Chat With Nat - Dreaming of a green Christmas
Dear Nat,
Well, I officially blew it — my OSAP, that is. Christmas is coming and, after setting aside money for rent and food, my bank account has $50 in it, which is not nearly enough to cover gifts for my sisters, parents, grandparents, girlfriend and friends.
I want to ask my parents to loan me some money, just til my next installment of OSAP comes in January (yes, I know, paying a loan with a loan is bad news — it'll never happen again!). What's the best way to go about this? They've been a bit tough on me, expecting me to man up to move away for school, and it's pretty embarrassing that I've overspent this badly just three months into my semester. Help!
— $eeking $ome A$$istance
Dear $eeking $ome A$$istance,
Sounds like you need to go back to the basics and get a traditional jo- b. Bartending and waitressing are two perfect go-to jobs that provide tips on top of basic pay…but, I understand some student schedules don't allow for a job outside of school, so let's focus on some alternative routes.
Firstly, don't be overly embarrassed about overspending. Life, in general, is expensive and by the sounds of it, you've been spending your dough on basic necessities like food and rent. Although this isn't leaving you with much wiggle room, you've really done nothing wrong. Kudos for also trying to figure out your financial situation on your own rather than crawling back to your parents, but don't be overly embarrassed if, after much work, you're still feeling financially strapped and need to contact them.
But before you get any family involved, a great place to start narrowing your financial focus is to contact Fanshawe's Financial Aid department. Here, you'll get the guidance you need when needing to tighten that metaphorical belt, while also being introduced to various ways to better manage your money. A meeting with Financial Aid will also allow you make conscious decisions ahead of time to better prepare for your future. You can contact financial aid by calling 519-452-4280 or by visiting room E2020 and asking to book an appointment with a representative.
Additionally, working off-campus might not be an option for you right now, but have you ever considered working on-campus? Fanshawe's work-study program provides students with opportunities to work a maximum of 12 hours a week, with the extra perk of scheduling your shifts around your school timetable. For more information on how you can become a work-study student (just like myself), check out the job postings at Career Services (D1063) and speak to a representative about filling out the workstudy application.
Finally, I've left the point of Christmas points until last because financing gifts should be the least of your worries at this point. Families, friends and even girlfriends understand that because you're a student, money usually only flows in one direction — out of your pocket, so don't stress! There are many do-it-yourself projects that are not only a cheap alternative, but are usually held in higher sentimental value by the receiver. Scrapbooking, creating a cute video or even baking some inexpensive treats are true gifts from the heart.
If you've got a query for Quinlan, shoot her an email at chatwithnat.fsu@gmail.com. All published questions will be entered into monthly random draws to win a $10 FSU coupon for Oasis and Out Back Shack.
Well, I officially blew it — my OSAP, that is. Christmas is coming and, after setting aside money for rent and food, my bank account has $50 in it, which is not nearly enough to cover gifts for my sisters, parents, grandparents, girlfriend and friends.
I want to ask my parents to loan me some money, just til my next installment of OSAP comes in January (yes, I know, paying a loan with a loan is bad news — it'll never happen again!). What's the best way to go about this? They've been a bit tough on me, expecting me to man up to move away for school, and it's pretty embarrassing that I've overspent this badly just three months into my semester. Help!
— $eeking $ome A$$istance
Dear $eeking $ome A$$istance,
Sounds like you need to go back to the basics and get a traditional jo- b. Bartending and waitressing are two perfect go-to jobs that provide tips on top of basic pay…but, I understand some student schedules don't allow for a job outside of school, so let's focus on some alternative routes.
Firstly, don't be overly embarrassed about overspending. Life, in general, is expensive and by the sounds of it, you've been spending your dough on basic necessities like food and rent. Although this isn't leaving you with much wiggle room, you've really done nothing wrong. Kudos for also trying to figure out your financial situation on your own rather than crawling back to your parents, but don't be overly embarrassed if, after much work, you're still feeling financially strapped and need to contact them.
But before you get any family involved, a great place to start narrowing your financial focus is to contact Fanshawe's Financial Aid department. Here, you'll get the guidance you need when needing to tighten that metaphorical belt, while also being introduced to various ways to better manage your money. A meeting with Financial Aid will also allow you make conscious decisions ahead of time to better prepare for your future. You can contact financial aid by calling 519-452-4280 or by visiting room E2020 and asking to book an appointment with a representative.
Additionally, working off-campus might not be an option for you right now, but have you ever considered working on-campus? Fanshawe's work-study program provides students with opportunities to work a maximum of 12 hours a week, with the extra perk of scheduling your shifts around your school timetable. For more information on how you can become a work-study student (just like myself), check out the job postings at Career Services (D1063) and speak to a representative about filling out the workstudy application.
Finally, I've left the point of Christmas points until last because financing gifts should be the least of your worries at this point. Families, friends and even girlfriends understand that because you're a student, money usually only flows in one direction — out of your pocket, so don't stress! There are many do-it-yourself projects that are not only a cheap alternative, but are usually held in higher sentimental value by the receiver. Scrapbooking, creating a cute video or even baking some inexpensive treats are true gifts from the heart.
If you've got a query for Quinlan, shoot her an email at chatwithnat.fsu@gmail.com. All published questions will be entered into monthly random draws to win a $10 FSU coupon for Oasis and Out Back Shack.
