In this episode, Megan and Erin dive into practical financial literacy topics students need to understand before and during college. Their discussion centers on managing money in an increasingly cashless world, avoiding common student loan mistakes, and building credit responsibly.

Using real-life examples from their own families and experiences with students, they highlight how small financial decisions in college can have long-term consequences.

Key Tips & Takeaways (with Examples)

• Know what student loan money can and cannot be used for
  • Student loan funds can often cover living expenses such as rent, groceries, or transportation, and Erin notes that some students even use loan refunds to buy a car.
  • However, these choices increase total debt, and student loans cannot be discharged in bankruptcy, making overspending especially risky.
• Understand 529 plan restrictions
  • Erin explains that 529 money must be used for qualified education expenses and properly documented.
  • Using a 529 account without matching receipts can cause reimbursement problems and potential tax issues.
• Be cautious with cashless payment apps
  • Apps like Apple Pay, Venmo, and Cash App make spending feel frictionless, which can lead students to lose track of where their money is going.
  • Erin points out that these platforms may not offer the same protections as credit cards if money is sent to the wrong person or a transaction is disputed.
• Local banks still serve a purpose
  • Even in a cashless society, having a local bank can help students deposit cash, resolve account issues in person, or access short-term support.
  • Erin mentions tools like Greenlight as a way parents can help students manage spending while learning financial independence.
• Debit cards vs. credit cards
  • Debit cards pull directly from checking accounts, so overspending can immediately drain funds or trigger overdraft fees.
  • Credit cards, when used carefully, offer more fraud protection and help establish a credit history.
• Build credit with small, intentional habits
  • Erin recommends using a low-limit credit card for a recurring bill such as a streaming service or phone payment.
  • Paying that balance in full each month builds credit without encouraging unnecessary spending.
  • She shares a personal story about buying a house to illustrate how strong credit history impacts major life purchases.
• Set realistic expectations for spending money
  • Megan shares that her son spent about $12 per week while on a campus food plan, showing how limited discretionary spending can still work. (This is not typical; her daughter definitely spent more!)
  • They contrast this with examples of students overspending on food delivery services like DoorDash, emphasizing the need for clear budgeting conversations.

This episode helps families understand how everyday financial choices—payment apps, loan usage, and credit cards—can shape a student's financial future, and sets the stage for deeper conversations around responsible money management in college.

Questions?

If you have questions, feedback, or ideas for an upcomming show, we'd love to hear from you. You can email us at collegepreppodcast (at) gmail (dot) com

More about the hosts

Megan Dorsey is a parent, educator, and SAT/ACT prep expert. She graduated from Rice University and has over 25 years of experience helping students earn better scores and put together strong applications. Megan lives in Sugar Land, Texas and works with students in-person and on Zoom. You can find out more at CollegePrepResults.com.

Erin Tempest is the founder of Seattle Success Coaching where she and her team help families with a wide range of issues. Let Erin take the frustration out of learning with her academic support, exectuvie function coaching, and social/life skills packages. Her goal is to help parents get back to enjoying their kids. You can find out more at SeattleSuccessCoaching.com.