Spring Break
Classic City can be done on a budget
ASHLEY BEEBE
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The cliche is that college students are poor - though a visitor to the University wouldn't guess it from the shiny BMWs and Mercedes clogging Lumpkin Street every day.
But it's with the cash-conscious students in mind that The Red & Black presents the following ways to be cheap in Athens:
Never pay full price for clothes.
Wait a month, and that killer denim skirt will be on sale.
If the wait is unbearable, check the brand and size and scout discount stores.
Call TJ Maxx and find out when shipments come in to find the best deals.
Also, keep in mind, eBay is a great place to find expensive items for less.
Watch the gas gauge.
The easiest way to save on gas is to use less.
Brittany Isler, a sophomore from Lithonia, has a simple formula. "If I
don't really have to go somewhere, the car stays in the parking deck," she said.
Try riding the bus or even carpooling to campus when possible - it's free.
When forced to buy gas, plan for it.
The stations around campus are usually more expensive - so check out www.georgiagasprices.com to find cheaper gas.
Buy in bulk €" but make sure it's used.
If a student's parents have a membership to a bulk discount store like Sam's or Costco, that student can be added for a small fee.
Take advantage of bulk purchases - but be realistic.
No one needs ten pounds of cheddar cheese that's just going to get moldy.
However, large packages of chicken can be separated and frozen, and milk is usually a dollar less at bulk stores.
Toilet paper and paper towels are best bought in bulk.
Lendingtree.com suggests buying school supplies at bulk discount stores as well.
Use time wisely.
Sounds like middle school all over again, but one trip to the store saves tons of money and time.
Keep a list of the errands and list of groceries for the week and run all errands on one day.
Shopping once a week instead of every night before dinner saves tons of money.
Buy used books and sell them at the end of the semester.
The on- and off-campus bookstores are expensive.
Check sites like amazon.com and half.com for textbooks, then make sure to re-sell them at the end of the semester.
If the book will be used next semester - if the bookstore will buy it back - list them at dawgswap.com.
If not, sell on half.com. The site takes off 15% of sales under $50, but hey, it's found money!
Become a cheap date - or just a cheap friend.
The Tate Student Center Theater shows movies for $1 for students.
Try a picnic on North Campus.
Host a pot-luck dinner with friends instead of going out to eat.
The Ramsey Center offers cheap "vacations" in the form of GORP trips for around $50. Try backpacking, caving, sailing, or rock climbing as a weekend activity.
Onlineathens.com lists plenty of cheap Athens attractions, including the Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail and Zoo, the Georgia Museum of Art, and the State Botanical Gardens.
Don't buy it if it's not necessary.
Ehow.com suggests buying used books and CDs - many of the shops downtown have a used section.
Borrow movies and magazines from friends.
If friends don't have the title, the Athens Regional Library has a wide selection of magazines for check-out, as well as popular DVDs,
so check there before buying a magazine or renting a DVD.
