With a budget, college students can more effectively manage their money to save big bucks and avoid being broke. With the fall semester underway, many navigate a new campus environment, a part of social circles and living independently.

1. Make a budget

Create a list of monthly income sources, include savings, wages and guardian allowances. Write an estimation of expenses for the month. Take costs of school supplies, food outside a meal plan, personal care items and free time expenses into account.

Try keeping track of those numbers. The more realistic you are, the more likely you’ll stick your budget plan.

2. Separate needs from wants

If money’s tight, differentiating between “needs” and “wants” can help you stay within budget.

Actively ask yourself if you really “need” something or just want to have it. and be able to say you do.

Needs come first, and if and when there’s money left over, spend a portion on wants—prioritize.

3. Be realistic, get it together.

As a student on a limited budget, affording some of those wants may not be in the cards all the time. An occasional movie and $1 drafts on Thursday night to start of the weekend with friends are probably acceptable entertainment expenses.

You’re in college. Realize that buying one thing means you can’t buy something else. Allow necessities to take the lead.

4. Swipe credit for emergencies only

Give yourself a daily, weekly or monthly allotment of cash. Avoid swiping your credit card and use cash. Try using cash for smaller purchases and credit cards for larger purchases that call for emergencies. Consider an emergency swipe as replacing a flat tire. Credit card debt isn’t pretty on paper—use it with caution.

5. Keep, organize all bills and receipts

Keep track all bills and receipts from expenses by categories such as; rent, groceries, gas, loans, etc. This makes its easy to settle disputes on tracking your spending history aside from downloading your baking apps.  Organizing bills and receipts as you go also helps to file taxes at the end of the year.

6. Pat yourself on the back

It’s important to include yourself on your own payroll.

Each month, set aside some money that you put into a savings account to reward yourself with something fun.