to see people doing what I just described in university, along with others who say, “I have my student loan so I can just use that” when they want to buy something.

Personally, I think that parents and schools should try to reinforce healthy spending habits in children before they arrive at university so they do not find themselves upside down in a heap of debt. In the world we have today, our money and how we use it is extremely important. In fact, some of my friends are the same as I have described.

Luckily they do not use their student loans for non-school related purchases; however, it still worries me all the same when the say those same 10 words: “I only have like four dollars in my bank account.”

Ethan Verreault (UPEI student) Charlottetown