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Money Monday
By Imagine Scholarships
Sherri Ross
March 31, 2025
💰 Money Monday – March 31, 2025
🎶 Hot Dogs, Sweet Caroline & One Last Push to the Finish Line
🏀 From Brackets to Bases… It’s a Whole New Ballgame
Confession time: I love March Madness. Like, really love it. I’ve visited over 100 universities, and let me tell you—every school has its own personality. Some are bold and flashy, others are quiet powerhouses. That’s probably why I’m terrible at making a basketball bracket…I always pick my favorite schools instead of the ones most likely to win. (Yes, I’m currently losing our family bracket. Badly.)
But as March winds down and baseball season starts up, I’ve realized something: finishing strong isn’t just about picking winners—it’s about sticking in the game when it counts.
That’s why this week’s Money Monday is all about the bottom of the ninth—how to rally, refocus, and round third when you’re tired, broke, or just counting down the days until summer. Whether you’re a student, a parent, or an educator—you’re still in the game.
⚾️ It’s the Bottom of the Ninth...and You’re Up!
A few years ago, I sat in Fenway Park, eating a hot dog, surrounded by the energy of a Red Sox crowd. Then it happened:
🎶 "Sweet Caroline… BAH BAH BAH!" 🎶
Everyone sang like they were part of something bigger—and in that moment, we were.
That’s the feeling I want you to carry into this final stretch of the school year:
The crowd’s still cheering. The game’s not over. You still have time to swing.
After Spring Break, many students “check out.” This is the wrong approach. Now is the time to “dig in” and finish the school year strong. Want to know how to do that? Keep reading….
🎯 Word of the Week: Grit
Courage and resolve; strength of character.
💡 Grit helps you show up when you're tired, broke, overwhelmed—or all three. And it’s what makes a strong finish possible.
Want to know more about Grit and how you can find yours? Here is another one of my favorite books.
💸 Money Moves of the Week – Winning with Your Wallet
âšľ For High School Students:
Open a student savings account if you don’t have one already. Start putting in birthday money, side hustle cash, or extra change. You’re not too young to start building good habits.
Track your spending this week. It’s like keeping a scoreboard—if you don’t know where your money’s going, you can’t win the game.
âšľ For College Students:
Cut one small expense (that extra coffee, the delivery fee, the unused subscription). Redirect it toward an emergency fund or summer plans.
Apply for a campus job or side hustle that can pay you while giving you flexibility—check out tutoring, RA positions, or online freelance gigs.
âšľ For Parents:
Have a short "money chat" with your student. Ask: Do they know how to check their bank balance? Use a budget app? These small convos are big confidence boosters.
Review your own spring budget and carve out 30 minutes to cancel or renegotiate anything you’re not using—like gym memberships, streaming, or old auto-renewals.
âšľ For Educators:
If you're getting a summer paycheck gap, start planning now: shift some of this month’s pay into savings. Even $25/week adds up by June.
Check if your school offers educator discounts on travel, insurance, or memberships. It’s amazing what perks you might be missing.
🎯Resources for the week
Check out the many resources we offer at Imagine Scholarships.
đź’ˇ Financial Tip of the Week:
Check Your April Budget Like a Baseball Roster
âś… Keep the MVPs (Rent, Food, Tuition)
đźš« Cut the benchwarmers (Streaming you forgot to cancel?)
⚠️ Watch the sneaky sabotage (Late fees, impulse buys)
👉 Every dollar should have a job—and be playing for YOUR team. Building a budget that instructs every dollar where to go is a smart idea.
🎓 Scholarship of the Week - Rare Diseases Scholarship
The EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases will provide $5,000 scholarships to 104 students in 2025.
đź“… Applications will be open through April 28, 2025.
👉 Apply Here
Imagine Scholarships’ Tip: Be sure to search for scholarships using keywords that describe you! Your hobbies, interests, career goals, extra-curricular activities and major in college are all good words to try. There are scholarships for vegans and cancer survivors and students whose lives have been affected by Alzheimer’s just to name a few. Some scholarships encourage you to write essays or create videos to apply. Keywords can be any word that could be included in the name or description of a scholarship. Brainstorm some words and see what awards you can find!
🎥 Video of the Week
How to improve your life with ONE change
I’m currently reading a great book: The Let Them Theory
Here is a video of the author, Mel Robbins, and Oprah discussing how you can improve your life with one change. This video is real, relatable encouragement for students (and adults). 👉 Watch Now - Educators and Parents, you’ll especially love this one.
👟 Need a Boost in the College Process? I’ve Got You.
Just like every school has a personality, so does every student, parent, and educator. That’s why I offer college counseling—not just to answer questions, but to walk alongside you as a guide, cheerleader, and experienced friend in the process.
Whether you're trying to figure out scholarships, applications, deadlines, or just need someone to say, “You’re doing great”—I’m here to help.
đź’¬ Quote of the Week
“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” – Babe Ruth
Forward this email to a student, parent, or educator who could use a little ninth-inning encouragement. Let’s finish strong—together.
⚾💙 “So good, so good, so good!”
See you next week!
Sherri and the Imagine Scholarships Team 💰✨
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