The four years you’ll spend at college may very well be one of the most memorable times of your life. As you get older the weeks, months and even years start to blur together. But college is packed with experiences. You’ll expand your mind far beyond anything available in high school, challenging your beliefs, growing as a citizen and hopefully discovering a subject matter you can turn into a lucrative future career. You’ll mature physically and emotionally, living on your own for the first time and handling more responsibility without oversight than ever before. You’ll broaden your social horizons, finding and enjoying a group of friends that could become permanent aspects of your life, and if you’re lucky perhaps even finding true love. But what happens when you’re limited financially? College is more expensive than ever, and the recession has left many parents in a position where they cannot help their children out as much as they would like. You might have to see your own way through, and money will be incredibly tight. Is it possible to save money in college and still be social?
The short answer is yes, it is absolutely possible to have a great social life without a lot of money. College students are notoriously broke, and unless you go to an Ivy League school you won’t be alone in this situation by a long shot. Of course it’s not something that most people talk about, and you’ll have to get a little creative to make sure it doesn’t negatively impact the development of those crucial relationships. For example, consider slight alterations to your study dates. Students will often meet at the coffee shop and work there for hours, taking advantage of the great social scene and ‘people watching’ that transpires. But those cappuccinos add up, and could be out of your price range. Brew your own coffee, bring it with you and just sit outside the coffee shop. If that doesn’t work, meet in another common area, or have people over to study. Home brewed coffee will cost you a tiny percentage of what that fancy barista charges, which will give you money to spend elsewhere.
What about the impact on your dating life? You certainly don’t want to cry poverty when you’re trying to woo a special lady. Just be smart about what you choose as date plans. If dinner is on the agenda suggest a meeting during happy hour. It’s a little earlier than the traditional dating time, but you’ll enjoy all of that great food at vastly reduced prices. Another great option is to eat in and cook the dinner yourself. You’ll save a ton over a restaurant meal, and you’ll also have the opportunity to impress your date in a very different way. If you want to go to the movies, choose a night of the week when the theater offers discounts, and always bring your student ID to take advantage of reduced pricing.
There’s no question that alcohol is a significant aspect of your social life at college. But it can also empty your bank account in a hurry. And bars are the worst culprit. Always have friends over to throw back a few beers instead of going out to the bar. A six pack of beer at home will cost the same as a single beer out. If a night at the clubs is part of the plans, look for house parties instead. Work out your social muscle and befriend bouncers and bartenders, and they could help you out in huge ways. A clinical nurse educator might frown at all of these strategies to make drinking more affordable, but you’re only in college once. You have to be responsible and smart, but enjoy your time there to the fullest, even if you don’t have as much money as you would like.