Oh, College! How I loved thee and hated thee. All the experiences (good and horrible) my non-collegiate friends missed out on were definitely worth it. But, you College, you didn’t teach me many of the finer points while I was there. Sure, you taught me incredible amounts about the world and it’s inhabitants. But College, you also taught me about beer pong and credit cards (also the good and bad of such). But College, it all comes down to one thing unfortunately and the worst of all…You taught me how to f*** myself over.
Through high school, I didn’t have much debt. I made around $600 a month and just had a $100 car payment for my trusty old Baby Blue Bronco 2, gas, and car insurance which, for some reason, was $180 a month. I didn’t need much, but I did spend what I had going to social events with my friends. Not such a big deal when my expenses were under $400 a month. I was financially stable and breaking even which is all I personally ask of any high schooler.
Then I entered college….
Here are my Top 9 Ways I F***** Myself Over in College:
- Bought My Pop’s Year Old Ford Ranger – My dad wanted his mid-life crisis toy. It was (and still is) an ugly looking PT Cruiser. To get that toy, he would have to get rid of or trade in his Ford Ranger he purchased brand spanking new a year earlier. This is where I came in. I bought it from my dad, but not with cash. CREDIT…kind of. My parents kept the truck in their name and I paid them. There was about $11k left owed on it, I think, and I should have had it paid for in 1-2 years tops. Nope….how about 4 years. I was greedy and wanted “something reliable and decent looking”. What I actually wanted was not to be laughed at driving a $1000 piece o’ junk. Looking back, wish I would have gone with the clunker.
- Got My First Credit Card – I bought a Sony Cybershot 7.2 megapixel digital camera at Best Buy. My credit limit was for only $500 and I paid it off within weeks, but what it did was turn me into a vampire. I had the taste of blood and wanted MORE MORE MORE. That first credit card was definitely the lowest balance I ever had, but it was probably the worst credit card because it opened the flood gates to thoughts of STUFF.
- Hello Alcohol…Can I Be Your Friend?! – I didn’t become an alcoholic. At least, I don’t think I did. But if you and I could go back and look at the money I spent on alkie in college, you would have thought so. I have nothing against alcohol. I do have something against allowing myself to have available cash or credit when drinking. More on that later…
- Wanted to Be Cool – I am one who doesn’t want to miss out on experiences. I love taking trips and seeing new and exciting things. Things that cost moo-la. Well, I tried to work full time, go to school full time, and see everything the rest of the time. I did so and it cost me. Having to buy the expensive flight to get home in time for a class or work always set me back a few bucks. Also, I wanted to show everyone that I was cool enough to handle all my responsibilities and take these trips too. Dumb idea, I now know. I wish I wanted to be more of a loser in college. Would have saved me a ton.
- You Want to Give Me More Credit…Sure – My second and third cards were total wastes. I could not even tell you what I wasted it on except one purchase which was an all-in-one printer that I used all of one time. Other than that, I have nothing to show for a couple thousand dollars of credit card debt. I really can’t blame anyone but myself for accepting more credit line.
- I’m 21…Now I Can Spend More on Alkie – I went out when I turned 21 and rounds were on me. Actually, it was more towards the age of 22 when most of my other friends turned 21. I loved starting a tab and rarely cared about how much went on it. I wish I wasn’t allowed into bars while I was in college. My liver and my wallet would have loved me much more.
- Australia…You Put Me Down Under Financially - I loved every part of my voyage to Aussie. It made me who I am today. But, I spent about $1500 American in the last two weeks of the trip mainly on alcohol and gifts. All of my excursions were already paid for and food was all I really needed to buy. I blew a ton of money, but had an amazing time doing it. I half regret this. It sucked coming back stateside after 6 weeks of not working and being broke. But some things are worth it.
- Girls…. - I was trying to think of a witty tag line for the ladies, but pretty much every guy gets the drift from the one word ‘Girls’. I never had a girlfriend which ended up being more expensive. Between dinner dates, meeting girls at parties and bars, and general spending to show a girl a good time or impress her, I spent a lot of money on GIRLS. This one could also be a flip of the coin pro and con, but there were definitely some better financial ways I could have approached the tandem of Girls + Me.
- Reading Financial Management Books, Not Implementing – I read each and every financial book I could get my hands on. It would motivate me until the next time I went out aka 10 hours later. Let me show you how poorly I managed my money in college with some rough figures….Earned $13,000 my freshman year of college, $19,000 my sophomore year, $28,000 my junior year, and $29,000 my senior year (all gross figures). What did I leave college with? A college degree, some good times, and$3,000 in credit card debt. How’s that for financial planning?!
College was great to me in a lot of ways. I don’t regret going to college in any way. I do regret my decision making while there. I know I could have come away from college with at least $15,000 after my tuition, living expenses, and other necessities. That money would have really set me up once out of college. Luckily, I have learned from those mistakes and I wasn’t too bad off.
So, I f***** myself over in college. I am the better man today for learning from my mistakes. Hopefully, this will help you or a family member or a friend who is going to be going to or currently is in college learn from my mistakes and leave college with a degree in one hand and a hefty savings in the other.
Did you f*** yourself over in some way while in college? Share your story by clicking here to comment.
Have a good one…
Dave
LifeExcursion
Nice blog.
You had a pretty adventerous college life compared to mine, which was pretty much simple and regular.
Anyways it is a good “warning” post more the freshers.
.-= PaX´s last blog ..Inspirational Quotes – 3 =-.
Yea…Hopefully, this gets passed on to some college newbie and it saves them financially. Just one saved poor college student and I will be happy.
Thanks for commenting!!!
Dave
LifeExcursion
Nice way to warn others of what temptations there are at college to screw yourself over. My expenses weren’t as varied as yours but most of my money was wasted on food and movies. Lots and lots of eating out! Part of the eating out was also related to girls trying to impress them, etc.
.-= Gordie Rogers´s last blog ..Review: Living in Lanzarote. =-.
Food was definitely quite the expensive one. I went out to eat at sit down places with friends and $10 here and there could have easily been saved.
Thanks for the comment
Dave
LifeExcursion
Those credit card companies know exactly who to target.
In my case, they would create a booth right in front of the school giving out gifts if you signed up for a credit card.
I’m starting to move over to cash!
.-= Ken Kurosawa´s last blog ..The 7 Extraordinary Benefits of Rising Early =-.
They used to give out beer bongs at the credit card booths at my college. It was crazy.
Thanks for commenting
Dave
LifeExcursion
I guess they are mistakes a LOT of people make, I can cross a few of them off myself. I guess the important thing is that we have realized that they were mistakes, we can put them down to our naive youth and be grateful we have wizened up.
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Is Travel, Lifestyle Design A Selfish Pursuit? =-.
Hey Dan…
Hopefully, I can get the word to the younger folks and they learn from my mistakes. I would love to see them benefit rather than be put back a few steps in life. Thanks for commenting!!!
Dave
LifeExcursion
Love this! When I went into college the “fear of credit card debt” was so engrained in me from everyone older I think I had ever talked to…ever, that I refused to even consider packing plastic until I had almost graduated and my mom begged me to consider building some credit in case I wanted to get an apartment without a co-signer at some point in my life.
I perhaps could have used some financial planning in the other direction. I still didn’t come out of college particularly well of (though not in debt) and I missed out on a lot of potentially awesome opportunities because I was so terrified of debt.
.-= Kristin´s last blog ..fail with finesse =-.
It definitely is a tough line to walk Kristin. Isn’t it sad that we are forced to get credit cards so that we can get an apartment. The system can be very corrupt. Luckily for you, you survived and financially stable. Congrats! Pass this on to those who aren’t as wise as you so they too can leave college without debt
Thanks for commenting Kristin
Dave
LifeExcursion
Dave,
This is the post you have written in the time I’ve been reading your blog. I absolutely loved it because I can relate to every one of these things. Like you I worked during college and made alot of money, and spent all of it. I could have probably set aside money to pay my student loans had I been smart. I also burned through cash and made ridiculous purchases. Ironically wanting to be cool is what keeps you from being cool. Wanting to be you, is what makes you cool. Great stuff.
.-= Srinivas Rao´s last blog ..Successful positive change always starts from changing your internal reality =-.
Glad you liked Srini—
College was a rollercoaster all right. Thankfully, we both lived to tell about it. Unfortunately, there are many more people out there who aren’t. Spread the word and try to get college kids you know to read this post. It may help them before it is too late.
Dave
LifeExcursion
Sounds reminiscent of my college experience, but the killer is the student loans! In either case, we learn from our mistakes (I hope). The girls though—that’s a doozy and if you figure out how to not spend money on them and yet still be successful in life, let me know!
.-= Cody McKibben´s last blog ..Obey the Law Most of the Time =-.
The girls part Cody, I figured that being straight forward about who you are and what your goals are, they tend not to want too much. If they do, I moved on. But I don’t think I will truly understand their complexity.
Dave
LifeExcursion
I college, from 18 to 23 Life gets crazy with fast decisions and excesses of emotion.
.-= John DeFlumeri Jr´s last blog ..Hear What Congress is Up To Now! =-.
Dave,
All I can say in yes, yes, yes. I did F myself over in college – majorly. I make your “mistakes” look teeny tiny! Ugh, however I learned a lot in the process and what matters is now, right? ; )
Thanks for making me feel less alone.
-Dena
Evolution
.-= Dena´s last blog ..I Am Not Afraid to Die but I Am Afraid to Lose =-.
[...] Top 9 Ways I Messed Myself Over in College – College is tough enough. Then you have to balance the financial responsibilities of books, boredom, and beer pong. This post will, hopefully, help you from taking the wrong financial leaps in college. [...]
[...] Top 9 Ways I Messed Myself Over in College – College is tough enough. Then you have to balance the financial responsibilities of books, boredom, and beer pong. This post will, hopefully, help you from taking the wrong financial leaps in college. [...]
During college my mates make fun of me because I didn’t go out as much as them because I didn’t want to burn through my money quicker and end up using credit. I didn’t mind this because one mate went through 2 cards and needed their parents help to get money and I smiled like a Cheshire Cat because not only did I have money, I didn’t go into extra debt (except student loan which is debt but expected debt like a mortgage).
[...] here’s something refreshingly frank and honest. Dave Damron presents Top 9 Ways I F***** Myself Over in College at LifeExcursion. Learning from someone else’s mistakes is way more fun than making your [...]
[...] Do-OverDave Damron presents Top 9 Ways I F***** Myself Over in College posted at [...]