Budgeting by Anne Wrobetz

So the Game Stop job didn’t work out. Oh well, as they say, whenever opportunity closes a door it opens a window. And a window has indeed been open–it looks like I’ve landed a job as a housekeeper! It’s not much, but it will be enough to get me through the summer.

However, being a working student, my salary is far being six-figures. It probably won’t even hit that five-digit mark until after college. As a result, I’ve recently begun to take a look at my finances. Obviously the largest regular expense is the rent check. There’s not much you can do about that aside from moving back home (and even then, you might be charged rent). However, there are smaller costs that tend to add up throughout a month. These include laundry, food and entertainment. I have some tricks to share for each.

First off, you have to wear clean clothes. Going into an interview smelling like aged cheese simply is not an option. Many apartment complexes have on-site laundromats, which are convenient but expensive. To economize, I forego the drier and instead hang my wet clothing around my room to dry. Also, I buy detergent in bulk when possible.

A college student has to eat…a lot. When on a budget, eating out at every meal is not possible. Prepare meals at home whenever possible. As far as groceries go, check the ads that come in the mail every week or so. And stock up! A surprising variety of foods freeze really well– meat, tofu, cooked beans, vegetables, fruit, and prepared dishes are all great options. Also consider doing more prep work yourself–you can save hundreds of dollars by cutting your own veggies and cooking your own beans.

The college life isn’t all about studying and working. Entertainment is vital! But it can also empty your wallet faster than a pickpocket on a crowded subway. So consider doing more things close to home. Instead of going to a movie, rent one and have your friends over for movie night. Go to a park and play frisbee. Even grocery shopping can be a fun time to catch up with friends! Just be creative and your bank account will look a lot more pleasant at the end of the month.

Recently independent college students should always keep a budget in mind when thinking of the essentials. Hopefully these tips will help you become a little more frugal!