College: The time for empty pockets and purses. Students have to pay for tuition and classes and books and rent and food for the first time in their life, and maybe they have time for a part-time minimum wage job. And yeah, we could save up the small amount of leftover money for the future, but college isn’t the time for that. I am perfectly fine with being poor and spending all my extra money on things I enjoy. I don’t want to open up a savings account, that’s something I will do when I am graduated and a boring adult. I don’t want to spend my last carefree years worrying about money and my future. There are only a few years where it’s acceptable to be incredibly reckless and drunk and I’m going to live them up. Here’s a few things I would much rather spend my money on than saving:

1. Music Festivals

From Coachella to Lollapalooza to the thousands of other music festivals across the world, they are worth the money. There’s no other place in the world I would rather be than a music festival. The people are nice, the outfits are cute, the live music is great, and the food is delicious.

2. Traveling

Visiting other towns, other countries, or other schools is an amazing experience and teaches you as much, if not more, than any class ever could. Road trips with good friends or camping on the coast or eating in a local café in a city you’ve never been to are experiences worth every second and penny spent.

3. Going out with friends

A night out at the local bars or going to dinner with a group of close friends can get expensive sometimes, but it can also mean creating an exciting night with some of your friends that you will look back on in ten years with a smile.

4. Staying in with friends

Buying a bottle of wine and renting a movie can be just as fun and memorable as a night out.

5. Netflix

Every college student needs to spend the few dollars a month and invest in Netflix. It’s cheaper than cable and you can sit and binge watch hundreds of TV shows in your dorm room when college gets to be too much for you. I couldn’t live without my Netflix subscription and no one else should have to either.

6. A high-quality laptop

When you get to college, your laptop becomes your life. I take notes on it, do my homework, read my books online, and basically keep everything I need on it. Buying my MacBook Air is the smartest decision I have ever made and I would not be able to survive college without it.

7. A gym membership

If your school doesn’t come with a free membership, the small monthly fee isn’t bad. No one wants to gain the freshman 15 and going to the gym daily can make you feel better, be healthier, and increase your energy.

8. A hobby

Whatever it is you like to do, make time for it. Don’t be afraid to spend money on something you genuinely enjoy doing and are passionate about. With school and work and adult responsibilities on the horizon, having a hobby and making it a priority is essential.