We've all been there. The struggle of having barely enough money to make it through your day on one cup of coffee, let alone spend hundreds of dollars on textbooks you may or may not end up using. Living on a college budget can be tough. Especially when your balancing sorority dues, tuition, books, and living costs. As we ring in the New Year, it's time we start focusing more on ourselves, and less of what most people expect of your typical college student. Go outside your comfort zone, visit places you've never been, try new foods, and forget about the thousands and thousands of dollars you'll owe after the best four years of your life have come to a close.

As we know, travel isn't always the cheapest thing to do, especially while in college. I've learned though, that it can be a lot easier then I've anticipated. Thinking of a girl's weekend to New York City? Take a Greyhound bus. Thinking of making your way to Coachella music festival in April? Tough it out and take an Amtrak train. Yeah sure, you may not be first class with sparkling water and a 6 dollar bag of pretzels, but it's the experience that counts. Even if that experience entails a long, 3 day drive across the country. It is so very important to travel long before you are tied down to a job and any major bills that adult hood may include.

The buddy system.

Use it. It makes all travel accommodations cheaper, and what is a getaway when you don't have anyone to experience it with? If your thinking of taking a Spring break trip with your girlfriends, try thinking outside the box and visiting somewhere other then the Keys, or Panama City. Port Aransas, located in Texas rents beautiful and affordable beach houses all for under the price of 29 dollars a person.

Eat in.

Restaurants can be a serious financial buzzkill during a getaway. Truthfully, I would rather not pay 10 dollars for a garden salad, and 15 more for an entree. It is 10 times more enjoyable and affordable to shop the local grocery store at your chosen vacation destination, grab a few packets of meats, cheeses, and snacks, to slab on the grill! Allow yourself to splurge on one nice dinner and one hearty breakfast. There's no shame in wanting to spend money on that delicious meal at one of the highest rated restaurants in town. Refrain from spending unnecessary cash on fast food because there is nothing I love more then a meal made from scratch and when your surrounded by a group of your closest friends, what could be better?

La Pain Quotidien is located in SoHo, New York City. From my personal experience of an impromptu trip to New York, it was super affordable and delicious! My advice, order the steel cut oatmeal with maple and walnuts.

Pack Lightly.

Let us not forget that you are in fact charged for carry-on's and checked baggage. Keep your packing to a minimum. Take only the essentials and make the most of the outfits you've chosen to bring. Think ahead and plan out color schemes, lifting the burden of having to sit on your suitcase just to get it zipped. We've all been there...trust me.

Last but not least, enjoy yourself.

Don't let the burden of cost keep you from enjoying life. It is super important to stick to your college budget, but also important to get out there and live life to the fullest. So be adventurous, be spontaneous, and let your mind lead your to where you want to be. "We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us." - Anonymous