Books, food, and other daily expenses are not cheap, and having empty pockets is often a right of passage for the average college student. Although driving your car on empty for a day, waiting all week for 25-cent drafts and buying generic pop-tarts may incite a sense of pride in some, most students find themselves longing for the day when they don't have to live paycheck to paycheck.
To make up for their typically thrifty lifestyles, many students make it a point to indulge themselves with a special purchase every once in a while. Everyone has their own little things they splurge on with their extra cash and the things they scrimp on in order to pay for those indulgences.
"I don't spend money unless I have to," said Rebecca Anderson, sophomore sociology major. "I spend it when I go out or it goes in the bank. Food is important, and movies. I bought a laptop. That was my indulgence, I guess. I didn't really need it."
Michelle Balsan, a third year law student, has also splurged on technology.
"My indulgences are gadgets-I like toys, like Batman. I went to the mall the day the PSP came out with no intention of getting one, and I left with one. I guess I like being an early adopter of technology," she said.
This certainly has been the time for technology indulgences. Recent "Black Friday" sales offered low prices on digital cameras, flat-screen monitors and MP3 players. Xbox 360 was also released this month, possibly setting off another round of video gaming obsession similar to that spawned by Playstation 2 and the first Xbox.
"I get the bling technology. Like, for instance a shiny iPod and a cube PC with a 64-bit processor," said Jonothon Jurdi, a senior computer engineering major.
To make up for his expensive technological purchases, Jurdi cuts back in other areas of spending.
"I buy cheap wrapping paper from the Dollar Store, and usually food too. You can get food cheaper if you don't mind canned things, or if you go to Aldi rather than Tops or Wegmans," said Jurdi. "When I go clothes shopping, I look for sales and try not to pay full price for anything."
While many choose to spend their hard-earned cash on technology, others prefer to spend their spare cash on food and eating out.
"I spend lots of money on entertainment for me and my boyfriend," said Danielle Bartholomew, a freshman physical therapy major.
Her boyfriend, Tom Lyon, a graduate student in urban planning, has an interesting philosophy on what merits spending a little extra money.
"Rather than buying ground beef, I buy Boca because it's 50 cents cheaper," said Lyon. "Then I get middle-shelf scotch rather than bottom shelf."
Other people, like senior psychology major Timothy Burrows, cut their corners on food and entertainment and spend the extra money on going out.
"I rent movies at the library instead of Hollywood Video or Blockbuster and wait until a movie hits the dollar theatre," said Burrows. "And if I am buying food I will always go with the generic brand."
While he does like to go out, Burrows does have his limits.
"I only drink at a bar if there are drink specials," he said.
William Boulden, senior music theory major, cuts corners elsewhere so that he can enjoy the privileges of being 21.
"I like to buy good beer, and I like to get a margarita with my dinner when I eat out," said Boulden. "And of course, I buy synthesizers and music equipment, but I don't buy fancy clothes and I never buy DVDs. I have no interest in them. I usually just watch recorded TV shows."
Another popular splurge for college students is on clothes and fashion.
"Shoes, purses, makeup and jewelry," said Sara Paur, a senior psychology major. "By the time I finish with those, I'm usually broke. Expensive purses and cheap shoes: Coach and Payless, that's my life. Purses you carry higher, plus I have a better chance at finding a bag that fits under my arm than shoes that fit on my feet."
For some students, spending is a well thought out process and involves saving now and spending later.
"I conserve as much as I can so I can use it towards bigger purchases later like a car, paying off loans, things like that," said Kerri Engle, a junior economics major. I usually buy things on a need and want basis but if I do go out and spend it's usually on clothes-shirts and sweaters mainly, I guess."
In the end, while the stereotype of being a poor college student is pretty accurate, students find ways to occasionally indulge themselves, even if it means cutting corners elsewhere.
"I still manage to enjoy myself and buy nice things," said Kristen Howard, a senior biology major. "The key is watching your budget and spending money on the things you really want."
