College-money lessons you didn’t learn in high school

High school may have prepared you for college academically, but you may be less ready to handle your money, especially if you need student loans.

More than two-thirds of college students at all levels said in a survey that they feel stressed about their personal finances, according The Study on Collegiate Financial Wellness, a 2017 report by The Ohio State University.

Learning some financial best practices and turning them into habits now can help ease money worries. Here are six personal-finance lessons to take to campus.

Max out free financial aid

Get the most free aid possible before borrowing money. Every year, submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, to qualify for federal, state and institutional grants, scholarships and workstudy.

Search for additional scholarships with tools like the U.S. Department of Labor’s Scholarships Finder.

Track your loans

If you do borrow, maximize federal student loans before private options. Federal loans offer more repayment options and, in some cases, forgiveness.

Each year, write down the amount you borrow; doing this can make the debt feel more real, personal finance experts say. And having that information accessible will help organize repayment planning and your postgrad budget, says Vince Shorb, CEO of the National Financial Educators Council.

BEBETO MATTHEWS — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE More than two-thirds of college students at all levels say they feel stressed about their personal finances, according The Study on Collegiate Financial Wellness.