With the FAFSA deadline recently passed and tax season in full swing, many students cannot help but see dollar signs. While budgeting may not be considered a fun way to spend free time, it is certainly an important component to managing debt. Common sensibilities include living within your means and living like a student now so that upon graduation you will not have to do so. However, sometimes those notions aren’t enough. With regard to financial concerns I ask the following questions on how each of you are managing debt:
-What budgeting tools do you use on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis?
-Do you utilize a financial planner, CPA or other outside resource?
-What method, if any do you use for tracking monthly expenses?
-What effects have budgeting had your life both in and outside of school?

For this quarter I ask that each of you answer these questions and share any advice. Your learning experiences from financial endeavors are much appreciated and since hindsight is 20/20 please include methods you recommend for the future to keep fellow veterinary students on the budget track.

On a side note, the AVMA recommends websites like mint.com and BudgetPulse.com to help manage finances. For more information please visit http://www.avma.org/savma/student_financial_resources/managing-your-fina...