Financial Advise 

Author: Kyla Lively 

In order to prepare for and anticipate future financial success, the planning process must begin now. It can be overwhelming and stressful thinking about it, but the decisions you make with your money now are essential to future finances. To make the beginning of this process easier for you, I will give you a few tips from the research I have done. One way to plan for financial success is by opening a credit card. A credit card will allow you to begin building your credit score. Having a high credit score will make it much easier to make future purchases such as a car, apartment, or house. Opening a credit card can be risky for college students. You have to make sure you are only using it for purchases you can afford, otherwise, it will not help your credit score. Another very important thing for college students to consider is loans. Most college students take out loans in order to finance their way through schooling. A lot of students do not fully understand how their specific loans affect future financing. So in order to be successful in taking out loans, you must understand the standards and logistics of the loans. This can help prevent the loans from hanging over your head as an adult. Another very important aspect of preparing for financial success is making a plan and budget for your money. This can oftentimes be very hard for college students. Making a plan for your money means setting financial goals and understanding your needs versus wants. This will help you save for future expenses. It can be hard due to the pressures of wanting to go out or grab a bite to eat, but it can make a huge difference in your bank account. I challenge you to start the process of planning for your future finances, no matter how daunting it may seem. By beginning now, you are already ahead of most college students!

Media + Entertainment Industry During Pandemic

Author: Hannah Bridges 

During the pandemic, many people relied on watching movies and TV shows through streaming platforms as a form of entertainment to pass the time while quarantining. This caused a need for many structural changes within these services as we move towards the post-pandemic life. Some of the changes that channels and streaming platforms are currently implementing is that they are focusing more on customers needs and putting more emphasis on customer engagement. Because of the large decrease in income that came along with losing jobs during the time period when everything was shut down, some customers need more price flexibility when they do have money to spend on streaming services. These platforms are also providing new service offerings because of the pandemic. An example of one of these new services is the releasing first-run movies directly into streaming platforms. Some examples of movies that were released on Disney+ Premier Access during the pandemic were Cruella and Black Widow. Another thing that many streaming services are doing is looking into partnering with internet companies to provide 5G connectivity for customers. Better connectivity will allow customers to have more watch parties, which will allow people to feel connected and in-touch with their friends and family when they have to stay at home or quarantine in the future. Things changed at a fast pace during the pandemic and are continuing to change as we move towards the post-pandemic life, and the media and entertainment industry are doing what they can to keep their customers and give them the best experience possible. 

Buying vs Leasing a Car 

Author: Sidney Roese

If you haven't already faced the challenging decisions of buying or leasing a car, you will eventually. Before making a decision with large financial implications, it can be helpful to know the differences between buying and leasing a car to see what works best for you and your situation.

One of the most appealing things about leasing to me is that you are driving essentially a brand new car every few years. Many times these cars have the latest safety features and have been maintained very well. However, driving nice cars all the time comes with a cost. You pay a certain upfront fee and then pay every month. However, these monthly payments are usually lower than paying off on a car. At the end of your lease you return the car and need to make sure that it is in its original condition. Any damages will incur costs. Additionally, you pay a larger amount at the end to return the car. Be aware, sometimes leases also have limited miles you can drive. If it goes over this mileage, you will pay extra for the overage miles.

Buying a car can seem daunting at first. It is a large payment and commitment. Each payment per month is usually higher than in a lease. Additionally, cars do depreciate in value and as time goes on, will not be the newest and coolest model. However, some of these sacrifices can have monetary benefits. While the payments may be higher each month, they are not everlasting like a lease. Furthermore, you own the car after. If there is wear and tear on the car, you don't have to pay for anything. Unlike a lease, when it comes time you are looking to eel your car, it is up to you to dispose of it. However, leases sometimes have additional costs if returned early while when you bought the car you get to pocket the cash you sell it for.

While there may not be a best option, in my opinion buying a car is a little more economically friendly. If you keep your car for a long time, it typically is more cost friendly than a habitual lease payment. However, if leasing is something you can afford it is definitely nice to have a new car every few years that is up to date with the most recent features, both with looks and safety. What's important is that you consider both your desires and your budget before jumping into either of the situations.