Hi, I'm Erick Jones, director of the Student Money Management Center at the University of North Georgia.
A lot of people are feeling financially stressed right now and I wanted to take a few minutes to address some common questions that students have had.
So what should you do if you can't pay your bills on time?
If you're struggling to meet your due dates, you should try to get ahead of the problem. Call your landlord, bank, or service provider and inform them of your situation. Many of them already have a process set up that may allow for payment plans, waive late fees, or even the possibility to skip a month.
You won't be able to take advantage of many of these options if you miss your payment dates, so be proactive.
What can I do to save money now?
Stop paying for things you don't need. You don't need Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Spotify, and Pandora. Choose one. Cut the rest off for now. Many of these plans have multiple log ins, so share with your family if you can.
Make a budget. Review your spending and come up with a plan that addresses your needs and helps cut out the things that you don't. It's amazing what you'll find if you simply look at your bank account on a regular basis.
Can UNG help me financially?
Yes, the university has limited funding available to help students who are having trouble making ends meet. These will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis. Please don't request funds if you have federal loans available, or if you have other ways to meet your obligations as we are reserving these emergency funds for students who are out of other options.
If you previously declined your federal loans, you can request that they be reissued by emailing Financial Aid at FINAID@ung.edu.
Those wishing to apply for emergency funding should email the Student Money Management Center at SMMC@ung.edu.
Times are pretty tough right now, but they won't last forever. By working as a community, we can help each other get through it together.