7 Reasons Why College Students Are Broke
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7 Reasons Why College Students Are Broke

When our bank account go from a hundred to zero real quick.

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7 Reasons Why College Students Are Broke
Help Me, I'm Poor

I do not know what is more depressing -- when the dinning hall food is sub-par or when you look at your bank statement and see less than $100. If I could calculate all the money I have spent during my years in college based on the amount of food I ate off campus, alcohol, random stuff that I do not need (like a plush Olaf from Target), and other stuff, I am sure that I would go into a total shock.

I work two jobs and I still worry about money. The beautiful question, "what are you going to do post-graduation?" rings in my head every time I spend penny because grad school seems so far away. If a university could give me money to attend grad school then I will wear its school colors every day for the rest of my life. (I am not kidding.)

So why are we broke?

1. Victoria Secret Semi-Annual Sale (no judgment if anyone other than females take part in this; they have some really nice stuff)

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F01%2F27%2F6358952988483864301883708600_VS%2520semi%2520anual%2520sale.gif&ho=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn1.theodysseyonline.com&s=173&h=b6ff6cdba877f8ac4017bfd74565e3cc82f0fd66afd75aba6f60866a491c14f7&size=980x&c=3291821874 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F01%252F27%252F6358952988483864301883708600_VS%252520semi%252520anual%252520sale.gif%26ho%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fcdn1.theodysseyonline.com%26s%3D173%26h%3Db6ff6cdba877f8ac4017bfd74565e3cc82f0fd66afd75aba6f60866a491c14f7%26size%3D980x%26c%3D3291821874%22%7D" expand=1]

3 body care products for $15?! 70% off make up?! 7 panties for $25?! I really feel for VS employees during the semi annual sale because it may be worse than Black Friday. I have seen grown women fight over a bra just because it was $18...I can get 2 bras for $18 at Kohl's. Other than that, I could do some real damage on that plus the swim wear sale! A bikini for $39! Thankfully I have learned to put stuff down items and end up only spending $40 max, but the girl in front of me spent $200...you do you boo!

2. Target

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Cartwheel, Red Points, and sales oh my! I may only go to target to get my prescription refilled and come out with 3 shopping bags filled with that concealer "I really needed," glitter (because that is my favorite color), and random food items because they were all on sale. I scan every item with Cartwheel and if it is on sale, I am getting it. Pretty sure my apartment bedroom could be a model room for Target. Tip: Bring reusable bags, and get 5 cents off per bag towards your final purchase.

3. Taco Bell or any other fast food

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F01%2F27%2F635895310664919919-1193173822_Taco%2520Bell.gif&ho=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn1.theodysseyonline.com&s=419&h=77a36f57356fd4bfc2bb02a2c775e9842c11c39070aff3ed1e2ed474291f1588&size=980x&c=179025564 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F01%252F27%252F635895310664919919-1193173822_Taco%252520Bell.gif%26ho%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fcdn1.theodysseyonline.com%26s%3D419%26h%3D77a36f57356fd4bfc2bb02a2c775e9842c11c39070aff3ed1e2ed474291f1588%26size%3D980x%26c%3D179025564%22%7D" expand=1]

Is the dinning hall food sub-par? Maybe you are just too lazy to make food? Well my roommates and I have a solution to that! Taco Bell runs are a thing at my apartment. When one of us craves those warm potatoes topped with fake cheese and sour cream, we all make a field trip to Taco Bell. Happier Hour can make me dance; $1 grillers and medium drinks (except they never have Mountain Dew Baja Blast) can make anyone smile. Love cheesy fiesta potatoes? They got a wrap for it! Now my stomach may not love it, but let's be honest, yo quiero Taco Bell.

4. That gym membership that we really don't use

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F01%2F27%2F6358953168220120922040773061_gym.gif&ho=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn1.theodysseyonline.com&s=958&h=808948bd3eeba3ea476c08dfbc417f3796929920c6e45222e6f10c5471d95894&size=980x&c=3235506131 crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252Ffiles%252F2016%252F01%252F27%252F6358953168220120922040773061_gym.gif%26ho%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fcdn1.theodysseyonline.com%26s%3D958%26h%3D808948bd3eeba3ea476c08dfbc417f3796929920c6e45222e6f10c5471d95894%26size%3D980x%26c%3D3235506131%22%7D" expand=1]

No judgement. Just like Planet Fitness, this is a judgement free zone. I go to Planet Fitness for $10/month and I used to loathe going. What I do wonder is why people just go to the gym to take selfies? You are paying $10-80/month to take a selfie? Move over so I can use the weights. Just a warning, that monthly membership adds up, so use it or drop it to save yourself money!

5. Alcohol

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It costs $6 for a shot of Fireball in Diet Coke at a local club. It costs $7 for a mimosa. It costs $9 for a Sour Amaretto. It costs $0 for water. As stereotypical college kids, my friends and I would go to fraternity parties and get free alcohol. Free for the ladies and $5 for a cup for the men. Recently I sat down with a friend who is a member of a certain fraternity and he said they would spend $300 on alcohol per party....do you know what I could do with $300? I could buy 30 cockroaches at the Bronx Zoo and name them after people I do not like, buy 150 packs of gum, pay for my car to get detailed, or do the responsible thing and pay off student loans. Tip: If you plan on going out to a bar or club, only take a $20 for your alcohol purchases. You cannot spend more than $20, and you learn to not chug everything plus drink specials.

6. Textbooks

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My sociology textbook was $200...why? Luckily my dad is an Amazon Prime wizard and can score awesome deals, but why do I need to spend $300+ every semester when we already pay $15-80,000 per year on tuition? Can there be a deal like pay your tuition, get free textbooks?

7. Spring Break

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First of all, it is not forever; it is a week. For example, you are going to Panama City. You need to find a flight to get there and back, or gas money for you brave souls who drive down there, buy a room at a hotel for so many nights, buy food and alcohol, pay for taxis unless you plan on walking everywhere -- also, if you get a drinking ticket, then that is more money -- and money for restocking the mini bar. That all comes to a grand total of $800+. I am in no way putting down this awesome trip (if you need an extra person, and it is free, hit me up), but I do not have that money. I usually work during my spring breaks because I am poor, broke, and tired. However, I plan on going all out next winter break on a cruise because it will be off season and so much cheaper.

But remember, what happens on spring break doesn't stay in spring break.

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One thing that they do not teach you in high school is how to survive college balling on a budget. Seriously, there needs to be a how to course on this! I did not write this article to put anyone down, but to make it known on why we are all broke. Yes, I love Wicked Taco but I do not want all my money to go towards it when I have piles of student loans. Just be mindful of what you are using your money towards, but also have fun. College is a lot or work, so if you have a huge exam and you passed it, you go get yourself a 24 oz margarita on Margarita Monday for $6, or a mani/pedi, or just time for a nap. We all deserve a little treat.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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