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Money Monday
By Imagine Scholarships
Sherri Ross
September 01, 2025
💵Money Monday — September 1, 2025 (Labor Day Edition)
Smart Start of the Week — Labor Now, Freedom Later
Happy Labor Day! While most of the country is grilling burgers and soaking up summer’s last rays, today is about honoring the value of work. Work isn’t a punishment — it’s power. Every hour you put in, every assignment you finish, every scholarship you apply for is building the freedom you’ll enjoy later.
Here’s the truth: discipline doesn’t take away your options. It multiplies them.
Students → An A+ effort in September gives you breathing room if life happens later in the semester.
Parents → Model trade-offs. Show your student that saving and sacrifice today creates margin tomorrow.
Educators → You’re the backbone of Labor Day. Your steady, daily work builds futures that last for generations.
👉 Bottom line: Whether in school, at work, or in life — the labor you commit to today is the freedom you’ll celebrate tomorrow.
Parable of the Two Workers
Two students set out to pay for college.
The first said, “I’ll wait until later to figure it out.” He coasted through the first weeks of school, skipped applying for scholarships, and told himself there was plenty of time. By the end of the semester, he was scrambling, stressed, and forced to take out loans he hadn’t planned for.
The second said, “I’ll start now, even with small steps.” She applied to a few scholarships each week, packed lunches to save $5 here and there, and kept track of her progress. By the time the bills came due, she had a cushion — her hard work early bought her freedom later.
👉 The lesson? Labor first, freedom later. The effort you put in now may not look glamorous, but it creates the margin you’ll be grateful for down the road.
🎯 Scholarship Game Plan: Week 1 — Set Your Goal
Scholarships aren’t won by chance — they’re won with a plan. Step one is knowing your goal.
Ask yourself:
How much do I need? Tuition? Books? Housing? Emergencies?
When do I need it? This semester? Next year? Across 4 years?
Why do I need it? To cut down loans? To cover rent? To create peace of mind?
💡 Once you know your number, break it into action steps:
$5,000 goal → Apply for 25 small scholarships ($200–$500).
$5,000 goal → Apply for 10 medium scholarships ($500–$1,000).
$5,000 goal → Apply for 3–5 large scholarships ($5,000+).
✨ Smartest move? Mix all three. Small awards build confidence. Medium ones stack up. Large ones give you a breakthrough.
💼 Where the Money Hides
Scholarships are everywhere:
National databases → Start with Imagine Scholarships.
Local community → Rotary, Kiwanis, foundations, churches.
Colleges → Department awards, merit scholarships, honors programs.
Employers → Many companies fund scholarships for employees’ kids.
👉 Tip: Start local + niche → fewer applicants = better odds.
🚀 This Week’s Challenge
Write down your number (how much you need).
Write down your deadline (when you need it).
Write down your why (what the money covers).
Open Imagine Scholarships and add at least 3 opportunities to your tracker. Imagine’s budgeting tool is a valuable resource, too.
🎓 Scholarship Spotlight: Direct Textbook $2,000 Scholarship
Essay Topic: Climbing a Shifting Career Ladder: What Career Success Means When AI Displaces Entry-Level Jobs
Application deadline date: September 12, 2025.
Open to currently enrolled High School Seniors, College or Postgraduate students in the US.
Apply here.
💵 The $5 Fix
💧 Bring a Water Bottle, Save $300
$2 bottled water x 3 per week = $300/year. That’s:
A semester’s worth of textbooks 📚
A flight home ✈️
Or one less part-time shift.
📝 Microsoft Office 365 Education — FREE
Word, Excel, PowerPoint — all included with your .edu email. Don’t pay $150 for something you can get for nothing.
👉 Get Office Free
🚀 Success Shortcut
🎯 Set One Labor Day Goal Today
Instead of just coasting through the holiday, pick one milestone:
Students → “Apply to 3 scholarships by Sept. 30.”
Parents → “Help my student create a semester budget.”
Educators → “Share one money-saving hack in class this week.”
Because vague dreams don’t pay tuition. Clear goals do.
We have a wonderful blog filled with golden nuggets of winning scholarships, college admissions and so much more. You can access it for free here.
Unlock your campus resources here. This resource will help you make your campus be a place of refuge, not stress.
Looking for 1x1 College Coaching? We’d love to help. Schedule a short call here and let’s discuss how we can help.
Looking for an affordable way to do college admissions? We have a group course and monthly call that people love. It’s the best bargain for your buck. Here are other options for college admissions help.
Need Scholarship Help? We’ve got you covered!
💌 Final Word
Labor Day isn’t just a holiday — it’s a reminder that work builds freedom. Whether you’re applying for scholarships, saving money, or helping others succeed, remember this: discipline today is freedom tomorrow.
✨ If you love your friends, share our blog with them today:
👉 Imagine Scholarships Blog
Work smart with us,
—The Imagine Scholarships Team
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