(updated, June 2012:) Now that I have graduated from being a broke-ass student, please click the following link for further financial adventures at my new home: Broke-Ass Mommy
In our time, the curse is monetary illiteracy, just as inability to read plain print was the curse of earlier centuries. – Ezra Pound
Contact
Email Address: Jennifer580@gmail.com
About Me
Thanks for visiting my little cranny on the web.
Just a twenty-something from western New York who found herself drowning in a butt load of debt two years ago and, after observing numerous folks trapped in similar situations, realized how a huge void existed when it came to financial awareness and education. Personal finances, investing and debt continue to be excruciatingly painful for many young people and nearly every aspect of our life is affected by these issues.
Broke-Ass Student is an empowering way for me to grasp my own financial complications while bringing others along on the journey with me. You can learn a bit more about my story here: By Taking Control of My Finances, I Took Back Control Of My Life.
~¤~¤~
Troubling I sit, day and night. My friends are astonished at me: They forgive my wanderings. I rest not from my great task: To open the eternal worlds! To open the immortal eyes of man inward: into the worlds of thought: into eternity. Ever expanding in the bosom of God, the human imagination. - William Blake
Please note, this site is merely a hobby to chronicle my own personal journey and share my meager knowledge with others. If you want solid financial advice, seek a trained financial advisor.
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Stumbled upon your website when checking up at cheapskate monthly to read the newer “everyday cheapskate” articles. I’m glad to see you interested in being financially responsible at your age. I started investing and saving as soon as I graduated High School and got my first job. The 50-bucks-per month mutual fund is now at over $8000. I’m now just over 30 and have a positive net worth, though my husband and I have modest salaries and live in a more-than-modest neighborhood. It IS all about the choices. Thank you for the info on iGObanking, I will probably use it, once I do a little more research. A good source of information for both financial and spiritual use is Crown Financial Ministries (www.crown.org). I am a huge fan of their “being a good steward” approach. I am a Christian, and do believe that God gives me my income to be responsible for. I listen to their “money matters” mp3 archives and read the free articles. They have books, but I have yet to purchase any. Thought I would trade good info for good info. Thanks again.
I’ve always enjoyed reading your website. It offers great info and insight into the every day financial obstacles we all face. Thanks for the delightful reading!
We got quite a compliment from John Chow yesterday! Congrats on the mention and link!!
your cats are cute.
I love cats. Are your ones tabbies?
Hello!
I just stumbled across your site. I wish you all the best in your quest for financial freedom.
I know that you are gonna make it!
Regards,
René
ProBloggerWorld
Hi!
I also stumbled across your site. Very nice blog. How did you first get interested in financial matters?
Keep up the good work!
Sue
http://curiositesdujour.blogspot.com/
Jennifer rules! She’s a very talented writer covering a topic of paramount importance. Her site should be mandatory reading for college students, who are typically clueless on matters of personal finance….
Your blog is really great. I found it today through pfblogs.org and started reading it from the beginning. I’m not through yet, but I will:) Keep up the good work! Your posts are very interesting and well written.
Good luck with your blog and your studies, Jennifer!
Just felt like giving you a smile…
=D
Like others, I stumbled upon your site and found it nicely informative in an easy-to-read kind of way. I was pleasantly surprised to discover it was run by someone relatively young, female and attractive. I doubt most others in your demographic would be interested in financial management. I thought however, the overuse of adverts on your pages was a big detractor, especially for someone who eschews
meditation and transcendence. Even if that person is broke-ass.
Hi Jennifer,
Just a quick note to say thanks for taking the time to enter my blog giveaway!
I hope all’s well with you.
3 words: your the shit.
Like the blog name, like the cats
Will drop by again 
Great advise!
Hi jennifer,
I like those cats. I have sent you a mail regarding blog review. Please check it and let me know your feedback on it.
Thanks,
Liza
i really like ur site. it’s very handy. especially the beauty tips and of course, the money matters…
i just want u to know, you’re inspiring here a shy yet an ambitious creature..
p.s. i love the cat.^_^
Love your site and simple yet effective beauty tips…you certainly seem to be in control of your destiny..well done
xox
Thoughtful and reflective!
Nicely done.
KR
I really like your blog! Cute cats as well.
Hi, I am a broke-ass student as well and your blog has been really inspirational to follow. I look forward to seeing your progress at meeting your financial goal. I have student loan debt to overcome as well, but I am trying an experiment similar to yours.
Hey there, I know what it feels like to be broke-ass:). I’ve just turned 30 but am still a full-time graduate student so I don’t have a “real” job and basically spend most of my time studying, writing, etc. in front of a computer somewhere. I’ve got over 30 grand in student loans (pretty good, for where I’m at, actually) and don’t have a steady source of income in the summer. But I’m super interested in investing and trying to at least get ahead that way until I graduate and can start teaching or whatever else I’ll be doing. Feel free to stop by my blog and say hi, or just to talk about investing ideas if you want. I look forward to reading more on your blog.
Are you Kiddin me? You are Wonderful. I wish I had my head together like you, when I was your age. I am 47 now, even though I have overcome some serious challenges, Ghetto attitude, drug and alcohol addictions, My new challenge is Financial Freedom. Yeah, I got sober, but sobriety didn’t come with instructions for finances, amongst many other things. Like, being a parent, husband and human.
My broke ass, ass is really working hard to do as your doing. I thank you for setting a great example not only for myself but as soon as I read your blog I showed it to my teenage daughter that is also attending college. She showed some interest..Finally So thanks.. You’re bookmarked!
Good luck, No, no it has nothing to do with luck. I know if you want to predict the future you have to create it yourself. You are well on the way to Financial Freedom..
So Good Fortune…
Peace, Love, Health, Happiness and Massive Success…
JosephDiego
I am so happy that you are blogging about financial literacy and the joys of paying down debt. More and more individuals need to learn about their personal finances – education is key! We must become financially literate or we will be a broke-ass country forever…I’ll be back…I promise
update your picture..
Looks like you have a fantastic site. Wish I had as good a head start as you do. My wife and I started looking at our situation seriously after she had kids and quit her job, though not seriously enough. I got laid off a little over a year ago and that’s when I started to *REALLY* look at my finances.
I’ve spent the past year focusing hard on my financial situation and I’ve got a good start digging my family out of debt (but I have a long way to go). If I had the start you do, I’d be sitting pretty now!
It’s a journey you really can’t undertake until you are serious and truly want to take control. But I just keep thinking about how much less I’ll have to worry about money when I have my debts paid off. Just 2 more months to go (barring emergencies) and the cards are done. Then I start in on my massive school loans… then the mortgage. Bah, so far to go, but the finish line is so appealing!
I just started a blog to help motivate myself and hopefully help some others out in the process. Good to see your blog here and to know there are a lot of people facing the same battle. Keep up the fight!
Matt
http://www.dollartamer.com/
I’m curious? I know that there is 30gm in 1 ounce, that 1 inch = 2.54 cm, and that there are 4 quarts in a gallon, but I’m not sure how many dollars there are in a butt load.
Do you know that calculation?
WOW! Jennifer I must say I am very impressed with your site. Not only can you write but you are gorgeous (completely assuming that is you in the picture), love cats, and have a sense of humor! Why can’t there be more girls like you in Texas. I am currently a student at Texas Tech and I too have started a blog with friends. Check it out and let me know what you think. Your input would be highly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Alex
http://www.kegofwisdom.com
Hey There!
Stumbled across your site one day a few months ago and have been checking in periodically… I love it! Great advice and info tidbits that all of are in desperate need of these days. I’m a recent grad, broke, and just recently decided to take hold of my financial situation by getting into making money on the internet, which is how I found your site. A few months ago I was just beginning to get an self-education in Internet Marketing and now I’m getting ready to launch a site of my own as an affiliate. I decided to keep a blog of my progress(below), feel free to check it out sometime! In the mean time, keep up the good work, I love your stuff!
Hi there.
Nice Blog you got yourself there..
Hey by the way, you look like someone I know. And her name is Jennifer lynn.. Are you her?
I don’t know, Mustafa. Maybe I am! ;D
your start of reading in the right way , i hope you to be a famous writer , your story is very nice.
regards
osama
yea, i just subscribed and put a bookmark on my firefox ^..^, you’re awesome and love the advice and info. VERY useful lol, and im sure to be promoting you all over facebook now LOL, i got a couple friends that can use this info…
-blessings
Thanks for all the information you’ve written on your site. Very helpful.
Again, thank you.
This website is great. You have great tips and you seem so genuine! I really enjoy it.
I think that your web site is great in battling the sleazy debt collectors. I have one collector who is trying to make-up a story regarding my attorney who sent them a letter stopping them to collect this debt. The debt was paid off many years ago and a company named Asset Management is trying to play a number on my relatives and friends to collect a debt. They make up stories and lies are in total deceit.
I will use your letter immediatedly in order to get this matter resolved. thanks for your help, Cameron D.
Found your site last night and have been reading for a while. Easy to follow along with your writing. With writing as well as you do there’s always little ways to earn doing small things here and there. They can definitely add up. I make my car payments with about 1hr/week online in my spare time. I’m sure you could easily do much more.
Here I am, 32 years old, and just figuring this out. What an awesome woman you are. Am so impressed with your blog!
Great site! I agree with you that there should be more emphasis on financial literacy especially in high school.
Hi Jennifer..
Is it your own picture? looking so nice
I’m Dudi from Indonesia and this is my first blog walking. Honestly, I’m learning to write in English with make a blog. I hope that I can find more friends from all over country..
Nice to know you with your great blog.. see you
I hope your investing money in a retirement account girl! Listen to Suze Orman OK! Get all her shows for free on apple itunes. If no iPod, watch via iTunes on computer. I was in your same boat. Now I am jet skiing away from that boat. Uh-oh, WATCH OUT…a dolphin. “WACK”!
Browsing the net this morning and came across your “little cranny on the web” – I think it’s a great little cranny!
Anyways, I know what you mean, several years back I was in similar situation. Thinking back, I almost can’t believe how little students (high school or college) get taught about finances. Yea, we were taught how to balance a check-book or even carry a ledger, but the day to day financial/debt info wasn’t taught, or at least not to me.
Early on, getting credit card approvals and personal loans at the drop of a hat was great, it seemed like easy money, but the vicious cycle got to be to much… When I had enough, I literally read every single book about credit/finances I could get my hands on, including just about all the credit laws. It was a tough road to get back to even, but eventually I did.
Since that time (not long ago), I decided to do my small part to help anyone interested in credit/finances. I threw up a couple credit sites with no gimmicks, no sales pitches, nothing to buy, just helpful info. The site I posted on here, I recently published just a month ago or so. I haven’t come across one like it and really think it can benefit people as more and more visit it/submit info. My whole idea is putting a couple sites together with the information I couldn’t easily find when I needed it. The few reviews/comments I received have really been a spark in my life. I really enjoy the idea of possibly, just possibly helping someone from the mistakes I made.
Your site does just that! Your articles/blogs will serve as a guide and a warning about debt as different folks come across it. I wish you the best of luck with it and congrats on a well written, great content site!
I have to say im liking the picture. ;o)
I was scanning the web for articles in 2009 from news agencies who showed skepticism or critical thinking in regards to the appointment of Timothy Geithner by Obama. The only one I seem to have found so far is the cartoon re-printed in this blog.
It’s interesting that a cute young woman in a hoodie knew that this was a bad idea but no one in power did.
It’s kinda funny how I found my way to this “crannie” on the web, searching for a way on how to improve my kick flip, which turned into searching for people falling and failing. Nevermind that, this site truly is a pelthora of knowledge, I may only be 18 but I’ve found this site useful beyond imaginable. Though I don’t worry about financial literacy and dependence (for obvious reasons) all the time, I do believe once I’m on my own and on a military salary i’ll be coming back here sooner than expected. Jen (if you don’t mind me calling you that) the things both realisticly useful, and mental thoughtful are truly helpful, I’m glad I can say I’ve read this blog and taken something away from it. As my former teacher says Stay Positive and Thank You.
(Also if you see a really long black haired guy, running around doing parkour in NYC, tell him I said hi, and hopeful its not the wrong guy)
Hello,
I am Valentina, a member of some financial communities. I have found your site (brokeass-student.com) in Google while searching and I found the articles really worth reading. The quality of your content is so good, that it made me request you something. I love to write financial articles and would like to contribute something for your site absolutely free of cost. I can give you an original guest post and if you want, you can suggest me the topic also and I will write accordingly. Not only that, I will give you the total rights to edit the article and modify it as per your needs.
Please let me know your thoughts. Waiting for your positive reply.
If you have any questions or need anything feel free to contact me at : valentina3633[at]gmail[.]com
Thanks and Regards,
Valentina Allison
I would like to thank you for you help
*****
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