So you’re in college. Amazing! But now you have to pay for everything: loans, tuition, 300 mile road trips to the circus, food, entertainment, blue hair dye, Halloween costumes (essential, as in: 3-12 extra points on a bio-ethics exam for “costume creativity”), piercings you wouldn’t want your grandmother to see, random bagel and caffeine money… The list goes on and on. But how to manage? The answer is far easier than eating ramen every meal for a month. Trust me, ramen gets real dull real fast.

1. Go “back to school” on salvation army gear.

   (Note: If you’re one of those people who whines about used things, you’ll need to either shut up or win the lottery.)

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   Seriously, the salvation army is awesome. Most of the shirts are pretty nice and dont cost more than 4 dollars (at most: you can pick most shirts up for 50-99 cents) Jeans are always difficult to find, especially if you are petite. Spending money on a new pair of jeans and sneakers is really all you need to go back with. 20 dollars can buy 15-20 really nice shirts at salvation army, versus half of one shirt from american eagle or Hollister. The graphic tee selection at salvation army is also way better, hands down. I found a vintage shirt that said “rock me now” on the front and “love me later” on the back. It’s wild, I love it and wear it everywhere. Make a list of what you truly need to go back to school with. Hoodies/Sweaters, a jacket, jeans, tops, shoes, (makeup?), purse. Now circle the things that absolutely need to be bought new. Not many. You can get three times what you normally would pay somewhere else and may even find a treasure. Don’t hate on the salvation army! The money goes to charity instead of corporations who perpetuate world poverty. Yes. You’re also saving the world, kid!

2. Stop eating ramen, man. Put the fork…down. Slowly.

   Okay, so it’s fun for awhile. It’s always nice to have around, but don’t plan your meals on it. Soup and rice cost about the same, when it comes down to it. Don’t be one of those kids who runs out of BJ’S with their eyes bulging out of their heads screaming “OH MY GAWD I JUST GOT 900 PACKAGES OF SHRIMP FLAVORED ON SALE! ON SALE!” << Really, I’ve seen it happen and it’s not too pretty. Bread, mayo, and tomatoes and tap water to drink: a delicious lunch for a week. Some orange crackers with peanut butter are a good snack in between classes, and a thermos filled with a warm drink of your choice after class. Sounds horrible, doesn’t it? Welcome to college: where everyone is an insomniac, an anorexic, and a degenerate perfectionist! Just remember the life that you’re trying to build for yourself, and it won’t seem so bad. These are the best years, after all.

3. Don’t booze. It costs money.

4. It costs even MORE money if you get caught.

   Someone during their freshman year at a university, which shall remain nameless, was tossed out of their dorm for filling an empty laundry detergent bottle with red wine. He would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren’t for the giant bag of blue plastic cups that he brought in with it. Because he was thrown out of the dorm, he now has to pay thousands more a year to commute and is not allowed within 1000 feet of the building. It’s not a pretty picture, and a lot of potential good moments were taken because he is now allowed back. Don’t be stupid, you WILL get caught. If not the first time, then the second or third. Eventually you will get caught.

5. Work study

   So, you probably should work. Yeah. THAT. The purpose of this article wasn’t to show you how you can get away with living with NO money, because the money you are making should be going towards your loans or future. Most colleges and universities have work study programs, for people who qualify, that offer to pay your tuition for busy work. Additionally, they pay you pocket money. Do what you can to get ahead with internships, and stock the money away for later. You’ll need it more then. You don’t really need that giant 400 dollar lava lamp, anyway.