By: Emily Plunkett
A monthly check of $500 is not enough to get Sandra Beamish through her office administration program.
So, as a returning student attending under the Second Career government assistance program for laid-off workers, Beamish attended the second of two money and management seminars hosted by Financial Aid on Oct. 29 and got a happy surprise.
“I did not know I could apply for OSAP for extra money,” said Beamish. “With Second Career they only give you a ballpark [amount]. They don’t give you extra if you need it. With OSAP, they give you more for expenses. I struggle with what I get which is only $500 a month.”
Beamish was one of 11 students at the second of two the seminars held to provide basic budgeting skills to those looking for that extra push to guide them through the school year. It also provided information detailing what is available through Financial Aid regardless of their original financial application. Everything from bursary information to credit counselling was covered during the hour long presentation.
“We wanted to do it early enough in the semester that it was still helpful to people to get them through the academic year,” said Financial Aid officer Tim Comerford.
“From inquiries we get from students, sometimes they’ll say to us they’re not too sure about all the resources that we have here and also how to make the money last and how to do a budget properly,” said Comerford. “We get that question a lot around when bursaries come out. It’s hard for some people to do the budget for the bursary applications.”
With the additional feedback received from attendees, Comerford and the team at Financial Aid will organize additional budget and money management seminars in the future.