More Feature Articles
January 2010
-Creature-Focused Careers
-Former Members Reflect: Dr. Dwight Armstrong
-Levy Randolph
-Safety on Speed Dial
-Preserving Their Culture
-Off and Away
November 2009
-Former Members Reflect: Emilie Bocker
-Turn That Down!
-Car Smarts
-So Much Cooler Online
-Laila Hajji
-The Water Way
-A Greater Cause
June 2009
-Stretch Your Summer Income
-Riley Branch
-Turn That Down
-Behind-The-Scenes Star
May 2009
-Welcoming Women
-Regina Holliday
-Job Interview Jitters
-So Much Cooler Online
-Questioning Your College Choices?
-A Can-Do Attitude
-Former Members Reflect: Michele Payn-Knoper
April 2009
-Hannah Crossen
-Cowboy Book With a Cause
-From FFA to 33Miles
-There’s Cash in Your Future
-I’m Angry…Now What?
-For the Love of Landscaping
-Perfect Balance
-Gardening For A Cause
February 2009
-Blue-Ribbon Banjo Player
-FFA as an Art Form
-Wild About Animals
-Nessie Early
-Be a PAL
-Full Throttle
-Living to Serve
-Special Invitation
January 2009
-All About National FFA Week
-Paul Moya
-Justin Floyd
-Partners for the Planet
-Finding Balance
-Swimming in Aquaculture
-Breaking Records
-Take It Slow
December 2008
-National FFA convention to rotate homes
November 2008
-Dr. Al Snyder
-Scholarship Secrets
-Gear Up for National FFA Week
-Kari Boettcher
-Resist Peer Pressure
-Good to the Last Crop
-All Creatures, Great and Small
-Sparking Interest
September 2008
-Agriculture Accuracy
-Crissa Fruechte
-Brady Revels
-Get Up!
-Proceed With Caution
-All in Good Taste
-Clutch Performance
-Step Right Up
July 2008
-Take It to a New Level
-Deep-Rooted Interest
-Take a Deep Breath
-Tyler Tenbarge
-Inspired by FFA
-On the Right Track
May 2008
-In the Vault
-Your Money: Keeping Records
-National Officer Q&A
-We’re All Unique
-Best in Show
-Grab Life by the Reins
March 2008
-Call to Order!
-Reality Check
-Turtle Power
-By the Numbers
-Dale Darling
-A Token of Appreciation
-National Officer Q&A
January 2008
-National Officer Q&A
-Back Talk: Paul McCutchan
-Building Bright Futures
November 2007
-National Officer Q&A
-Back Talk: Corey Flournoy
-Biofuels Mean Business
-Go, Team, Go
-A Tractor Tradition
October 2007
-National Officer Q&A
-Back Talk: Kristie VerMulm
-Give them an A+
-Cranberry Crazy
-Racing to Indy
Contact Us
Let us know your thoughts on the new FFA New Horizons online.
Site Sponsor
On the Right Track
Start getting your finances in order
July 2008
As you near the end of your high school career, you’ll probably start preparing for college by visiting campuses, paying close attention to your grade-point average and shopping for all the things that will make your dorm room feel like home. While you’re at it, it’s a great idea to start getting your finances in order, too.
The earlier you start being financially responsible, the better chance you’ll have for a future that’s free from financial worries.
If you’re not in the habit of budgeting your money, that’s a good and logical place to start.
“Start making a habit of doing a budget now. A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went,” says Dave Ramsey, radio talk show host and best-selling author of The Total Money Makeover. “You don’t have to start with the perfect month. Start where you are. Write down what you will have this month in income and expenses. Spend all your income on paper before the month begins. Do it all on purpose, on paper. Then you’ll have a game plan.”
Here are some other things you can do to put yourself on the right financial track:
1. Apply for grants.
Try to avoid student loans and credit cards.
“The average college graduate in 2002 graduated with over $17,000 in student loans,” Ramsey says. “Add another $6,000 in credit card debt for the average student, and the typical graduate walks across the platform with $23,000 in debt before they get their first job. That’s a terrible way to begin a career.”
2. Choose a good bank.
Watch out for hidden ATM and monthly fees, and be sure to choose a bank that offers free checking with no minimum balance. It’s also a good idea to choose a bank that’s accessible anywhere, especially if you’re going to college away from home.
3. WORK ON CAMPUS.
“If you need to, attend an affordable local college first to get your first couple years of required classes over with,” Ramsey suggests. “Then transfer to the school of your dreams.”
Many schools even offer work-study programs that allow you to work on campus to help offset the cost of your tuition.
4. Watch credit cards.
Companies often visit college campuses and bribe cash-strapped students to sign up with free T-shirts and Frisbees. But what you get with those freebies are sky-high interest rates that can cause you to pay nearly twice as much for purchases made on credit cards unless you pay your balance in full every month.
5. Get real.
Understand that you can’t have everything you want. Make wise choices about how to spend your money, and know there are consequences for poor spending habits. If you buy that CD or new outfit today, you might not have the cash to go to the movies with friends tonight.
Photography by Jeff Adkins
Recent Comments
Only members can view user comments.
Are you a member? If so, please log-in.
Not a member? Please register.
Have you forgotten your password?
The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Visit ffa.org
© Copyright 2008 by The National FFA Organization and Journal Communications Inc.
All rights reserved. No portion of this Web site may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.