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Conversation 2:

Listen to a conversation between a student and an employee at the financial services office.

Employee:Hi.How can I help you?

Student:Hi.My name is Arne.This is my first semester here and I’m hoping you might be able to help me.See…I don’t know how to put this,but I’m having some trouble managing my money.

Employee:You mean you didn’t pay your tuition bill?

Student:No.I’m okay with the big stuff.I mean,I had student loans that pay for most of the tuition.But,well,it’s the everyday things that add up.

Employee:Oh,you mean,books,food,things like that?

Student:Yeah,my parents give me an allowance for that stuff,but it’s just not enough.I’ve asked them to increase it even a little,but they think I need to learn to manage on my own.

Employee:Well,that’s a really common problem with first-year students.You’ve come to the right place.We have resources that can help.So,first question,do you have the budget worked out for your spending?

Student:No.I don’t.

Employee:Okay.I can send you a budget worksheet.It’s a computer document and it’ll help you think through what your expenses are and where you can cut costs.You’ll be surprised at how much the little things add up.You know if you spend two dollars on a cup of coffee each morning,that’s almost two hundred dollars a semester.

Student:So if I could make my own coffee,that’d be great,but I can’t since I live in the dorm.

Employee:True.But that’s just an example.I also have this other sheet with suggestions.It is just a list of money-saving ideas,like buy used books instead of new ones,and buy a bike since that’s cheaper than taking the bus or owning a car.

Student:I would love to get a bike,then I could even get a job in town.

Employee:Well,if you are thinking about a job,we do have postings for on-campus jobs as well.They are on the bulletin board outside my office.

Student:Yeah.I saw it on my way in.It’s empty.

Employee:Yes,well,the positions get filled pretty quickly,but new ones open up too.I can’t guarantee anything,but if something becomes available,that’s where you are going to find out about it.

Student:Well,if I got a iob,I would certainly have a little more spending money and that would show my parents I’m managing on my own.

Employee:But what’s your course load this semester?If you have more than four courses,you might want to work on your budget and monitor your spending rather than get a job for now.

Student:Well,I have four courses,but one is biology and there’s a three-hour lab each week so it’s really like a fifth course.

Employee:You ought to think about it then,maybe try to work on your budget and spending for a month and see how you are doing.If you are still strapped for cash but you are keeping up with all your coursework,then you could try to find a job.

Student:Yeah,and maybe by then that bulletin board won’t be empty.

o my reading assignments between customers.