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We are excited to announce the January 2025 Financial Goals Scholarship winner is Eden! Congratulations!
"I am honored to receive this scholarship and am so thankful for the support. This has been an incredibly motivating experience and I can’t wait to put it to good use. Thank you!!!" - Eden L.
Saving money as a student isn’t always the most exciting, but it is important for your future. Whether it’s keeping every $5 bill you come across, committing to a no-spend challenge, or asking a friend to be your accountability partner, you can find some pretty creative ways to save money while in school. In her essay, Eden shares the best savings method she has found so far.
"Let me introduce the most aesthetically pleasing, relaxing, and most of all delicious part of my night routine: packing my lunch. Although to many, it may seem like a chore or unnecessary drag, it has become an essential part of my life. One of the best purchases I have made is a simple bento box off Amazon, which made preparing food much more fun and easier to bring with me everywhere! Not only was it a great investment towards my health and of course, my financial well-being, I have significantly reduced my daily expenses.
While my friends consistently buy fast food and take out during our short lunch periods, I enjoy my lunch time with snacks, fresh fruit, and food with knowledge of everything that is going into my body. The most noticeable impact is of my wallet, as buying food at school or from nearby restaurants quickly adds up, even if each meal seems affordable on its own. A typical lunch purchase might cost anywhere from $8 to $12 per day, which, when multiplied over a week, results in $40 to $60 in expenses. Over the course of a month, that amount can reach $160 to $240—money that could be saved or put towards other needs.
Beyond the direct savings, packing my own lunch has also helped me develop better habits, which are necessary for going into college and building independence. The routine of meal prepping encourages me to plan ahead, budget for groceries efficiently, and minimize food waste. Buying ingredients in bulk allows me to stretch my budget even further, often costing only a few dollars per serving and being incredibly delicious and satisfying without needing to go anywhere. I save money by intentionally choosing to prepare for myself rather than spending impulsively on overpriced meals, gas (and saving the environment around me as well!) from driving everywhere, and consolidating it into a single grocery trip.
Overall, packing my own lunch every day has transformed into a fun aspect in my life. Utilizing items I already have has made the process much more enjoyable, and helps me look forward to this part of my day. Whether I arrange my food into neat rows, shape food into shapes or characters, or include many different colors in my meals, my lunch has become something I take pride in making.”
Established in the year 1910, 1st Financial Bank USA (1FBUSA) provides quality community banking services in South Dakota, credit card and other financial services to college students and college graduates, and construction lending to builders, developers, and investors from coast to coast. 1FBUSA will award a $2,000 scholarship to a new winner each month. View full rules and eligibility at 1fbusascholarship.com.
