Grocery Gig

One of the harshest actualities of college life is realizing that you have to buy your own groceries.  You can no longer look in the fridge that magically gets refilled every week and take whatever you want, even if you know for a fact that you personally didn’t buy it.  Your roommates will probably strangle you.  Actually, I know for a fact that they will strangle you.  Don’t be that guy.

Groceries are one of the most consistent expenses you’ll have to budget for.  I’ve found that generally I spend about $25 a week on groceries (sometimes I’ll skip two or three weeks and spend about $50 - $75 at a time). 

Don’t think you can skimp on groceries and still get by!

Skimping isn’t healthy and it isn’t worth feeling crappy all of the time from lack of nutrition!  With that, make sure you follow your mom’s oldest rule in the book about buying something from all of the food groups.  This includes fruits, veggies, meat, grains, dairy, and my favorite - good fats.  You’ll find that pretty much everything on this list can be expensive or inexpensive depending on where you shop and what time of the week you shop.  However, if you watch for sales and plan your budget accordingly, there shouldn’t be a problem.  Take note that although the processed boxed items appear to be a better “fast” option, most of the time they are more expensive than buying fresh items that are better for you.  Look at the labels and decide for yourself! (See the food pyramid below for examples of the different food groups to consider.)

Just remember that IT’S OKAY to shop at Wal-Mart even if your mom shops at a place that’s more expensive.  You’re a poor college student and so is everyone else! No one in college can afford to shop at Whole Foods (unless they have an amazing job or their parents are willing to chip in). Don’t be afraid to look for deals and buy cheaper knock-off brands. No shame.  I tend to shop at Smith’s Grocery store, which I consider to be a “middle-of-the-road” store as far as price and quality, and I get a long just fine with my weekly budget.  You might have to shop around at different stores the first few weeks to test out overall costs and quality, which I would recommend.  It is totally worth your time and helps you to think more critically about your grocery spending and eating habits.

My last piece of advice would be to look up recipes and create a shopping list before you even leave for the store.  This forces you to actually cook during the week and to stick to your budget.   Put necessary items at the top of the list and “items you want, but could live without” at the bottom, in case you go over your spending limit.  This will make your shopping easier and less stressful as you figure out your grocery routine.  

Good luck, and happy shopping!

For more tips on "Smart Shopping" check out this short clip created by the Food Network:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/smart-shopping.html

Can't Live With em'.... Probably Shouldn't Punch em'

Roommates - The inconsistent, incorrigible, and inevitable aspect of college life.  These are certainly some of the most obvious love-hate relationships you’ll ever experience.  Roommates provide many opportunities including: networking with potential dating opportunities, activities, gossip, and most importantly, learning patience.  My “two cents” on the whole matter would be to stay on good terms with all of the people you live with, because it could come back to bite you in various ways if you don’t.  If you aren’t being a good roommate yourself, or even if just one of your roommates thinks you aren’t, the word gets around like pollination season. 

Ways to be a GOOD roommate:

• ·      Do your dishes (aka – clean up after yourself)
• ·      Don’t play loud music when others are studying
• ·      Don’t hog the washing machine/dryer
• ·      Pay your portion of utilities ON-TIME
• ·      Don’t park like a fool and take up two spaces in your lot that has limited parking
• ·      Pick up the vacuum once in awhile and vacuum the common living spaces
• ·      If you share a bathroom, work out a system to have it cleaned AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK
• ·      If you are having people stay the night, let your roommates know so they don’t walk downstairs in the underwear to find someone sleeping on the couch
• ·      Take the garbage out once in awhile (if you find the bin is full, don’t pile more things on it and walk away as if you didn’t see anything)
• ·      Be attentive to your roommates' moods and don't push their buttons 

Ways to be a BAD roommate:

• ·      Basically do the opposite of everything I just listed
• ·      Gossip a ton about your roommates
• ·      Be a hermit, never talk to anyone, and make your roommates suspicious

Remember that you don’t have to be best friends with all of your roommates. You might take to some better than others, and that’s okay.  Just be sure to be kind to everyone in the apartment/house, even if they aren’t kind to you in return.  Be the roommate that everyone can stand and don’t give anyone a reason to put you at the forefront of the apartment gossip.  It will all be worth it in the end!

For a little extra help, check out this article about "How to Handle Roommate Drama." 

http://study.com/articles/How_to_Handle_Roommate_Drama_Like_a_Pro.html 

Books, Books, Books

Everyone falls for the “bookstore trickeries” at least once - it’s a right of college passage.  You get to school the first week and realize you need to get books before classes start on Monday.  Campus is just a few minutes away and the bookstore is just so convenient and fast! 

Don’t get caught in this mindset. 

The bookstore should only be used as a last resort or when you’re at the 

point of pure disparity. 

This is because most of the books offered at your university’s bookstore can be found on other websites – either for rent, or to buy used. Below I have listed several URLs that will take you to these AWESOME sites.  All you have to do is enter the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) into the search box! Give it a try.  Take note that most of the sellers on these websites receive ratings as to how fast they deliver the books and what condition they are in.  Make sure you look at those ratings so you can feel confident that your book will be on time!

Here are my favorite book shopping tools:

http://www.chegg.com

http://www.collegebookrenter.com

http://www.amazon.com

http://www.half.com

Some books on your list might even be in what’s called the “Course Reserve” at your university’s library.  Professors will buy the textbook students need for their course and put it at the library so students can check it out for several hours at a time.  I recently utilized this feature because my book got lost in shipping and I had to have it for a quiz.  Don't bank on the book being available here though!  You never know for sure until the professor specifies.

In short, prepare for the semester EARLY and buy your books at least two weeks before classes are scheduled to begin.  It will make your life a lot less expensive and you won’t regret doing it!

Get ahead. Be smart. SAVE.

Extemporaneous Escapades

During my first years of college, being spontaneous was not in my repertoire.  For sanity purposes, everything needed to be planned out by the minute, else utter disaster would ensue; or so I thought.  I quickly learned, however, that spontaneity was just a natural part of the college experience.  I missed out on a lot of fun activities in the beginning because I wasn’t willing to break out of my element.  If you get adequate study-time in and finish your assignments, there should always be room left for little bit of fun!

Get your homework done.  DON’T be uptight.  BE spontaneous!

Be willing to throw your shoes on at 10 o’clock at night to go have a fire on the beach or up the canyon.  Take an evening drive to the lake just to dip your feet in and eat a shake on your tailgate. Go hammocking at midnight on a Friday when you are bored and need a short getaway. All dressed up with nowhere to go? Get even more gussied up and go wedding crashing, for heavens sake! Between roommates, neighbors, and friends there are always people willing to pack up on a whim, so even YOU can be the one to drag the group along for a random adventure!  

Two years ago, a group of guys lived next door to me at my apartment complex.  One night they showed up at my door with swimsuits, towels, and a car full of snacks.  They told my roommates and me to “suit up” and get in the car because we were going for an adventure.  Of course, me being me, asked where we were going, but no one would tell me, so I had to be hauled out of the house (kicking and practically screaming).  To my surprise and excitement, we ended up driving to a place called Cutler Dam where we floated down the river in tubes. That night ended up being the most fun night I’ve ever had in college.  We’ve been friends ever since and have gone on weekly random excursions ever since! 

A spark of spontaneity is exactly what you’ll need to survive the stress of college. Trust me, in the end it is completely worth feeling slightly uncomfortable and losing a little bit of sleep! The pictures always turn out pretty awesome too, which, let's be honest, is the best part.  

See below: 

Try, Try Again

There's a saying in my family that goes like this, "If you don't ask, the answer is always 'no.'" My dad in particular is famous for using it in situations where he's trying to get a deal, finagle information out of someone, or when he feels he has been treated unjustly. With that, can you promise you'll remember this one thing?  

LANDLORDS ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS.  

Remember that YOU are paying THEM to provide a product/service.  If he or she advertises that they provide working Wi-Fi, a washing machine, and your own personal parking spot, then those amenities are exactly what you, as the customer, should get.  When you sign the contract, it’s a two-way street business deal.  You are agreeing to pay rent and the landlord/property owner is agreeing to provide the services and amenities listed within the contract.  This brings us back to my family’s saying.  For example, if you are somehow missing the washing machine you signed for, ask about it.  Never be afraid to ask about it.  Even if that washing machine isn’t running properly, politely tell your landlord that you need it fixed (as a general rule, that is part of his/her agreement with you unless otherwise specified). 

Recently, I had a similar experience with my landlord.  My roommates and I moved in for the semester and quickly found that several agreed upon matters had not been taken care of.  The Wi-Fi was not working at all, which was a problem because we all have several online courses.  On top of that, the apartment as a whole didn’t have blinds and no one had been given a parking pass, so most of my roommates got booted the first night there even though they were in the correct lot.  After griping to our parents and each other, we pushed the anger and frustration aside, went to the landlord (let’s call him Steve), and asked to have the situation remedied.  The initial conversation consisted entirely of excuses as to why the Wi-Fi was not working and how difficult the blinds are to install.  After combatting Steve’s defenses, my roommates and I brought up the fact that each of us had paid $75 to get boots off of our cars because he hadn't given us parking passes.  Steve basically told us we were S.O.L (so out of luck) and that we should have asked for the passes before parking.  After about 20 minutes of banter, the girls and I decided to end the conversation, but not for good. 

The very next day, and for three consecutive days after that, my roommate and I faced Steve and asked to have our blinds installed, Wi-Fi fixed, and to be reimbursed for the boots. His scowl had the potential to set the entire city of Logan on fire, but to our surprise, we came back from Labor Day weekend to an apartment with blinds, decent Wi-Fi, and $75 back in each of our bank accounts.  I’d like you to now scroll back up to the top of this post and read the quote by Margaret Thatcher.  It’s a system and it certainly works.  Hold your landlord to his/her agreement and though it might not always be smooth sailing, you’ll get what you are paying for.

Lessons for today:

1.)  Don’t be taken advantage of by landlords and get what you pay for

2.)  If the first conversation doesn’t get you what you want or need, don’t be afraid to give it another 'go'