When you’re in college, it’s easy to get caught up in a busy lifestyle. With all of the studying, part-time jobs, hanging out with friends, and extra activities, it’s easy to forget about a very important aspect of your life - your finances. Read on and discover some proven tips for a college student’s budget.

1. Plan ahead. Figure out where your cash flow is coming from. Make a list of your income from parents, your student loan, or your part-time job. Then figure out what your monthly expenses will be. Include expenses for food, books, and other activities. Make sure that you have enough income to meet your expected expenses. Also, allow a little extra for emergencies. Once you have a budget, be disciplined and stick to it.

2. Save on food. When you were living with your parents, this is one expense that you didn’t have to worry about. But in college, it will be one area that you’ll need to watch. Be sure to use your food allowance and avoid eating out at fast food places, as this will most likely to ruin your budget. Pack your lunch and plan meals as much as possible.

3. Take full advantage of student discounts. Use your student ID’s and memberships in organizations to get discounts in several establishments. Discounts can really add up over time.

4. Use cash as much as possible. If you already have money on your Student ID card, use it first. Avoid using your debit card when you have cash with you. Use your credit cards only in emergencies. More colleges students are leaving school with high credit card debt that will take years to pay off due to careless spending habits.

5. Keep yourself busy. Be sure to join clubs in your field of interest. Keeping busy will help you stay away from things that you spend money on when you get bored. You will be surprised at the amount of money you will save by spending less on items you don’t need and following your student budget.

Source: Michael Freedom, eZine Articles

Roommates are a great way to lower your living expenses, however, finding a roommate you can live with can be somewhat daunting. The following steps can help you find a roommate who is easy to live with and fiscally responsible too!

Some questions to consider when choosing a roommate:

• Are you a morning person or a night owl?
• What kind of music do you like?
• Do you party or do you like relaxing down time?
• What kind of people does your roommate hang out with?
• Do you like the same sports teams?
• How do you feel about visitors?
• Are you in a serious relationship? Are they?
• Do you share the same ideas about cleanliness?
• What are your hobbies? (If you play a musical instrument, for example, this information is a need to know for any potential roommate.)

Having trouble finding a roommate. Try these places for help:

1. Ask Bryant Property for assistance. If you are having trouble finding a roommate for your apartment, give us a call. Many students come to us for apartments, many of them also need roommates. We match them up with others all of the time.

2. The New Hampshire, UNH’s student newspaper, is a very good source for finding a college roommate.

3. Check classifieds on social websites. Myspace and Facebook have classified sections. Be sure to screen potential roommates from these sites carefully.

4. There are a number of other websites that have a college roomate section. Here are a few:
craigslist.org
www.campusroommates.com
www.roommatenation.com
www.collegeroommates.net

As a resident of the Bryant Property family of properties, we encourage you to follow these simple steps to save energy:

• Turn off lights, TV, and music when away from your room or apartment
• Replace incandescent bulbs with CFLsOnly wash full loads of clothes in cold water
• Buy and use Energy Star appliances and electronics
• Power down computers and monitors when not in use

For additional energy savings tips, visit Energy Savers website.

Students of the University of New Hampshire have an opportunity to really live green. Bryant Park West, a new apartment complex coming soon to the UNH community, is driven by sustainability and green living.

From planning, to site selection, to construction - Bryant Park West are built green. What makes Bryant Park West sustainable?

• Following the LEED certification check list for sustainable buildings
• Site of the apartment complex is on public transportation, allowing for fewer use of automobiles
• Construction materials built to last 40 years, as apposed to most buildings that need remodeling every 20 years
• Use of dried concrete flooring - more sustainable and ecologically prudent
• Programs for tenants for recycling, car sharing, and reduction of personal carbon footprint
• Use of solar, wind, and hydro-energy systems for heat and lights
• Environmentally friendly landscaping

Want to know more? Check often for progress updates.

Did you know the most important way to reduce your carbon footprint is to reduce the use of your car? It’s true! If your car gets 30 mpg and you drive 12,000 miles a year, you will create about 3.55 tons of CO2 each year.

Renting with Bryant Property helps you to reduce your carbon footprint. Our apartments are on the bus line that drops you off right on the UNH campus. Buses run approximately every 7-8 minutes and run all day. This is a very convenient alternative to driving your car to and from campus.

Additional benefit to the UNH student:

• No more searching for a parking spot, saving you time.
• Fill your tank with gas less often, saving you money.
• Less wear and tear on your vehicle, also saving you money.

In addition, Bryant Property is in the process of developing a car share program to eliminate as many cars on campus as possible. Renters of Bryant Property will be able to sign-out the use of an electric vehicle for personal use. Details of the car share program are coming soon.

Typically, every three out of four UNH students bring their car to campus. Our goal is to reduce that number to every one out of four, which will greatly reduce our overall carbon footprint.

The next time your heading to class, ditch the car and hop on the bus. You’ll save yourself time, money, and reduce your carbon footprint.