The ability of students to manage their academic expenses and financial stability greatly depends on their financial literacy. However, many students find budgeting and financial planning challenges, eventually stressing them out and affecting their academic performance. The study is aimed at assessing the financial problems being encountered by the Senior High School and College students at Sto. Tomas College Danao, Inc. It intends to find out their financial management strategies and how financial stress affects their education. By employing the case study research design, data were collected via structured surveys that were administered through Google Forms. The subjects were Senior High School and College students, and they provided insight into their financial problems, saving habits, and budgeting strategies. Thematic analysis was utilized to develop patterns and major themes present in student responses. The result indicates that time management is the most common strategy used by students for maintaining both financial and academic stability (24.1 percent for Senior High School students; 37.1 percent for College students). Budgeting, saving, and smart spending also topped the list. On the contrary, financial constraints like tuition fees and daily expenses hinder students' concentration and academic performance. Some take up part-time jobs while others rely on family members to support their studies. This indicates the relevancy of financial literacy programs and institutional interventions meant to help students acquire proper financial management skills. When educational institutions and equalization policies solve the financial issues affecting students, the life of the academic environment becomes more stable so that students may concentrate more on their academic efforts than on the pressure of financial burden.
