No doubt you’ve had a little experience managing money at this point—and you may have been successful. But don't be surprised if all the demands and temptations of college life catch up to you and you find yourself scrambling for cash. You wouldn't be alone-the average college student graduates with $2,700 in credit card debt on top of an average of $19,000 in student loans. That's a lot of money to pay back when you're launching a new life after college.

It doesn't have to be this way. By learning financial basics in college, you can get a handle on your money now. You can learn to:

Live within a budget-and never have to call home for cash
Handle debit cards, credit cards, and checking accounts
Prevent identity theft and avoid short-term financial fixes such as pawnshops
Set goals-and save for them
Invest in your future

Once you understand the basics of financial management-and put those techniques to work-you'll be able to manage your money for life. You will not only avoid the stress of unnecessary debt, but you can learn to easily achieve financial goals, whether it's getting through the week on a paycheck, paying for spring break, or retiring early.