If you haven't noticed, TPS is on hiatus because
if (college == true)
{
boolean socialLife = false;
}
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Daily Deal!
And yet again, the daily deal sites are ones I have been using for years now and would definitely recommend checking out!
Woot.com, along with sellout.woot.com feature a new item every day that is absurdly cheap and usually quite useful. Sometimes, they are refurbished items, sometimes discontinued, but always something that makes you go "I want that!"
A new item is posted on Woot at 11:59 central time, and is sold until 11:59 the next day, or until it is sold out.
Woot.com, along with sellout.woot.com feature a new item every day that is absurdly cheap and usually quite useful. Sometimes, they are refurbished items, sometimes discontinued, but always something that makes you go "I want that!"
A new item is posted on Woot at 11:59 central time, and is sold until 11:59 the next day, or until it is sold out.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Eating like a king on the salary of a peasant
There is a very good reason that Ramen Noodles and Mac 'n Cheese are common staples of the college kid's diet. Mainly, they are dirt cheap and easy to make.
However, the smart student will know that you can eat much better, without paying much more.
Eating well is not as hard as you might think, nor as expensive if you know where to look. Many towns, especially ones near college campuses, will have some sort of cheap food store such as a Save-A-Lot or Aldi's, which are some of the greatest places you can go if you want to save money. Also, many dollar stores sell dry goods such as cereal, canned veggies and soup, and boxed pastas.
Another great thing is to purchase in bulk. Costco and Sam's Club require memberships (not a bad thing to invest in sometimes) but places such as Gordon Food Service do not. If you have a food or drink you buy frequently, buying them in bulk can be ridiculously cheaper and require you to need to buy them less.
Two super easy ways to save are to use coupons (check out the daily deal!) and ALWAYS purchase off-brand if possible. 99% of the time, they taste the exact same and are much cheaper.
However, the smart student will know that you can eat much better, without paying much more.
Eating well is not as hard as you might think, nor as expensive if you know where to look. Many towns, especially ones near college campuses, will have some sort of cheap food store such as a Save-A-Lot or Aldi's, which are some of the greatest places you can go if you want to save money. Also, many dollar stores sell dry goods such as cereal, canned veggies and soup, and boxed pastas.
Another great thing is to purchase in bulk. Costco and Sam's Club require memberships (not a bad thing to invest in sometimes) but places such as Gordon Food Service do not. If you have a food or drink you buy frequently, buying them in bulk can be ridiculously cheaper and require you to need to buy them less.
Two super easy ways to save are to use coupons (check out the daily deal!) and ALWAYS purchase off-brand if possible. 99% of the time, they taste the exact same and are much cheaper.
Daily Deal
Today's daily deal is one of the more popular websites for saving money.
Coupons.com features many coupons that are easily "clipped" and printed right from your computer. They have a whole array of different coupons on stuff most people buy anyways (shampoo, snacks, coffee, etc) so there really isn't a reason not to use them. I mean, its basically free money!
Coupons.com features many coupons that are easily "clipped" and printed right from your computer. They have a whole array of different coupons on stuff most people buy anyways (shampoo, snacks, coffee, etc) so there really isn't a reason not to use them. I mean, its basically free money!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Daily Deal!
The daily deal for today is one that takes a little more effort and time, but the payouts can be huge!
The site is MyPoints.com, and at first glance it seems a wee bit spammy. But looks can be deceiving...
Essentially what you do is earn points, redeemable for gift cards. A few emails get send your way each day, along with surveys and contests. You also get so many points per dollar if you shop at places like Avon, HP, Barnes & Noble, and a ton of other places. You just gotta click the link through MyPoints to get to the site and... voila!
I've been a user of the site for a good amount of time now, and without spending any money at all (just a few seconds a day!) I've gotten a $25 Subway gift card, a $10 Burger King gift card, and $25 Kohl's gift card to name a few.
Definitely check it out! It's always nice to get that little something for nothing.
The site is MyPoints.com, and at first glance it seems a wee bit spammy. But looks can be deceiving...
Essentially what you do is earn points, redeemable for gift cards. A few emails get send your way each day, along with surveys and contests. You also get so many points per dollar if you shop at places like Avon, HP, Barnes & Noble, and a ton of other places. You just gotta click the link through MyPoints to get to the site and... voila!
I've been a user of the site for a good amount of time now, and without spending any money at all (just a few seconds a day!) I've gotten a $25 Subway gift card, a $10 Burger King gift card, and $25 Kohl's gift card to name a few.
Definitely check it out! It's always nice to get that little something for nothing.
Spending Less on a Computer
So lets say you save up your money for a while and decide you want to invest in a computer. How on Earth can you get something new without completely breaking the bank?
Simple. You just research and take your time.
There are two basic options for computers: PC, and Mac. If you can afford a Mac, I don't understand why you are even looking at this site considering purchasing a Mac is being the opposite of frugal. Expect to pay 2-3x more for a Mac than a comparable PC.
Now that it's been established that you want a PC, determining what to buy depends on what you need.
If you want a laptop, the typical suggestion is to purchase a Dell or HP. However, with a little bit of research you can easily find a similar laptop for a cheaper price, especially as the quality of the laptop increases. I suggest looking at newegg.com for the best deals on a laptop (or anything computer oriented). Often times with popular brands such as Dell, you pay for the name.
Desktops are a bit trickier. If you know computers fairly well, it isn't tough to build a top of the line system for a very reasonable price. If you don't know how, consult your local computer geek and they'll probably be glad to help.
Whatever you decide on, be patient. There are constantly new sales and new items, as well as a push for sales in this struggling and competitive economy. Computers are cheaper now than ever, and with a little effort you can walk away with much more than you bargained for with money still left in your wallet.
Simple. You just research and take your time.
There are two basic options for computers: PC, and Mac. If you can afford a Mac, I don't understand why you are even looking at this site considering purchasing a Mac is being the opposite of frugal. Expect to pay 2-3x more for a Mac than a comparable PC.
Now that it's been established that you want a PC, determining what to buy depends on what you need.
If you want a laptop, the typical suggestion is to purchase a Dell or HP. However, with a little bit of research you can easily find a similar laptop for a cheaper price, especially as the quality of the laptop increases. I suggest looking at newegg.com for the best deals on a laptop (or anything computer oriented). Often times with popular brands such as Dell, you pay for the name.
Desktops are a bit trickier. If you know computers fairly well, it isn't tough to build a top of the line system for a very reasonable price. If you don't know how, consult your local computer geek and they'll probably be glad to help.
Whatever you decide on, be patient. There are constantly new sales and new items, as well as a push for sales in this struggling and competitive economy. Computers are cheaper now than ever, and with a little effort you can walk away with much more than you bargained for with money still left in your wallet.
Daily Deals!
Every day, I'll be posting another aid to help you live the frugal life. Coupons, free samples, giveaways, contests... so keep an eye out!
Today's entry is one of my favorite kind of things... FREE!
The site is shop4freebies.com and it is loaded with lots of goodies to try out. Most of the stuff is sample sized, but occasionally they have a full sized product available. They have a whole array of everything from beauty products, to coupons, to food.
Just to be safe, when signing up for any deal online you should use an email address designated for spam. I haven't had any issues yet but there is always the chance.
If you have any suggestions for tomorrow's Daily Deal or just wanna say hi, leave a comment!
Today's entry is one of my favorite kind of things... FREE!
The site is shop4freebies.com and it is loaded with lots of goodies to try out. Most of the stuff is sample sized, but occasionally they have a full sized product available. They have a whole array of everything from beauty products, to coupons, to food.
Just to be safe, when signing up for any deal online you should use an email address designated for spam. I haven't had any issues yet but there is always the chance.
If you have any suggestions for tomorrow's Daily Deal or just wanna say hi, leave a comment!
Handling the Dreaded Tuition Bill
Tuition is expensive, ranging from $100 per credit hour for community college all the way to Ivy League schools charging between 1-2k per credit hour. Naturally, most students do not have the funding to be able to pay for even 1 year of tuition, let alone 4 years.
This is where the dreaded loans come in.
According to finaid.org, the average student loan debt came to $23,186 in 2007-2008, between private and government loans. That is a lot of money, and it doesn't even include the outrageous interest rates that will continue adding up for years after.
The ideal way to reduce debt and make it a little easier on yourself is to obviously avoid taking out loans whenever possible. If you must, try to get the government's subsidized loans (the gov will pay your interest while you are still in school!) and loans with low interest rates and flexible payment schedules.
The best way to help avoid high debt is to apply for every scholarship imaginable! Sites such as fastweb.com have a comprehensive search function to filter out the ones you qualify for.
Your university should also have a financial aid office with information about scholarships. A visit to them could end up saving you a good deal of money!
Also, be sure to check out the places where your parents work(ed). If you have a job or had one, check there as well. Some employers offer scholarships to employees or to dependents of employees.
All in all, you want to avoid loans like the plague.
This is where the dreaded loans come in.
According to finaid.org, the average student loan debt came to $23,186 in 2007-2008, between private and government loans. That is a lot of money, and it doesn't even include the outrageous interest rates that will continue adding up for years after.
The ideal way to reduce debt and make it a little easier on yourself is to obviously avoid taking out loans whenever possible. If you must, try to get the government's subsidized loans (the gov will pay your interest while you are still in school!) and loans with low interest rates and flexible payment schedules.
The best way to help avoid high debt is to apply for every scholarship imaginable! Sites such as fastweb.com have a comprehensive search function to filter out the ones you qualify for.
Your university should also have a financial aid office with information about scholarships. A visit to them could end up saving you a good deal of money!
Also, be sure to check out the places where your parents work(ed). If you have a job or had one, check there as well. Some employers offer scholarships to employees or to dependents of employees.
All in all, you want to avoid loans like the plague.
Where to live?
From the comfortable living of back home with the family to being shoved out into the real world with bills and rent can be quite the shock on the wallet. Most of us never realize just how expensive it is to live, even when living very frugally.
The easiest way to save money is to not live on campus if possible.
According to their website, at the University of Notre Dame, housing costs $10,604.00 for the "single room" (you live in one room alone) with meal plan of 14 meals per week plus $330.00 per semester. This works out to an average of $1214.88 a month for 9 months.
And this is your room:
Cozy, ain't it?
The difference between a 1 bedroom on and off campus are huge. Keep in mind that a 1 bedroom off-campus also comes with a kitchen, private bathroom, and usually a living and/or dining room.
According to collegeprowler.com, the average rent per month is about $525 for a 1 bedroom near campus. That leaves between 600-700 dollars a month extra for food, utilities, and misc. expenses.
Lets say, theoretically, your utilities are about $200 a month for internet, water, trash, gas, electric, tv, etc. That is a pretty high number for the average student, especially considering most apartment complexes that cater to college students often include one or two utilities in the cost of the rent. That still leaves 400-500 bucks a month for food and whatever else you want.
I don't know about you, but I could eat like a queen for 400 bucks a month.
Some say they worry about being isolated when living off campus... but it really isn't that bad. You still meet many people from your different classes, and the older you are, the more likely those students will also be living off campus. You also will have many more freedoms and much more privacy living off campus.
The easiest way to save money is to not live on campus if possible.
According to their website, at the University of Notre Dame, housing costs $10,604.00 for the "single room" (you live in one room alone) with meal plan of 14 meals per week plus $330.00 per semester. This works out to an average of $1214.88 a month for 9 months.
And this is your room:
Cozy, ain't it?
The difference between a 1 bedroom on and off campus are huge. Keep in mind that a 1 bedroom off-campus also comes with a kitchen, private bathroom, and usually a living and/or dining room.
According to collegeprowler.com, the average rent per month is about $525 for a 1 bedroom near campus. That leaves between 600-700 dollars a month extra for food, utilities, and misc. expenses.
Lets say, theoretically, your utilities are about $200 a month for internet, water, trash, gas, electric, tv, etc. That is a pretty high number for the average student, especially considering most apartment complexes that cater to college students often include one or two utilities in the cost of the rent. That still leaves 400-500 bucks a month for food and whatever else you want.
I don't know about you, but I could eat like a queen for 400 bucks a month.
Some say they worry about being isolated when living off campus... but it really isn't that bad. You still meet many people from your different classes, and the older you are, the more likely those students will also be living off campus. You also will have many more freedoms and much more privacy living off campus.
Purchasing Books
Books can be an incredibly costly purchase. With the constant release of new editions forcing the costs up, many textbooks can run anywhere from 80-200 bucks new. Your local university bookstore often capitalizes on this fact and charges higher prices than can be found online or at independent bookstores.
By choosing to do a little bit of research, you can save anywhere from 10 to 60 bucks easily for a new or gently used book.
To demonstrate, I will use a couple of the books assigned to me for the upcoming fall semester.
Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis in C++ (ISBN: 9780321441461)
University Bookstore: $112.95 new, $84.95 used
Amazon.com: $84.13 new from Amazon, $69.99 new from Amazon Marketplace, $64.99 used
Ideals and Ideologies: A Reader (ISBN: 9780205607358)
University Bookstore: $79.40 new, $59.55 used
Amazon.com: $62.94 new, $41.00 used
So for two books purchased through Amazon instead of my bookstore, I can easily save about 60 bucks buying new, and 40 buying used.
If possible, always purchase used. Most of the books I have purchased used look as if they haven't even been opened before, and are quite a bit cheaper. Using the two earlier examples, purchasing used over new on Amazon can save about 40 bucks on its own!
Shipping can sometimes take a few days, though, so be prepared and order ahead!
By choosing to do a little bit of research, you can save anywhere from 10 to 60 bucks easily for a new or gently used book.
To demonstrate, I will use a couple of the books assigned to me for the upcoming fall semester.
Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis in C++ (ISBN: 9780321441461)
University Bookstore: $112.95 new, $84.95 used
Amazon.com: $84.13 new from Amazon, $69.99 new from Amazon Marketplace, $64.99 used
Ideals and Ideologies: A Reader (ISBN: 9780205607358)
University Bookstore: $79.40 new, $59.55 used
Amazon.com: $62.94 new, $41.00 used
So for two books purchased through Amazon instead of my bookstore, I can easily save about 60 bucks buying new, and 40 buying used.
If possible, always purchase used. Most of the books I have purchased used look as if they haven't even been opened before, and are quite a bit cheaper. Using the two earlier examples, purchasing used over new on Amazon can save about 40 bucks on its own!
Shipping can sometimes take a few days, though, so be prepared and order ahead!
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