You’re richer than you think

Posted by admin on Oct 20, 2009 in Arts & Culture | 0 comments

Student bank accounts often offer an unwanted reality check. Turns out that summer job that had you working 12-hour days and beefing up the savings only raised enough to cover tuition. So, while you no longer have to run from the administration office, your ability to go out has been severely compromised. But never fear, a penny-pinching student can always make ends meet and have a good time with a few time honored tips and tricks.

Movies are fun, and some save by downloading them from the internet, instead of going to the theatre. Personally I have not always been a fan to squinting into a small extremely pixilated laptop. Instead, movies that are not yet in rental stores are shown every Friday in the Northwest auditorium – for free. The screen is so big you could walk up to it and shake hands with the actors, and it has the same feel as a movie theater, minus the flashbacks of intro freshman courses.

Denny’s is always a classic choice for Trinity students at any time of day or night. With a card, and your student ID, all entrees are 20% off.

As far as what you are going to wear on your chance to get off campus, what was once old is now new again, so why not try Value Village. It’s not used, it’s vintage, and with the endless styles and sizes that can be found, value is no longer just for hippies who are fighting consumerism by ironically buying things.

If you find yourself so broke that you can’t afford anything, try the free section of Craigslist. There you can find anything from a free Costco spring trampoline, to a wooden didjideroo. While you may have to search a while to separate the trash from treasure, it is a great way to procure some new furniture. Just make sure that the offer is legitimate and never collect anything alone. Safety first!

After a long day of collecting your free stuff from around town, check out the Watershed Café in Walnut Grove. Every Friday night they feature live music, as well as local art that is on display and free wireless Internet. Best of all, they believe in protecting the environment by using fairly traded products, local and organic ingredients. Your cup of Joe will never be better for the environment.

Remember there are always ways to pinch those pennies and still have fun. Lacking money is just an excuse to get creative and make your own fun in imaginative new ways. So as the accented man in the ING commercials proudly proclaims, “Save your money!”