Working Over Spring Break

How much money should you borrow in student loans when attending college? You should only borrow what you need. Borrowing too much could put your financial future in jeopardy.

But how much do you really need?

The answer to that question depends on how you choose to spend your money. If, for example, you choose to use loan money to pay for extras like a spring break trip, is that really necessary?

So, if you're not going to use loan funds for spring break, is working instead worth it?

The specific answer depends on several circumstances, but the average savings could be in the thousands of dollars. Here's a breakdown.

Assume you make $9 an hour and work eight hours a day for six days of a nine-day break. Your after-tax earnings with a 15% tax rate would be $367.

Add to that your savings for not traveling to a typical spring break destination, which could be over $1,000.

If you don't have a job that offers hours during spring break, prepare with these ideas for finding a college job and acing the interview.