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Student Life

7 To Save Money At College When You're Living On Your Own

I don't know one person who wants to open their utility bill and have to hand over an entire paycheck. No thanks!

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7 To Save Money At College When You're Living On Your Own

No one likes to be the broke college student, but alas, someone's got to do it! That doesn't mean you have to eat ramen noodles every night, though. You can still pinch your pennies and save for something fun, like spring break!

1. Use coupons

Okay so I thought that coupons were an old person thing, but now I'm kind of addicted. Technology makes it so easy too. A lot of chain grocery stores have apps you can download and clip coupons/ deals electronically.

2. Unplug appliances when you're not using them

You'd vomit if you knew how much electricity is drawn from appliances that are simply plugged in. From obvious electric wasters like phone chargers, to things you would never realize like coffee makers. It just takes a second to unplug, and the savings will be noticeable.

3. Grocery shop locally

Unless you live in a place that doesn't have a lot of agriculture, groceries from local, small farms can be very inexpensive- and taste a lot better too. I highly recommend farmers markets, because you help out your local people while getting the freshest food possible!

4. Avoid buying textbooks new

Seriously, there is no reason you should be paying $200 for an intro to biology book. Always reach out on your school's Facebook page, and try throwing the ISBN # in google to see what pops up.

5. Turn off lights

Whenever you leave a room, or especially your house, turn off the lights. I laugh at myself because I sound exactly like my dad- but I swear it does make a difference in your electric bill.

6. Reduce your AC usage

Guilty as charged, because like most people I prefer a cool house in the summer. However, AC is the largest cost producer on your bill. I lived a summer with no AC, and survived 90 degree days just fine with a few fans and open windows. I believe in you!

7. Invest in a low flow shower head

If you have a habit of taking long ass showers, a low flow shower head could be a great investment. You can find easily installable ones for under $20, and it will lessen your bills tremendously.

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

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

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Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

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December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

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"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

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I know every college student has daily thoughts throughout their day. Whether you're walking on campus or attending class, we always have thoughts running a mile a minute through our heads. We may be wondering why we even showed up to class because we'd rather be sleeping, or when the professor announces that we have a test and you have an immediate panic attack.

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"A Christmas Story" is the star on top of the tree.

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The Great Christmas Movie Debate
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One staple of the Christmas season is sitting around the television watching a Christmas movie with family and friends. But of the seemingly hundreds of movies, which one is the star on the tree? Some share stories of Santa to children ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"), others want to spread the Christmas joy to adults ("It's a Wonderful Life"), and a select few are made to get laughs ("Elf"). All good movies, but merely ornaments on the Christmas tree of the best movies. What tops the tree is a movie that bridges the gap between these three movies, and makes it a great watch for anyone who chooses to watch it. Enter the timeless Christmas classic, "A Christmas Story." Created in 1983, this movie holds the tradition of capturing both young and old eyes for 24 straight hours on its Christmas Day marathon. It gets the most coverage out of all holiday movies, but the sheer amount of times it's on television does not make it the greatest. Why is it,
then? A Christmas Story does not try to tell the tale of a Christmas miracle or use Christmas magic to move the story. What it does do though is tell the real story of Christmas. It is relatable and brings out the unmatched excitement of children on Christmas in everyone who watches. Every one becomes a child again when they watch "A Christmas Story."

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As this semester wraps up, students can’t help but be stressed about finals. After all, our GPAs depends on these grades! What student isn’t worrying about their finals right now? It’s “goodbye social life, hello library” time from now until the end of finals week.

1. Finals are weeks away, I’m sure I’ll be ready for them when they come.

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