When I first got my HELB money, I honestly thought it would last the whole semester without a problem—but it was gone in less than a month. I spent on things like new clothes, unnecessary outings, and random snacks because it felt like a lot of money at once. Then reality hit: rent was due, I had no money for printing assignments, and I had to start borrowing from friends. It was a tough lesson, but it taught me to plan better. What helped was first sitting down to write all my fixed expenses: rent, utilities, and basic shopping like food, soap, and tissue. I paid these first so that I wouldn’t be tempted to use that money on other things. After covering essentials, I split what was left into a weekly budget by dividing the remaining amount by the number of weeks in the semester. I kept this money on my phone but in a separate savings pocket or mobile wallet, only moving each week’s portion into my main account every Monday. That way, I couldn’t spend it all at once. I also avoided impulse buying by carrying just enough cash for the day. It wasn’t easy at first, but once I got used to it, my money started lasting, and I stopped stressing at the end of every month. If you plan early and stay disciplined, you’ll be surprised how far your HELB can stretch.

When I first got my HELB money, I honestly thought it would last the whole semester without a problem—but it was gone in less than a month. I spent on things like new clothes, unnecessary outings, and random snacks because it felt like a lot of money at once. Then reality hit: rent was due, I had no money for printing assignments, and I had to start borrowing from friends. It was a tough lesson, but it taught me to plan better. What helped was first sitting down to write all my fixed expenses: rent, utilities, and basic shopping like food, soap, and tissue. I paid these first so that I wouldn’t be tempted to use that money on other things. After covering essentials, I split what was left into a weekly budget by dividing the remaining amount by the number of weeks in the semester. I kept this money on my phone but in a separate savings pocket or mobile wallet, only moving each week’s portion into my main account every Monday. That way, I couldn’t spend it all at once. I also avoided impulse buying by carrying just enough cash for the day. It wasn’t easy at first, but once I got used to it, my money started lasting, and I stopped stressing at the end of every month. If you plan early and stay disciplined, you’ll be surprised how far your HELB can stretch.