Money, Money, Money February 4, 2009
Posted by Marina in : General, Informational Events , trackbackHow to live on a College Students Budget
With the economy worsening every day, I hear people talking about money problems more often. Every time I go home, I hear about budgeting and money and how much I really am spending. So I decided to take my knowledge and write a blog on how to make a little go a long, long way.
It is obvious that being a student here at Stevenson costs a lot of money. We pay a lot of money to go here, so we should take advantage of the things Stevenson has to offer (for our money).
Food
Your parents spend a hefty chunk of change on a meal plan that will feed a student for a year plus flex dollars that provide money for extra things such as snacks. Utilize this! There is no need to go out to dinner with your friends every day, or even every week. Try to limit the amount of money you spend on extra food for the room. Like I said, food is available to you all the time through your meal plan – so who needs a ton extra in their room? A good tip if you have good roommates is to find out what you all eat/drink in common, and then share the responsibility of replenishing these items. It will save you money in the long run! The best thing you can do – Use your meal plan!
Room Supplies
You need to keep your room clean. No one wants to live with pigs. Everyone should take turns cleaning, which means everyone should contribute something when it comes to cleaning supplies. This also goes for items such as paper towels and toilet paper. Also – sharing is caring, so help each other out. J
Shopping
I know this may sound crazy from someone obsessed with shopping, but you do not need to go shopping. For real. Only buy the things you need. And trust me; you don’t need that new coach purse or those seven jeans. Sometimes it’s okay to go buy something new for yourself – everyone wants to feel good. But obsessive shopping and blowing your money could result in a financial tight hold – and that’s no fun for anybody.
Gas
Don’t waste money on pointless trips. If it’s one thing I have learned this year, it’s don’t waste gas on going home if you don’t need to go home. Now, of course I live over an hour away – but you get the point. Also, don’t constantly drive to and from both campuses. Those miles really add up. Use the shuttle. Yes, it can get a little crammed and it doesn’t exactly fit point blank to your schedule – but it does save money (and your car mileage). If you feel as if you can’t ride the shuttle - car pull. And if you are close to someone who lives near you – car pull! Saving money will help you in the long run… and your car.
School Supplies
There’s no need to buy all new school supplies every single year. Reuse the supplies you already have. For example, I tape colored post it’s to the front of my notebooks and label them. And then the next year, I just change post its! See Dad, I can be thrifty! And when it comes to books, well, see my other blog on ways to buy books cheap J.
Entertainment
Why do you need to go to the club or the movies and waste money? Stevenson offers free entertainment year round! For example, last night I went and saw Venice Maki play the guitar and sing while I was eating at Pandini’s. Free music? I’m there. Not to mention, events hosted by various student organizations such as MAP and ResLife are going on all the time! In the fall and spring the theatre productions go on. And who can forget the sports? There’s at least a game a week! Not a social butterfly? That’s ok. There are so many clubs that you can join here at SU that will keep you busy all year round. Clubs aren’t for you? Well, me and my girls have a night a week where we watch our favorite shows together and play board games. J
So next time you are digging in the bottom of your purse for change, just think about all the things you can do to save money. Plus, the more you save – the more you have!!
Comments»
my love,
you are so incredibly smart! i love you so much. im so happy that god put you and i together! because you are the very best thing to ever come into my life, and i mean that with all of my heart. im so happy that one of the two of us got the smarts, that way our kids dont end up dumber than a box of rocks. i love you so very much.
keep up the great work! im so so so very proud of you my lady!!
love always,
fiance pook
ps i love you.
I like this post!!!! Mind if I use it and perhaps interview you for an article for my blog?