The fridge is empty, an unopened box of noodles lurks in a corner of the kitchen and half a box of stale cereal is all that remains in the cupboards.
Many college students experience money woes during school. After buying textbooks and surviving the first weekends of the semester at the bars with a never-ending tab, there are bound to be light wallets in their pockets.
Diane Hardy and Jessica Kumro-Ereiz, international student advisers of the International Student and Scholar Services, hosted a seminar on Thursday to teach tricks to avoid this seemingly unavoidable destiny of college life bankruptcy.
One of the more important tactics is to maintain a budget, according to Kumro-Eriez. It is much easier to avoid falling further into debt when students acknowledge fixed and flexible expenses, she said.
Fixed expenses, like tuition and rent, are unavoidable and easier to account for. Students should focus mainly on flexible expenses when determining a budget.
A panel of students offered tips on how to live as cheaply as possible.
Students should consider opening a savings account and keeping private loans in their savings accounts for as long as possible to maximize the amount of money available for expenses, according to the panel.
Students don't need to break the bank on school supplies, according to Andrew Widjaja, a senior finance major. Textbooks are usually available online for half the cost of other bookstores and may be available to rent.
The best deals on laptops and other electronics are usually available the day after Thanksgiving and directly after Christmas, when retailers are trying to improve their bottom line, which means savings for shoppers.
Maintaining a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables while trying to save money is another challenge for students.
'I live at home, but I still clip coupons,' said Ellen Hayes, a junior psychology major. 'It's hard to eat healthy and cheap because processed foods are less expensive.'
Students should buy food in bulk and prepare them at home. Cooking food is less expensive than constantly eating at fast food restaurants and is healthier, too.
'I bring my own food [to school] whenever I can,' said Brian Fahr, a freshman mechanical engineering major. 'I also eat a lot of fruit, which is cheap, and I try to [not drink] pop because that's expensive.'
Students can take advantage of events and services offered throughout the semester that give away food and merchandise.
By sticking to a careful budget and taking advantage of money saving deals when possible, students may notice their wallets slowly getting heavier.
For more money saving tips and information, students can visit International Student and Scholar Services, located in 210 Talbert Hall.
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