Budgeting 101 for College Students with Dr. Kelly Rush
Faith & Finance with Rob West
College students may be pros at pulling off last-minute study sessions, but when it comes to finances, cramming just doesn’t cut it. Everyone often needs a budget, and for college students, that is even more crucial. Today, Dr. Kelly Rush joins us with practical budgeting advice every college student should hear. Dr. Kelly Rush is a Professor of Finance, Department Chair, and Financial Planning Program Coordinator at Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio.
Show Notes
College students may be pros at pulling off last-minute study sessions, but when it comes to finances, cramming just doesn’t cut it.
Everyone often needs a budget, and for college students, that is even more crucial. Today, Dr. Kelly Rush joins us with practical budgeting advice every college student should hear.
Dr. Kelly Rush is a Professor of Finance, Department Chair, and Financial Planning Program Coordinator at Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio.Why Budgeting Matters More Than You Think
Proverbs 22:6 tells us to “train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” That’s not just true for spiritual instruction—it applies to money too. The habits we form in college, for better or worse, often follow us into adulthood. And if students don’t develop intentional stewardship during these formative years, they may face regrets down the road that could’ve been avoided.Most students know they shouldn’t spend recklessly, but they often don’t know where their money is going. Without a written budget or a tool to track spending, it’s easy to watch bank accounts shrink faster than expected—and not know why.Budgeting isn’t about restriction. It’s about clarity. It’s about choosing in advance how to use what God has entrusted to you. And it’s a habit that pays dividends over time.
Understanding the Time Value of Money
One of the most powerful lessons a student can learn is the time value of money. It’s often a reminder of the orderly nature of the God we serve since there’s a logic to how money grows over time. And in every financial equation, time is the most powerful variable.Scripture encourages us to think this way. Psalm 90:12 asks God to “teach us to number our days,” and Ephesians 5:15–16 tells us to For students, this means starting early: saving early, giving early, and stewarding their resources early. That’s where the real impact lies.You Might Also Like
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