 "Photo: Photo Illustration by Alex Palomino/The Observer")
Let’s face it: the economy is in a slump and many students, including those at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC), have been affected. While it may seem like you are being as frugal as possible, there are small changes that students can make in their daily lives to put a little extra dough in the bank. Here are some tips on areas where you can pinch some pennies:
1. Purchase a coffee maker (which can be purchased for as little as $15) and brew all your coffee at home/in your dorm room. Think about how much money you spend on coffee each week. Whether it’s from the local deli or Starbucks, that java adds up! A cup of coffee from the deli will run you at least a dollar while Starbucks is closer to about two dollars for a small cup of regular coffee. For about five dollars, you can purchase a pound of coffee, which will make at least 30 cups of coffee, meaning each cup costs less than 20 cents!
2. Are you easily tempted by brand names such as Bayer, Pepsi or Campbell’s? Did you know that, rather than spending extra cash on these familiar products, you can easily buy the generic versions at a much lower price? The CVS brand of aspirin has basically the same ingredients as Bayer and is approximately two dollars cheaper (Although the ingredients aren’t always identical, so you should still check the label as a precaution). America’s Choice tomato soup tastes very similar to Campbell’s and will save you about 50 cents per can. If you’re concerned about “lowering your standards,” then just pick up two comparable items and read the ingredients; you’ll see that in many cases, they’re exactly the same!
3. Craigslist isn’t just for finding a date or a pair of tickets anymore. Click on FREE in the “For Sale” section on the Web site’s homepage and you will find a long list of varied items being offered for free! You can find furniture, books, haircuts and even electronic equipment. The only catch is that you have to make arrangements to pick up the items, but with the money you’ll be saving, it’ll be worth the extra time.
4. The next time you order food from a local eatery, don’t have it delivered to your dorm. Save the price of delivery and tip by picking it up from the restaurant yourself. For example, a salad at Europan costs about eight dollars, which warrants a tip of about $1.50. By the end of the week, those tips can add up and you can get yourself an extra salad!
5. It’s time to reconsider your grooming and pampering practices. Getting your hair dyed in a salon could run you well over $50. Buying a box of dye at the drugstore, however, will only cost you about $10. What about your weekly manicure at the nail salon? Painting your own nails is not only fun and creative, but for the price of one manicure you can buy a bottle of polish, which will get you up to 25 applications.
6. Quit smoking. Plain and simple. I know it’s asking a lot from some people, but seriously, think about the price of one pack of cigarettes. In the city, a pack runs at about $10. If you smoke at least two packs a week, at the end of the year you have spent over $1,000 on cigarettes. Is it really worth it?
7. Buying clothing and accessories can really rack up your credit card bill. While I’m not suggesting that you give up shopping at your favorite stores entirely, the Salvation Army is a great place to shop for reasonably priced clothing, shoes, books and electronic items. Plus, you can furnish an entire apartment with funky plates and eclectic furniture—things you can’t find in any retail store.
8. When it comes time to have lunch in the afternoon, you might want to reconsider that burger from the caf or the overpriced sushi from Whole Foods. Buy cold cuts or peanut butter and make your own sandwiches at home. You can even pack a small salad or some fruit to munch on. You’ll be amazed at how convenient it is to pack your own lunch and at how much extra cash you’ll have at the end of the week.
9. The New York City Department of Health offers free male and female condoms. Dozens of stores across the city (such as the shoe store Steve Madden) keep a stash of free condoms on the premises for anyone who comes in and asks. A three-pack of condoms usually starts at five dollars or up, so if you’re getting busy on a regular basis, it doesn’t take a math major to figure out this can save you some dough. For more information or to find a location near you, visit http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/condoms/condoms.shtml.
10. Did you know that some of your favorite places in the city are free at certain times during the week? Take the Bronx Zoo and Bronx Botanical Gardens, for example. They both offer free admission on Wednesdays. The MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) hosts Target Free Friday Nights sponsored by Target Stores every Friday night between the hours of 4–8 p.m. Also be sure to check out the Web site www.myopenbar.com. It lists many of the restaurants and bars in the NYC area offering free drinks and/or no cover charge.
Look at it as a challenge: each day, try substituting another saving tip into your schedule. There is no question that, at the end of the week, you will have an extra wad of cash in your wallet. Incorporating these changes into your life might seem a bit difficult at first, but once you get used to the savings, you won’t ever want to revert back to old your spending habits.
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