Sasso reflected on his own journey as a student, including a time spent on academic probation. With the support of a mentor and professors, he discovered how to learn and turned things around. Taking control of your education is similar to taking control of your finances, Sasso commented.
Emphasizing that “time is your most valuable asset,” Sasso urged students to begin managing their finances now. From understanding the difference between good loans and bad loans to recognizing that living on your own makes you an entrepreneur, the presentation encouraged students to take ownership of their financial decisions. Techniques to carry this out included budgeting, tracking expenses, reviewing bank and credit card statements, and knowing your credit score.
Participants also learned the pros and cons of credit versus debit cards, the basics of simple versus compound interest, and long-term savings strategies. One standout example demonstrated that saving as little as $85 a week between age 25 and 50, with a 9% annual return, could result in more than $1 million over time. That's savings we could all bank on!