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UNSTUCK [MONEY]

Tuition 🎓,Tacos 🌮, and Truth About College Expenses 🎓

Published 6 months ago • 5 min read

Hi! 👋🏽 👋🏽

Welcome to the UNSTUCK[MONEY] newsletter!

This month, we’re digging into the real cost of college—the stuff that hits after you’ve paid tuition and thought you were done.

College isn’t just expensive—it’s a financial minefield. Once tuition’s paid, the real money drain begins. Suddenly you’re bleeding cash on “required” supplies, surprise tech fees, overpriced parking passes, and 20 cents a page to print a syllabus you didn’t even want.

This month, we’re blowing the lid off the hidden costs designed to gut your wallet—and showing you how to fight back. We’ll break down funding school when FAFSA ain’t enough, expose lease traps in private student housing, and give you the ultimate guide to reading your rental lease before it turns into a nightmare agreement. We’ll also show you how to outsmart your college meal plan, dodge quick fixes that suck you in (and wreck your financial future), and make smart moves with student credit cards that can launch you—or sink you.

Bottom line: you don’t have to accept every bogus charge or shady “student deal” thrown your way. We’re here to help you hack the system, fight back, and keep more money in your pocket—where it belongs.

Let’s break the cycle—and keep your cash where it belongs: in your hands.
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Cheers,
Kathy A. Gambrell
Founder, Urban Money Budgets

Hustle U: Funding School When FAFSA Ain’t Enough

The reality check: Federal aid might only cover a small fraction of the total cost of your college experience.

Hidden College Charges That’ll Gut Your Wallet — and How to Fight Back

College pricing is intentionally complicated. After tuition is paid comes "mandatory" charges for things you never asked for.

Your Guide to Outwitting the Campus Cash Trap

Lease Traps: Private Student Housing

Private student housing leases are contracts built to protect them, not you. Learn how to protect yourself.

Outsmart Your College Meal Plan

Universities pitch campus dining plans as a convenient, no-fuss way to guarantee your meals. Optimize your dining dollars.

Student Credit Cards Can Launch You or Sink You—Choose Wisely

Starter credit cards are engineered to make money for the bank, not for you.

Money Quick Fixes That Can Suck You In —and Destroy Your Financial Future

The constant need for money can push you toward quick financial fixes - and disaster.

Reading Your Rental Lease: Guide to Avoiding Nightmare Agreements

Some students eager to secure housing quickly, rush through the lease-signing process without fully understanding what they’re agreeing to. The consequences? Stress and money madness.

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Money 💵 MixTape📼

Where culture, creativity, and capital collide

Get Your Finances 💰 in Order with Drake’s Principles
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Manage Your College Finances Like Drake Built His Empire “Started from the bottom, now we here” isn’t just a flex — it’s a financial blueprint.

You’re not in college just to get a degree. You’re here to build your foundation. And while the hustle looks different for everyone, one truth stays the same: if you don’t get your money right now, you’ll be chasing stability for years.

So take a page from Drake’s playbook. The man turned vulnerability into power, mixtapes into millions, and heartbreak into hits. Here’s how to apply Drake’s principles to your college financial life — no ghostwriters needed.

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“Know Yourself” — Master Your Spending Habits

Drake said it best: “Know yourself, know your worth.” If you don’t know where your money’s going, you’re just vibing blind. Start tracking every dollar — tuition, late-night Uber Eats, that random hoodie you didn’t need. Not to shame yourself, but to get real. Budgeting isn’t boring when it’s about control.

Build a budget that reflects your actual lifestyle, not some Pinterest version of a college student. Be ruthless. Be honest. Be you.

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“Started from the Bottom” — Embrace the Grind

Drake didn’t wake up in a Toronto penthouse. He worked his way up, and so will you. Maybe you’ve got student loans. Maybe you’re juggling classes with two part-time jobs. That’s not failure — that’s momentum.

Use the struggle as leverage. Learn how to stretch $20 across five days. Learn to say no to stuff that costs too much and matters too little. Hustle like you’re headlining OVO Fest, even if you’re just trying to afford textbooks.

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“No New Friends” — Keep Your Inner Circle Tight (and Smart)

Drake rolls with a close crew who’ve been with him since day one. You need the same energy with your money.

That friend always trying to get you to blow your refund check on a weekend trip to Miami? Yeah, they’re not part of the vision. Surround yourself with people who respect the bag — who don’t clown you for skipping brunch because you’re saving for next semester.

Choose your circle like your credit score depends on it. Because it kinda does.

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“Take Care” — Protect Your Peace and Your Bank Account

Self-care isn’t just about bath bombs and blackout curtains. It’s about not wrecking your finances because you’re stressed.

Use your meal plan. Apply for scholarships like it’s a job. Take advantage of campus resources — free therapy, tutoring, student discounts, subsidized transit. And if you mess up? Cool. Learn. Adjust. Don’t let one overdraft spiral into chaos.

Take care, so you can keep leveling up.

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“Energy” — Put Your Effort Where It Pays

“I got enemies, got a lot of enemies…” Debt, fees, impulse spending — they’re all coming for your wallet.

Channel your energy toward what builds your future:

Learn a skill you can monetize now (graphic design, tutoring, social media, whatever).

Build credit wisely. (Yes, you need it. No, you don’t max it out.)

Invest — even if it’s just $5 a month on an app.

You don’t have to make six figures in college. You just have to move like someone who will.

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“God’s Plan” — Don’t Leave Your Financial Future to Chance

Drake didn’t blow up by winging it. There was strategy behind every step. You need a financial plan — even a messy, duct-taped one.

Know how much debt you’re taking on. Know what your post-grad income might look like. Know what happens if you don’t make changes.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being intentional. It’s God’s Plan — but you still need a budget.

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Final Word: Be the Main Character of Your Money Story

Drake turned vulnerability into dominance. He didn’t hide from the grind — he branded it. That’s what you need to do with your college finances.

No more “I’m broke” jokes while dropping $100 on fast fashion. No more letting your bank account stress you into silence.

You’re not just surviving college. You’re building an empire. One calculated move at a time.

Started from the bottom? Cool. Now act like you’re headed to the top.

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TL;DR: Drake’s Principles for Financial Power Moves​
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✓ Started from the bottom — Know your numbers

✓ Know yourself — Define your version of wealth

✓ God’s Plan” — Automate, strategize, and systemize

✓ No new friends — Audit your money circle

✓ Nice for what — Ditch performative spending

✓ Nonstop — Stay consistent and check in often

👀
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Sick of boring 🥱 advice and broken systems? So are we. UNSTUCK [MONEY] is the no-apologies newsletter for people ready to break rules, smash debt, and take control of their cash—on their own terms. Subscribe if you're done playing small.

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