10 Financial Tips for Art School Students
Everything I’ve learned as a financial coach and recent graduate of art college
I first started to take my finances seriously as a sophomore in art college. I had spent my first year decimating my savings account, going out to eat, shopping, buying groceries, and of course, spending on the biggest expense: art supplies. Despite working a part-time job during the school year, I entered my second year with barely anything left.
And then things got worse.
One morning, I woke up with a sharp pain in my jaw. A visit to the dentist confirmed I needed a root canal. The pain was awful, but the real pain came when I got the bill.
It was over $4,000.
As you can imagine, I didn’t have that kind of money. I literally cried myself to sleep every night for a week.
At one point, my checking account was overdrawn $500.
But that moment, awful as it was, was the wake-up call I needed. It forced me to finally take my finances seriously.
I started watching YouTube videos and reading books, and I quickly realized financial literacy wasn’t just about managing money, it was about taking control of my future. Before I knew it, I was studying for the Uniform Investment Adviser Law Exam (Series 65) and being invited to teach personal finance at the college level.
I will graduate this May, so in truth, it hasn’t been that long since I started learning about money.
Which is exactly why I believe you can, too. If I could go from financial rock bottom, not knowing the difference between a debit card and a bank account, to getting paid to talk about money in just two and a half years, you can definitely learn enough to manage your finances in even less time.
Here are my 10 biggest lessons about managing money as a full-time student:
1. Awareness is the first step in taking action
Start with a simple budget. Track what’s coming in (loans, grants, part-time jobs, support from family) and what’s going out (rent, food, tuition, subscriptions, etc.). Awareness is power and the first step in taking action.
2. A budget is not a punishment for being poor
I will die on this hill: a budget is not a restriction, it’s a plan. I prefer to call it a spending plan because it puts you in control. It helps you see where your money is going and ensures your resources are aligned with your priorities.
Quick tip: Take advantage of student discounts. They’re everywhere, Spotify, Adobe, museums, Amtrak, even some grocery stores. Always ask.
3. Belief drives success
Stop telling yourself you’re “bad with money” or an “overspender.” That kind of self-talk only makes you feel bad. If you believe financial success is out of reach, it likely will be. Belief isn’t everything, but it opens the door to the actions that make change possible.
4. Skills compound faster than money
College students often face the tough choice between working a part-time job, taking unpaid internships, or focusing on school. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but think long-term.
Working a job unrelated to your field (like waiting tables) might help you save money early on, so you can afford to take an unpaid internship later that moves you closer to your career goals.
But, beware of burnout: If you're studying animation and also working in animation 60 hours a week, it can drain your creative energy. The skills you build, whether in a job or internship, are assets that can’t be taken from you and aren’t affected by things like inflation.
5. Organize your priorities
Try everything, but start to distinguish wants from needs. Eating is a need. Ordering Uber Eats every night? Probably a want. Learn to pause and assess what truly matters so you can keep your money aligned with your values.
6. Invest in yourself more than the average person
I’m not here to give you a TED Talk, but hear me out: the more self-aware you are, the better you’ll manage your money. When I began to examine all of my habits, why I avoided hard conversations, why I couldn’t bear to look at a scale, or why I dreaded checking my bank account, I realized how much my emotions and trauma were tied to my relationship with money. The thing we often get wrong about money is thinking it’s just about money. Invest in getting to know yourself, reflecting on your past and present.
The more we understand the ways we hold ourselves back, the more power we have to change it.
7. Understand your loans before you sign
It’s disturbingly, disgustingly, frustratingly easy to take out tens of thousands of dollars in student loans with the only requirement being just one brief online counseling session. The system is flawed and often predatory, so protect yourself. Know what you’re signing. Ask: What’s the interest rate? How much will this loan actually cost over time?
Quick tip: Applying to scholarships can definitely feel like a waste of time, but it adds up. My sophomore year, I was rejected from around 50 scholarships. Junior year, I kept at it, and earned nearly $25,000 in outside scholarships. Consistency pays off. What I did was make a list of the scholarships you're eligible for, then plug deadlines and links into a Google Calendar to stay on top of them.
8. Focus on what you can control
It’s easy to feel discouraged by systemic injustice or economic inequality. And yes, those things are real. But when we put all our focus on what’s broken in the system, it can start to feel like there’s no point in trying. Don’t lose sight of your individual agency. You’re not powerless. Using your voice and taking small steps toward financial stability in your own life is an act of resilience.
9. Use credit wisely
A student credit card or secured card can be a great way to build your credit history, but only if used responsibly. Don’t spend what you don’t have, and always pay off your balance in full each month. Think of credit like fire: useful, but dangerous if mishandled.
10. Learn learn learn
There’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all financial advice. Learn from many sources. The more you know, the harder it is to be manipulated or misled.
My first exposure to financial education was from crypto bros on Instagram.
Let’s just say... a few Google searches would’ve saved me a lot of time, money, and confusion.