It's easy for many college students, who are being financially resoponsible for the first time in their lives, to overlook the impact that small purchases can have on a budget. Natasha Backman, a freshman at Catholic University of America, experienced this first hand throughout her first semester of college.
"Alot of people think that being irresponsible with your money means making big purchases but it's really the little decisions you make everyday that will get you." Backman said.
On average, Natasha drinks around three cups of coffee a day, and buys most of her coffee a Starbucks. By doing this she is spending almost eight dollars a day. In comparison, when you buy a refillable mug at the local gas station or mini-mart, you get 99 cent refills, which would cut costs immensely.
"When my debit card didn't go through at Target, I didn't understand where my money had gone." Backman said. "I checked my bank statement and realized that I spent a good amount of my money on coffee."
However, coffee wasn't the only small purchase that hurt her financially. Natasha confessed that the majority of her money wasn't spent on necessities but rather on going out, food that wasn't exactly on her meal plan, data plans, and clothes for a new winter wardrobe.
"I think that a poor economy translates to people second-guessing smaller purchases." Backman said. "The tighter your money situation is, the more cautious you are of where your money goes, and because of this my parents are becoming wary of how much money they put money in my account and when."
With three more years of college ahead of her, Backman plans to get a job of her own throughout semesters to come. While doing this, she hopes to become more cautious and aware of every last penny she spends.
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