aka "How to Save Money"
I'm incredibly grateful that I feel sheltered from the recession when I am at Rutgers. It's my first year at university, and I don't feel any part of my experience has been inadequate or compromised because of Rutgers cutting back. However, that does not change the fact that you are paying about $20,000 a year for tuition and board and other miscellaneous fees they sneak in your term bill... which makes you a broke college student!
How do we do it? Well...
1. Try to get a job, even if you only work a couple hours every week. Some income is better than no income. If you have work study, that's even better; they will work with your school schedule. But if not, having an off-campus job helps you fine-tune those time management skills. If you're curious, I work once a week as a pharmacy technician.
2. Invest in some quality tupperware and containers. Make sure you get your worth at the dining hall. Remember you are paying around $2000 a semester for your meal plan. If you like to cook, you can get some of the raw foods from the salad bar like onions, peppers, tomatos... yum! Hello, supermarket. Oh, if you don't think you can finish up your meal plan-- swipe for smoothies and juices at the Douglass Cafe or pizza from Uno at the DCC. Remember, you are paying for the plan whether you use it up or not.
3. Go to club meetings and campus events for free food. College students are always hungry, and it's nice to have something different from the dining hall. At big campus events like the Involvement Fair, you literally get free pens, highlighters, vitamin water, you name it. Go to campus events not only because they're a fun part of college, but hey-- the words "free stuff" will never sound so sweet as they do to a college student.
4. If you buy food (say, from Au Bon Pain at CAC), remind them that you are exempt from tax on food because you are a college student. Hey, a dime is a dime.
5. Carry your Student ID with you and always ask if there are discounts or membership cards. If you don't ask, they might forget to tell you.
6. Every Rutgers student probably knows this already, but you never need to buy t-shirts again. Rutgers will give you a t-shirt at every major event. Your college experience will be immortalized on 100% cotton tees.
7. Take advantage of the free tutoring services at Rutgers. They have helped me so much! Why pay for a tutor when Rutgers hires them for you at the Learning Resource Centers?
8. Absolutely don't get a credit card if you even have the slightest doubt that you cannot make the payment. You'll just dig yourself into debt and have bad credit to your name. Many banks offer student banking packages that are really flexible with no fees, so you can get a debit card instead.
9. If you need textbooks: ask upperclassmen, check online, rent them (chegg.com) before paying full price. If you can't find a good deal on used books or you need buy a package (like for General Chemistry): go to the Co-op Bookstore on C/D! Join the discount membership to save money on your books. It really does add up.
10. Call parents and plead.
I went to a Vegan Cooking Workshop hosted by the Rutgers Bhakti Club. We made pakoras! Free delicious food with excellent company.
Location: SinglePost