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Money Monday
By Imagine Scholarships
Sherri Ross
August 25, 2025
✉️ Money Monday — August 25, 2025
💡 Don’t Just Survive Mondays. Profit From Them.
🧠 Smart Start of the Week
“Discipline buys freedom.”
When people hear the word discipline, they often think of restriction — cutting out fun, saying no, or living without. But discipline isn’t about restriction at all. It’s about building margin and freedom for your future self. Every small choice you make with discipline today becomes a gift you hand yourself tomorrow.
Financial Freedom: When you pack a lunch instead of eating out, apply for one more scholarship, or skip an impulse buy, you’re not “missing out” — you’re buying tomorrow’s options. That saved money might cover a textbook, an unexpected fee, or even let you say yes to an opportunity you wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise.
Academic Freedom: The same truth applies to schoolwork. If you front-load the semester — showing up strong in the first few weeks, tackling assignments early, and putting points on the board — you’re creating an academic cushion. Later, when life happens (because it always does), you’ll have freedom. If you get sick, have a family emergency, or just hit a rough patch, you’ll already have a solid foundation. One bad test grade won’t sink you. Missing a class won’t push you into desperation mode.
Life Freedom: This principle goes beyond money and school. In any job, project, or life challenge, the disciplined work you do early lightens your load later. Think of it like stacking bricks: one at a time, it doesn’t feel like much. But over time, you’re building a wall of strength that protects you when storms hit.
👉 For Students: Start asking yourself with each choice — Is this helping me, or just distracting me? Those answers will shape your semester and your bank account.
👉 For Parents: Model discipline in front of your student. Let them see you budgeting, saving, or saying no to something now so you can say yes to something bigger later. They’ll remember what you do more than what you say.
👉 For Educators: Remind your students that discipline is not punishment. It’s power. It’s the freedom to choose later, instead of being forced into survival mode because they ignored the basics early.
Takeaway: Discipline is not about restriction. It’s about freedom. Freedom from stress. Freedom from scrambling. Freedom to take hold of opportunities when they come. The disciplined you today is creating space for the freer, more confident you tomorrow.
🎓 Scholarship Spotlight
Make Me Laugh is a fun scholarship that lets you cut loose and lighten things up. Looking for a scholarship for comedians? Now is your chance to show us your funny bone. Perhaps you always have an embarrassing - but funny - story to share. Great! We'll promise to laugh with you, not at you.
The point is that not all scholarships have to be serious. Relax and have fun! The only thing serious about the Make Me Laugh Scholarship is the money you could win towards your college education. With $1,500 - you could be laughing your way to the bank!
Applicants must:
Submit an online written response to the question: "OMG... finding and applying for scholarships is serious business, but it's time to lighten things up a little. We don't want to know why you deserve $1,500 or how great your grades are, we simply want to LOL. Describe an incident in your life, funny or embarrassing (fact or fiction), and make us laugh!" (250 words or less)
The Make Me Laugh Scholarship deadline is August 31; the winner will be notified by email or phone on or around November 30th.
Wisdom for All:
Students → Your personality is an asset. Even a funny story can open doors if you’re willing to share it.
Parents → Encourage your student to apply, even if it seems “small.” $1,500 covers more than you think (books, fees, or a month of housing).
Educators → This is a great reminder to tell your students: not every scholarship is about GPA. Creativity counts, too.
💵 The $5 Fix
A small swap matters. If you cut one Starbucks trip this week, you can cover a whole month of ad-free music plus Apple TV+.
Wisdom for All:
Students → Budgeting isn’t about saying “no” to everything. It’s about making smart swaps that add up.
Parents → Remind your student that discipline with small amounts builds habits for big amounts later.
Educators → Use examples like this in class. It shows students financial literacy can be simple, approachable, and real.
📝 Microsoft Office 365 Education — Free
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams — all free with your .edu email. Don’t spend $150 on something you can have for zero.
Wisdom for All:
Students → Don’t waste money on things your school or student status already covers. Always ask: “Is there a student discount?”
Parents → Encourage your student to maximize free resources first. Less wasted money means more breathing room in your budget.
Educators → Make sure your students know this exists. A surprising number still pay out-of-pocket for software that should be free.
🚀 Success Shortcut
📊 Create Your Semester Budget Today
Don’t wait until the first overdraft alert or surprise expense. Take one hour before classes start to map out your budget: textbooks, tech, living costs, and even a small emergency fund.
Wisdom for All:
Students → Budgeting now buys you freedom later. Every dollar you plan has a job — and fewer dollars “wander off.”
Parents → Sit down with your student. A 30-minute money conversation at the start of the semester could save hundreds (and a lot of stress).
Educators → Encourage students to plan now. Even a rough budget is better than none — and shows them you care about their success beyond academics.
💌 Final Word
This week feels like a turning point — students stepping back into class, parents adjusting to the rhythms of school, educators preparing to give their best. Wherever you are in that journey, know this: money doesn’t have to be the enemy. With small wins (like scholarships, deals, and smart habits), you can stay ahead.
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👉 Imagine Scholarships Blog
Start strong,
—The Imagine Scholarships Team
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