How to escape the ‘broke college kid’ stereotype

By Marissa Meador marnmead@iu.edu | @Marissa_Meador

For many, college is the rst time students are on their own nancially. It can be exciting to experience more freedom, but funds will quickly dwindle if they aren’t managed properly. From clothes to iced co ee, here is a quick guide on how to spend less.

Clothes

Although it can be tempting to buy a virtual shopping cart full of pu er jackets or blow your rst paycheck at Urban Out tters, you can get more bang for your buck by thrifting at pves like Goodwill, located at 512 S. College Mall Road and 1284 Liberty Drive. In addition to getting cheaper prices, buying secondhand usually comes with better quality and longer-lasting pieces and allows people to choose retro styles that may not be sold by fast fashion shops.

Dorm decor

Before every semester, Target is overrun by students desperately trying to snag fake plants and a cute desk lamp. Skip the crowds and the prices by checking Goodwill and Facebook Marketplace for furniture and décor.

To ll space on the walls, a good option is ordering prints on Shutter y. On Shutter y, prints that are 4x4 and 4x6 are free, meaning you only have to pay shipping costs. As a nishing touch, buy frames for cheap at Goodwill.

Food

If you don’t have a meal plan or simply want an escape from IU Dining, make your own meals for cheap by shopping at Kroger, Target or Aldi. Aldi in particular o ers cheap prices, although you need to use your own bags and need a quarter to use a cart.

Food-wise, pasta is always a good option on a budget, and getting creative with vegetables and legumes can be a cheap way to get much-needed nutrients in a college student diet.

Bloomington has many amazing places to eat out at, but the cost can really add up. If you’re not hungry, it can be nice to get a decently priced appetizer or soup. at way, you can really splurge on a place you love for special occasions.

Final Tips

Grabbing co ee or boba in between classes can help break up a particularly boring day. But these beverages can add up — consider learning how to make your own coffee and boba or buy packs of canned or bottled co ee at the store.

Another good way to save

ILLUSTRATION BY JULIETTE ALBERT

is to ask yourself why you want something and how often you’ll use it. If you really want something expensive, wait for a week or so before you buy it so you can be sure it’s something you really want.

It’s also helpful to keep track of how much you spend on a particular thing per month. If you feel horri ed to learn that you spent $100 on iced co ee in one month, it can quickly become good motivation to think twice about that brown sugar iced oat milk latte.