Support NeoGAF

[Tornado Condor]

I got a campus job as a computer lab assistant. I got to choose my hours and did enough work that I bolstered my salary to $11 an hour working on hours I choose every week, for up to 20 hours a week. Was great, and all I did was save for when I really needed the money. (Also alcohol). Most campus hobs only require you to work a minimum of 5 hours a week, and you should be able to choose your own hours. Also a job like that is very easy, and you'll have plenty of time to study while you sit in front of a computer doing nothing for 4 hours.

Always buy used books, and buy them online. Chances are you won't need it new, and buying it used will not only save you money, but you may make money during buyback season. I bought a book off Amazon used for $15 in "Like New" condition. School bought the book back for $60, so I actually made a profit.

If you don't have a dedicated meal plan, buy ramen, bread, PB&J, lunchmeat, and a giant container of pretzels. Shop at Aldis if you can.

If you do have a meal plan, save as much of it as you can if you get the money back at the end of the year. Pocket that and use for spending money.

Take advantage of free food. Go to stupid gatherings, walk in to house parties, eat the free food. Free food is something you should go out of your way to go get, because it's free. Hell, i'm 25% Hispanic and look completely Germanic, and I went to a Hispanics on Campus meeting just so I could eat some dinner. Everyone was curious why a white guy was there, but I explained to them that i'm the same as them by blood. There should be campus fairs, festivals, student organizations, cheap food from organization fundraisers, etc. Use them. Go to them.

That's great advice ;b

Thanks!

Man I remember being there. It sucks man, best of luck.

Thanks!

 

[Mr.Squirrel]

Well I've got a steady research position, so I can afford the rent and food without "issue", but yeah...I'm eating carrots and chicken patties for dinner most nights. Textbooks are really going to bite this semester.

I'm purposely taking 20 credits a semester this year as well to give myself a semester off my senior year, so yeah....not a lot of a social life. Wake up, 8am classes, go to work between, head home around four or five, homework, bed.

That.

sucks.

God some of you guys are pussys. I worked 40 hours a week, went to class M-F some quarters, Got up 6AM, left work and went straight to school, didn't leave school until 9:30-10:00PM most days (sometimes not until 1-2AM when papers and shit were do), and still managed to make the deans list. All the while passing IT certifications and keeping a girlfriend. You youngsters have no work ethic

/old man rant

 

[Gospel]

$250 is all I spent my very first semester of uni. No games, no snacks, no luxuries. Just quick meals, books, and bus money.

 

[Nix]

I'm reading this, and realizing that I still haven't paid off anything for this semester. Wow, what the fuck.

Let me try to escape into my delusions; I know they'll treat me right. Generally, I don't eat breakfast, so that isn't really an issue, and for lunch, bread and PB is usually fine, and for dinner...as long as I get some protein I should be okay. So I'd say, cheap beef and bread.

That's basically my entire diet while in school. I mix it up with vegetables, and when I'm feeling lucky I get some eggs. If I have friends coming over, I ask them to bring milk (because I'm not above free milk) and try to (if I ever) go out as little as possible. My days usually comprise of 9-8 PM studies, and then free time. Which is fucking harsh.

The funny thing is that I technically have money; I just can't touch it. As in, my money still goes in but it's unavailable (Ones a plan, ones a bond, and another is a closed account).

 

[NomarTyme]

For books I just buy international versions.

 

[Chuck Norris]

This only applies to poor college students. Get out of here, rich GAF!

Anyways, i attended a community college while i received financial aid so i got plenty in disbursement beacuse CC is cheap. Now that i'm starting UC Santa Barbara this fall quarter, i've been experiencing the poor college student stereotype. I have no moneyz to buy stuff and science textbooks are fucking expensive (chem major here!!!).

This freakin' sucks. I guess it's time i prostitute myself at the corner to make some extra bucks. How did you guys cope?

 

[Lamel]

I started pre-med too...classes started two days ago, I'm a freshman. ;_;

 

[SykoTech]

I'm also a pre-med student. 4th year of undergraduate school. And it's private, so the tuition is crazy high. But the experience is teaching me not to be wasteful with money.

Protip: Rent books online. Way cheaper.

 

[Lamel]

I'm also a pre-med student. 4th year of undergraduate school. And it's private, so the tuition is crazy high. But the experience is teaching me not to be wasteful with money.

Protip: Rent books online. Way cheaper.

Why didn't you tell me this 2 days ago?

I just AP'd out of a course but already bought the 100 dollar book, I hope I can return it.

 

[NeoUltima]

I find it's ultimately cheaper to buy books used (online), then sell them back to the book stores at the end of the semester. Sell them back as soon as possible, because around here their buyback prices vary based on their stock.
Cheaper than even renting.

In fact, I have made a profit on a couple books doing this.

 

[parrotbeak]

Campus job + tutoring + editing papers for other students

Spoiler

+ sell weed

 

[mozfan12]

Prepare to live the poor college lifestyle for a lobg time unless u have one of those fancy engineering degrees, student loans are a bitch and the job market blows esp. for recent grads. We are like an unwanted species.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

I live at home, and I try not to buy any textbooks I know I'll never use.

 

[mozfan12]

Also look into renting your textbooks. Did it for my last year of college and it was way cheaper. Problem is that those type of bussinesses tend to have limited quantities so you have to be on it asap and they never have the latest edition.

 

[maxxpower]

You should visit me up in Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

 

[AlimNassor]

I go to the mall and to the store and pig out on samples. My local grocery store has tons of good samples out, and usually 2 big stands cooking large samples of like steak or fish. It's very depressing because I get a ton of dirty looks for doing it.

 

[Deleted member 81567]

I got a scholarship from a Greek church and I think it'll help me tremendously. I'm also not dorming so my costs will get cut tremendously. I might even afford a few games!

 

[DominoKid]

i was poor. until i got my financial aid check heh heh heh.

 

[apana]

UC Santa Barbara is an awesome school in all ways, congrats!

 

[Flavius]

I never get how people can afford to buy "Cheap Pizza and Chinese", since it is far cheaper from what I have seen to cook for your self. Why buy fried rice when you can buy a 5 pound bag for dirt cheap, and just make your own? Why buy a pizza when you can buy two pounds of chicken breasts which will make 8 meals.

My dinner tends to consist of a small amount of meat, and a bunch of easy to prepare sides.

A 3 ounce piece of pork, some corn, two slices of buttered bread, mashed potatoes, some apple sauce, and a bowl of salad. A nice, large meal, that cost very little to make.

You'll never get how a $3 styrofoam container of fried rice, or a $4 pizza stretched out over a few days is as cheap as your Hannibal Lecter dish?

You must have attended a far inferior institution of higher learning than my beloved University of Florida.

I can only surmise that jerking off with the finest hand lotion, and spilling your seed into the finest linens would follow such exquisite cuisine.

 

[Spokker]

The poor college student stereotype is even worse when one comes into contact with all the "poor" college students that do the following:

1. A girl who has complained in class about never having enough money shows up late to every lecture with a fresh Starbucks specialty drink. One would imagine she'd also be on time if she were not waiting in line for coffee.

2. A guy who I overheard complaining that college is too expensive whips out his iPhone 4 to text a friend. I later learned he recently upgraded from an iPhone 3G.

3. Another guy doesn't know how he's going to make it through the semester because he can't pay his tuition. I saw him in the parking lot with a brand new car. If you don't know how you're going to make it through the semester, I imagine you would want to be using the free bus pass courtesy of the college and not shell out $220 for a semester parking pass to boot.

4. Another guy claims to eat ramen every night. Does he cook it on his iPad 2?

I absorb this stuff like a sponge. There are plenty more example from my six years of community college, university and graduate school.

It can be difficult to separate the real hard luck cases from the bullshit.

 

[Foffy]

The poor college student stereotype is even worse when one comes into contact with all the "poor" college students that do the following:

1. A girl who has complained in class about never having enough money shows up late to every lecture with a fresh Starbucks specialty drink. One would imagine she'd also be on time if she were not waiting in line for coffee.

2. A guy who I overheard complaining that college is too expensive whips out his iPhone 4 to text a friend. I later learned he recently upgraded from an iPhone 3G.

3. Another guy doesn't know how he's going to make it through the semester because he can't pay his tuition. I saw him in the parking lot with a brand new car. If you don't know how you're going to make it through the semester, I imagine you would want to be using the free bus pass courtesy of the college and not shell out $220 for a semester parking pass to boot.

4. Another guy claims to eat ramen every night. Does he cook it on his iPad 2?

I absorb this stuff like a sponge. There are plenty more example from my six years of community college, university and graduate school.

It can be difficult to separate the real hard luck cases from the bullshit.

Guess they see things for their personal enjoyment on a different, higher level than education. Never understood it either.

 

[Lamel]

The poor college student stereotype is even worse when one comes into contact with all the "poor" college students that do the following:

1. A girl who has complained in class about never having enough money shows up late to every lecture with a fresh Starbucks specialty drink. One would imagine she'd also be on time if she were not waiting in line for coffee.

2. A guy who I overheard complaining that college is too expensive whips out his iPhone 4 to text a friend. I later learned he recently upgraded from an iPhone 3G.

3. Another guy doesn't know how he's going to make it through the semester because he can't pay his tuition. I saw him in the parking lot with a brand new car. If you don't know how you're going to make it through the semester, I imagine you would want to be using the free bus pass courtesy of the college and not shell out $220 for a semester parking pass to boot.

4. Another guy claims to eat ramen every night. Does he cook it on his iPad 2?

I absorb this stuff like a sponge. There are plenty more example from my six years of community college, university and graduate school.

It can be difficult to separate the real hard luck cases from the bullshit.

Yeah I just started and have seen a lot of "fakeness" and bullshittery. College feels more like high school than my actual high school did, I need to find some decent and smart people.

 

[bangai-o]

get a job as a cook somewhere in town. Food solved (unless the restaurant are dicks).

 

[B!TCH]

The poor college student stereotype is even worse when one comes into contact with all the "poor" college students that do the following:

1. A girl who has complained in class about never having enough money shows up late to every lecture with a fresh Starbucks specialty drink. One would imagine she'd also be on time if she were not waiting in line for coffee.

2. A guy who I overheard complaining that college is too expensive whips out his iPhone 4 to text a friend. I later learned he recently upgraded from an iPhone 3G.

3. Another guy doesn't know how he's going to make it through the semester because he can't pay his tuition. I saw him in the parking lot with a brand new car. If you don't know how you're going to make it through the semester, I imagine you would want to be using the free bus pass courtesy of the college and not shell out $220 for a semester parking pass to boot.

4. Another guy claims to eat ramen every night. Does he cook it on his iPad 2?

I absorb this stuff like a sponge. There are plenty more example from my six years of community college, university and graduate school.

It can be difficult to separate the real hard luck cases from the bullshit.

You are surprised that young people don't have their priorities in order?

I get your meaning, but why are you wasting time on NeoGAF when you should be studying or doing something more productive with your time?

Life seems fairly straight forward if you are just as willing to sacrifice the things you do enjoy as you are the things you don't enjoy.

 

[Spokker]

I get your meaning, but why are you wasting time on NeoGAF when you should be studying or doing something more productive with your time?

Because I'm not under the impression that procrastination carries no consequences. Additionally, I've completed everything I feel I must complete today and further effort would only be marginally productive. I gain utility from sitting here and complaining about poor college students who aren't that poor that I have observed while in college.

It should go without saying that I am not complaining about any individuals in this thread or the thread itself. It's quite hard to be a poor college student. My rant is only an extension of the topic that tackles another segment of the college student population entirely.

 

[Drkirby]

I'm also a pre-med student. 4th year of undergraduate school. And it's private, so the tuition is crazy high. But the experience is teaching me not to be wasteful with money.

Protip: Rent books online. Way cheaper.

Real Protip: Buy your books online, resell them online. Don't list your book until the next semester of classes start.

 

[shaowebb]

I cut out sleep and having a life. I get up at noon, go to work at 1 get home at 10 and stay up doing college until 5 am. Non work days are dedicated to my reading and training in CG.

You have no idea how many local MVC3 things I've had to skip due to this.

 

[apana]

I respect you guys for all the work you are doing in college, especially if you are a science major. I didn't have to pay for anything or work so I got off lucky I guess.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

Real Protip: Buy your books online, resell them online. Don't list your book until the next semester of classes start.

I've been doing that for years, and I've practically broke even.

Once or twice I actually made a profit!

 

[bangai-o]

You are surprised that young people don't have their priorities in order?

I get your meaning, but why are you wasting time on NeoGAF when you should be studying or doing something more productive with your time?

Life seems fairly straight forward if you are just as willing to sacrifice the things you do enjoy as you are the things you don't enjoy.

lol ^ has an Iphone and goes to Starbucks every morning.

 

[Foxtastical]

The poor college student stereotype is even worse when one comes into contact with all the "poor" college students that do the following:

1. A girl who has complained in class about never having enough money shows up late to every lecture with a fresh Starbucks specialty drink. One would imagine she'd also be on time if she were not waiting in line for coffee.

2. A guy who I overheard complaining that college is too expensive whips out his iPhone 4 to text a friend. I later learned he recently upgraded from an iPhone 3G.

3. Another guy doesn't know how he's going to make it through the semester because he can't pay his tuition. I saw him in the parking lot with a brand new car. If you don't know how you're going to make it through the semester, I imagine you would want to be using the free bus pass courtesy of the college and not shell out $220 for a semester parking pass to boot.

4. Another guy claims to eat ramen every night. Does he cook it on his iPad 2?

I absorb this stuff like a sponge. There are plenty more example from my six years of community college, university and graduate school.

It can be difficult to separate the real hard luck cases from the bullshit.

God, great post. I've just seen this too much over the years (undergrad at UW: Madison, hated it and finished at Marquette University and now doing graduate at UW: Milwaukee). So far, current institution has the least amount of these people.

 

[Drkirby]

You'll never get how a $3 styrofoam container of fried rice, or a $4 pizza stretched out over a few days is as cheap as your Hannibal Lecter dish?

You must have attended a far inferior institution of higher learning than my beloved University of Florida.

I can only surmise that jerking off with the finest hand lotion, and spilling your seed into the finest linens would follow such exquisite cuisine.

Any particular reason you decided to call me out and insult me so much? The first two lines, fine, you are just trying to be witty and call me an idiot, but the last line? That is just offensive.

 

[B!TCH]

Because I'm not under the impression that procrastination carries no consequences. Additionally, I've completed everything I feel I must complete today and further effort would only be marginally productive. I gain utility from sitting here and complaining about poor college students who aren't that poor that I have observed while in college.

It should go without saying that I am not complaining about any individuals in this thread or the thread itself. It's quite hard to be a poor college student. My rant is only an extension of the topic that tackles another segment of the college student population entirely.

Hey, no need to explain anything. It was a really good point you brought up. I wasn't really knocking you other than to say your observations are relative. Everyone is the victim in their own story.

lol ^ has an Iphone and goes to Starbucks every morning.

My parents are pretty wealthy bro. I don't pay for shit, but on the other hand, I'm not under any false illusions that I'm wealthy because I don't have any money of my own.

 

[Peasant Princess-King]

I had to pay out of pocket one year because my fafsa was audited and missed the deadline to turn it in. I bitched and moaned for like a day and then just fuckin payed for it. Granted, I go to UNO, so it was only about $2000, but it was a lot for me! I work about 38hrs a week at my job, but at the time, I had no phone and my mom was helping me with car stuff. At this point that would be difficult to do again, but it can be done... especially since I dont have to worry about rent and utilities. Also, I am an art major so the materials I get costs hundreds of dollars that isn't covered by the art fee, so there was that on top of the tuition that year. Boy, was I was looking forward to tax returns! Lol

Everybody will have their baggage, some more than others, but enjoy it because the experience is worth it. I see it more of a way as people I can indirectly relate to. I've enjoyed college and met so many people so far despite my financial difficulties (and boy have I had them) and I wouldn't trade it for anything right now.... Except a promising career

 

[BananaBomb]

get an internship

 

[Spire]

I've been there. I would heat up a bowl of water for ramen in the microwave because I was too lazy to wait for the stove to heat up. 99 cent burritos from Taco Bell were considering a luxury and a frozen pizza had to hold me for at least half a week. I always had cable and awesome internet though and my Steam list grew every month, gotta have priorities.

 

[youngplaya21]

For some reason, college students here in Texas get food stamps if they work and go to school. Me and my roommates each received $150+ a month. We damn sure didn't starve...

 

[Etrian Oddity]

get a job as a cook somewhere in town. Food solved (unless the restaurant are dicks).

Yea. but then you gotta work a terrible job, lol. I would know, I'm a cook who gets a good 22 hours within 2 days' shifts... -_-

 

[ajf009]

I have $20 in my bank account.. I hate gasoline prices

 

[Papercuts]

I'm just going to Community College for now, but the MOMENT summer ended and people went off to college I've been getting slammed with hours at work. I'm part time but got 30 hours this week, 32 next week on top of the classwork. It sucks ass.

 

[IllusionaryWeaponry]

I agree with most of what people have said here, but most importantly.... find time for a campus job. It's enabled me to not be so money conscious while living at school.

Just out of curiosity. Am I the only one on GAF who has a MEAL PLAN with their housing or are all of you really surviving on ramen?

 

[Averon]

You might not need every book assigned so I'd hold off on opening new books until after the first day of classes and you might be able to return them or just borrow the books in the library. Sometimes you can even use he same book for entire series. At least, that's how it was for a lot of my core Bio and Chem classes in UC Irvine.

Also, stuff like molecular models for chemistry got used maybe once or twice during my entire G. and OChem series, and those times were both optional for stereochemistry, so if you can't immediately afford the models take a wait and see approach. However, stuff like lab goggles, lab notebooks, and aprons are obviously stuff you must buy and there's no way around it.

Also, pack your own food for meals instead of buying overpriced slop from the restaurants on campus.

For the love of god take this advice. I found out that the courseID code my calc III Prof gave us to access MyMathLab was what all I needed. I stupidly bought the textbook (MML comes with an e-book version of the textbook) with the access code on the first day thinking I needed a new access code to use MML again for this class. The thing is, I used MML last semester for calc II with the same Prof, and my MML account didn't expire until this December. So when I entered the courseID to register for class, to my surprise, not only did I gain full access to the calc III class, but the expiration date was extended to May of 2012 . By that point I couldn't take the book back since I opened the plastic covering. In short, I could have easily avoided a $120+ charge if I have just be patient one day more.

 

[Chuck Norris]

The poor college student stereotype is even worse when one comes into contact with all the "poor" college students that do the following:

1. A girl who has complained in class about never having enough money shows up late to every lecture with a fresh Starbucks specialty drink. One would imagine she'd also be on time if she were not waiting in line for coffee.

2. A guy who I overheard complaining that college is too expensive whips out his iPhone 4 to text a friend. I later learned he recently upgraded from an iPhone 3G.

3. Another guy doesn't know how he's going to make it through the semester because he can't pay his tuition. I saw him in the parking lot with a brand new car. If you don't know how you're going to make it through the semester, I imagine you would want to be using the free bus pass courtesy of the college and not shell out $220 for a semester parking pass to boot.

4. Another guy claims to eat ramen every night. Does he cook it on his iPad 2?

I absorb this stuff like a sponge. There are plenty more example from my six years of community college, university and graduate school.

It can be difficult to separate the real hard luck cases from the bullshit.

College students and coffee is just as much a stereotype as the poverty

~$20 extra on a phone bill per month for an Iphone plan is generally considered a worthwhile investment,

How do you know its his car? Not his parents

iPads have rebate programmes for college students, at least in Australia. And are very useful in general. I know friends who have sold their laptops, TVs, computers etc. and just use Ipads now

 

[Spokker]

College students and coffee is just as much a stereotype as the poverty

Which is why they open Starbucks locations on college campuses. There's lots of money on college campuses sitting in generous hands. I'm surprised campus cost outlines don't specify the coffee burden.

I walk by a Starbucks on my way to class every day. The line is out the door. Every single class has two or three people walking in 5-10 minutes after lecture starts with a fresh cup in their hands. Professors can't give them shit or they get a bad review at the end of the semester.

~$20 extra on a phone bill per month for an Iphone plan is generally considered a worthwhile investment,

What's the return on that investment?

How do you know its his car? Not his parents

Why would he be complaining about being poor when he gets free use of a nice car? I ride the bus with people who I've never heard complain about it.

iPads have rebate programmes for college students, at least in Australia. And are very useful in general. I know friends who have sold their laptops, TVs, computers etc. and just use Ipads now

That's not the point, though. The point is claiming poverty when you've got every convenience under the sun. I took notes on paper because a laptop was a waste of money. I took the bus to school because the parking pass is ridiculous. I skip Starbucks even though I love their vanilla coffees because I need to get through school more than I need vanilla coffee, and I still don't complain about it.

Giving college students a free pass because they are young and stupid is taking the easy way out. Financial literacy courses in high school might put a dent in this. Taking the entitlement out of financial aid might also nip this shit in the bud.

 

[Sinatar]

I worked while going to college to make ends meet. I'd be at class from 8am - 4pm, then work from 4:30 - 11:30 every night, then do homework till like 3 or 4 am.

I think I nearly killed myself doing that shit, but you gotta do what you gotta do.