La Crosse, WI (WXOW)-- Brittiany Morse is a junior at UW-L and is starting to think about her financial future.
"I have a lot of student loan debt and I've been working with my parents to try and figure out loan payments," Morse said. "I kind of didn't realize how much loan debt I have. I'm just like 'Oh I'll just take these loans and I'll worry about it later.' And it kind of scared me to see how much I have and learn about stuff that I could have done and saving earlier in life."
Now, Morse is more cautious about her spending habits and is working to educate others about financial planning.
"Actually laying out how much you spend on like eating out for a week, and that's kind of helped me decide I need to cut down on that area," Morse said.
And UW-L is working to get more students thinking like Morse and this week is putting on financial literacy week.
"The goal is to educate students about their finances," said Shane Van Dalsem, an Associate Professor of Finance. "And to get them involved and active in managing their finances."
As part of financial literacy week, there's a cash cab driving around campus. So students can get a ride to class and on their way, they'll be asked questions about how to manage their money.
"I pick up students and we're going to ask them financial questions and for every question they get right, they get a dollar," Morse said.
That fake money students win in the cash cart can be used to earn prizes at the financial aid week game night.
And while students need to be cautious about their spending, one finance professor says they also need to be willing to invest in their education.
"Don't take out debt that you don't need, but it's ok to take out some school loans," Van Dalsem said.
