Introduction

No matter how well you’ve prepared for this year, the greatest challenge that many of you will face will be financial, not academic. So, to help you out, we’ve created the Zen of Budgeting.

If Buddha had been a financial aid counselor, he would have told students that financial hardship was inherent to most grad school students and that the only way to survive would be through Fiscal Enlightenment. Nirvana would be a state of inner financial peace and contentment during the repayment period of their student loans. This could be gained by realizing the Eight Sacred Principles of Budgeting. In short, it’s accepting that your champagne desires must be postponed until you’re living on something more than a beer budget. Our goal at the Office of Student Financial Planning is to end unnecessary financial suffering, to create enlightened students who will rise above desire, and escape unnecessary borrowing. We want to help you avoid exorbitant repayments and the potential of defaulting. We’ve focused on helping you get a grip on your budgeting skills. Let’s face it; living on a shoe string budget is challenging. We could all benefit from a higher level of resources, but sometimes we have to learn to do without.