Each weekend of month, fire up your computer and input these receipts. Yes, it's horrible, tedious work, but bear with it; it's one month of a little self-reflection that will free up your cash in long run.

At end of month, most people will be surprised at amount of 'convenience spending' they have made. Stopping at coffee shop on way to class every day and getting that triple-double-half-decaf sure does get you wired quickly, but price of one month of these coffees you can buy a machine at department store and a thermos. For terminally lazy most machines now even offer an automatic start function. Think how much easier that is, your coffee machine will be much more effective than that alarm clock with it's tempting snooze button.

This of course is only one example of where to put your financial weed wacker to work on convenience spending. Sneaking food into movie theatre, taking bus instead of car, vintage retro 2nd hand clothing instead of shopping mall, and buying your groceries in bulk at a warehouse store are all examples of concious convenience spending reduction.

For many students, post-secondary school day-to-say life is 'in fast lane'; stopping to thinking about shaving a few dollars here and there is not really seen as cool, after all, there is so much else to do than worry about that ever-growing credit card payment. You can always justify it with 'when i'm out of school I will get a a great job and pay these debts off in a snap'; sad reality it is 2004 and economy is in poor shape. Planning now will save you much stress later.

Just as their are firms such as H&R Block that will open up retail outlets in your neighorhood every year at tax time, there are companies that specialize in FAFSA applications. Now, as with majority of tax returns, FAFSA is anything but rocket science. It is simply a matter of making sure you know all your variables and where to write it on form. For companies who perform this work day in day out, your financial future is simply an algorithm which is input and output in moments. They typically spend more printing paper for your documents and checks then they do in any actual 'labor'.

SO, consider tackling FAFSA yourself. Just like learning to do your taxes on your own, a few hours spent researching how to do forms ONCE will enable you to conquer them next time, and you can even make money on side on campus teaching others how to complete such forms.

Here is Government's central page for FAFSA. Everything you need to know is here and studying all resources here WILL let you fill in this form without errors, and without giving your money away:

http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/2003_2004/english/general-applying.htm#renewal