The Budget Game — How Handling Event Money Teaches You Startup Finance

Every college event has that one terrifying moment — when you open the spreadsheet and realize the budget doesn’t balance.

That’s when you meet your inner finance executive.

You start estimating expenses, prioritizing needs, and making tough calls: ‘Do we really need those fancy banners?’ or ‘Can we manage refreshments cheaper?’ These aren’t small decisions — they’re lessons in resource management and financial discipline.

Raising sponsorship? That’s fundraising. Convincing a local business or college administration to support you is the same as pitching investors. Managing payments, collecting bills, and keeping track of every rupee? That’s your first real-world cash flow management.

And if you’ve ever ended an event with a small surplus, congratulations — you’ve just achieved your first profitable quarter.