Killer Tofu
No real reason for the picture, I just decided to take one from outside my apartment. It’s pretty overcast today, but it is a nice reprieve from the humidity.
*UPDATE*
This thing was just outside my door. A big ol’ nasty cicada. It looks kinda neat though.
The new fall school session is here and in full swing. There seems to be more people on campus than I remember from previous semesters, but admittedly it’s probably because I am riding a bike as apposed to walking. I am super excited for this semester because I am taking classes that really pertain to my major. It only took 3 years for it to happen… Anyway the classes for the Purdue Fall ’08 semester include:
I am definitely excited for Digital Design, it’s learning the stuff I got into the major for, computer hardware design. My hardest class this semester is probably going to be Japanese, surprisingly. Five classes. Three of them engineering, one math, and one a foreign language and the foreign language is going to be the difficult one. Oh well, at least all the people who only took Japanese because they had to take a foreign language are gone and the people who actually want to learn it remain. I have had a resurgence to try to learn Japanese. I will admit that towards the end of 202 I was getting really burnt out. I just didn’t have the passion I once did. Luckily that was very temporary because I am actually probably more into it than when I started 201. Hooray!
Well that was kind of just a life update, but the real intention of this blog remains to be seen. I have been compiling a list not only for myself, but to share with others. Everyone knows the cliche stereotype that college students are super poor and basically subsist on ramen noodles and keystone light. Well, I think that goes a little over the deep end, but money is definitely tight in college (at least for me). Anyway, the following is a list to help not just college students, but everyone squeeze every single penny out of your dollar and maybe even be a little more eco friendly doing it too.
Finance Management
This is probably the biggest frivolous money loss out of the whole list. People tend to (myself included) know how much money they have around pay days, but fail to remember how much of that they use between the paychecks or deposits. This leads to one of baking’s biggest annoyances which is overages. This can cost you lots of cash and it can happen quick. IF you happen to overdraft the bank usually ends up charging you between $20-$30 in addition to the money you spent that you didn’t have. If it happens because of a check then you have to pay the people you gave a bum check to another $20-$30. The worst is when it happens because of a late charge such as getting a cup of coffee. You better enjoy it because that was just a $33 dollar cup of coffee. The best advice I can give is know how much you have at all times, write it down, balance it out as you spend. If you have a smartphone like me, make a spreadsheet and just have it subtract from you total every time you enter an amount. If you have an auto-pay bill system, make sure you know when these charges will come through. Also, an excellent way to check your balance at any given time is to sign up for text banking. I know it’s not offered everywhere, but Chase offers it and it is a good reference when you are wondering if you can really afford that Star Wars figurine of Lando Calrissian.
Make a budget! If you can stay within a budget you are never in the dark about what you can and can’t afford and how much you spend on certain items. A great tool for this is Mint. It is a free online service that can tap into your bank accounts and monitor your spending habits. It can alert you by email or text if you exceed your budget. Go a month and average out what you spend on food, coffee, movies, etc. Even just looking at what you spend on certain things can sometimes curtail the habit.
How to Dine Out on a Dime
People like to eat out, I know I do. The problem with that is that it often times replaces cooking at home all together. I am not trying to make a case for cooking at home save the expense. It is an amazingly large amount cheaper to eat at home than go out and grab a bite. I feel that actually going out and eating with friends is never really about the eats as much as it is the socializing. This is a pretty easy thing to do, but if you know a bunch of friends are going out to eat, just eat about 20 minutes before you leave. You will not be hungry or tempted by the menu or your fellow guests’ meals. Just order a coke or better yet a glass of water. Depending on the setting you can save $8-$15 and you still get to hang out and joke around. Depending on the frequency of your dining excursions this number can be quite a bit of money saved.
Textbooks
The second most expensive upfront cost for college students is textbooks. They can range anywhere from $30-$200+ Chances are you have probably hit the higher number at least once. Sure you can buy used books but those only tend to be $20 dollars cheaper which is a total racquet if you ask me, but that is for another day. You have probably heard about that buying your textbooks online is much cheaper, but have you actually taken the time to do it? It really can save you hundreds of dollars. An example is this semester I have a book that new is $130 and used is $110. I purchased it for $60 online, that is $40! The best thing is just to go to the book store and check your classes. Write down the author, edition, and ISBN. As long as all those things match even if the cover art varies, it’s the same book.
Here is a list of some of the best cheap book sites:
Technology
Technology is an integral part of the modern college students day and having everything in working order can really be a plus. The problem is that sometimes getting that to happen may mean some serious $$ for you, unless you follow my tips.
Most college students enter college with a new or fairly new laptop or desktop, and they are usually pretty happy with it, with time the feel fades. You see others new and shiny toys and suddenly yours is pretty clunky and unable to perform how you want it to. All your applications take longer than they used to and even sometimes you may get the dreaded Blue Screen of Death providing of course you are on Windows. A new computer is not the answer though. This is the biggest misnomer I know of. You can definitely spruce up that old computer with out spending hundreds to thousands on a new one. Upgrading your ram is probably the easiest way to get a speed boost. It is very easy to install even for the non tech savvy and it usually costs much MUCH cheaper than shelling out 1000 clams. A good site to find out which ram is good for you is Crucial. Another way to speed things up is to format and reinstall the Operating System. Granted this is sometimes quite involves so maybe have a knowledgeable friend do it, but you will notice a speed increase almost immediately. If you are really feeling adventurous try you hand at a low resource operating system like Xubuntu. That leads into my next topic.
Software
Software is why we use our computers right? Sometimes this can be very pricey and may be overkill for our tasks. My answers to this are in two forms. First, most universities offer discount software and substantial price cuts so I would first check with what your’s has to offer. The second is something I have been preaching to people for a long time, open source. But Matt, what does open source mean? It is basically software that has all the code that has been written freely available for people to use and change, what this means to you is absolutely free software. These are usually a giant community effort so they products are of very professional quality. Some notable replacements are:
Open Office – Microsoft Office
Ubuntu Linux – Microsoft Windows
Thunderbird w/ Lightning Extension – Microsoft Outlook
These can save hundreds to thousands of dollars based on which software you are replacing.
If I may go back to the hardware aspect. You don’t always need the newest things out there. How many versions of iPod are out there now? 6? You know there are people who upgrade every generation. Don’t be that person. If your device still works as intended, keep using it. I remember when I upgraded my old iPod for a video iPod. Yeah you know how convenient it is to watch video on a 2″ screen, it isn’t. Don’t get sucked in by gimmicks. Evaluate it’s uses and then decide if you need it.
Most people are going to pay for internet. Almost everyone unless you are leaching off a neighbor, but in addition to this most people pay for some kind of cable channel package. Save some dough per year by picking up a slingbox. This is only beneficial if you know someone with a high-speed connection and cable tv, parents or relatives mostly. Anyway this device when implemented will let you stream cable through the internet and on your computer. This way you are paying for internet alone and letting someone else take the TV bill hit. Not only does this let you get “free” cable, but it is accessible anywhere in the world there is an internet connection.
I can’t speak highly enough about this wondrous piece of software. It is truly a giant money saver. This is especially useful if you are studying abroad. It is basically like an internet telephone. If you pay a monthly or yearly fee you can even call regular phones. It is great for long distance calls. If you want to use it free just have whoever you want to talk to download and configure it.
Shopping That is Easy on the Bank Account
You need to buy something, but it is kinda obscure or pricey in stores. The best place to get anything practically is eBay. I don’t feel I have to link eBay. If you are unaware of eBay please stop living under a rock. It is the most frequented online auction site, but it’s not all auctions. It has a Buy It Now option which is basically just you paying a predetermined price. You can find loads and loads of things and very reasonable prices on it. If you are afraid of getting ripped off, eBay and PayPal have a very good policy for reimbursement if it actually does take place. Don’t be afraid.
Craigslist is like an informal eBay. This guy is the one who shows up to a wedding with a tuxedo shirt on. It is a very basic site where people post things they are selling. Like an online classifieds. This works with people in your general area and it’s for meet and pick up. There are no protection policies for craigslist so don’t give out credit cards or anything, pay with cash or check and meet up with them. Very good site though.
Health and Fitness
Bike! Pick up a bike and start riding. It is definitely faster than walking and uses no gas. This is very eco friendly and money conscious. It also is quite healthy for you as well. That is three reasons, how come you are not biking yet? The biggest thing this does is motivate you not to start up the car. Never use a car to go short distances when walking or a bike will suffice. This may seem like little things that don’t matter, but it adds up. Not only are you wasting gas, but you are telling to world. I can’t walk two feet to the coffee shop on campus because I am just the lazy. Have fun with your deteriorating health!
Start exercising, and eating healthy. This may not seem immediate financial savings, but the benefits do come through. Every time you miss a doctor’s visit because you avoided sickness while all your lazy bones co-workers or classmates are sick because their body isn’t up to par that is tons of cash right there. No only will this increase longevity, but it will increase energy and if you live longer and can get more done, you are definitely going to be able to enjoy all that money you made and saved.
Utilities
Showering may not seem like a big money waster, but water and heating that water does cost money. Try the Navy Shower. I am currently in the process of doing this. Just wet yourself down, turn off the water, clean and scrubs, then rinse yourself off. Not only does this drastically cut down on water, but it probably will get you out of the shower sooner and save you time.
Heating a house or an apartment over the winter can cost lots of dough as much as $100 spike just for keeping yourself warm. The thing is that sometimes you don’t need all that heat you are putting out. Try to keep the heat to a minimum. If you get cold just throw on a sweater and some slippers. I am proud to say that I never turned on my heat once all last winter and it definitely did keep the cost down.
I hope some of these helo you guys out, if I think of anymore I will be sure to post them. Also, any comments with either sucess or failure, or even added money saving idea’s would be awesome. Thanks for reading!
Here is an old assignment I did for ENGL 106 for the summer. I meant to post it a long time ago, like in the summer, but for some reason got sidetracked. I just came back from a super long walk which is why I wanted to post it. I hope you guys enjoy it. It’s written like an enhanced blog.
Many things can devastate a human. Death of a family member, war, job loss, but one of the most powerful is that of finding out someone who you thought cared about you, doesnt. I am of course talking about a breakup. It can make a grown man weep, and knock you on your ass before you even realize it. In October of 2006 I had the displeasure of experiencing this. It was my first semester in college and away from home. Thats enough to deal with by itself without all this nonsense. It can really overwhelm a person. One November evening shortly after Halloween it was proving too much to handle. My roommate was blasting his music way too loud like usual. I couldnt relax. I had to get out and clear my head. I grabbed my jacket and my best friend, my iPod, and headed out the do
It was a calm, quite evening. The air had a kiss of crispness. It was my favorite type of weather, Autumn. If I could so choose to, I would probably live outsideduring the Fall. My journey began from my residence hall, Tarkington. I needed to go somewhere without people, I didnt want to see or talk to another individual. I just needed to be alone. I put my headphones in and set it to something soothing, something relaxing. I believe I decided upon Broken Social Scenes You Forgot it in People. Which if you have never heard it, please do yourself a favor and give it a listen. I was still a newbie to campus so I didnt know exactly where everything went, but I decided to give myself a goal. Get myself lost. If I could get myself lost then clearly there would be no one there. Not the best idea in hindsight, but it also wasnt the first time I had attempted such a venture. Off I was, not knowing where I was going, but finally some peace, some alone time. Some time to reflect.
I headed west towards the intramural fields. There was virtually no one around. I honestly cant recall what day of the week it was, but I imagine it must have been early because even the frats were quiet as a mouse. Taking this walk I had an immediate sense of tranquility flow through my body. It really was helping. I tried not to think about the situation that had happened a few weeks earlier with my ex as it had invaded and taken over every thought like a virus. It was nice not having to think about anything unparticular. Just enjoy the weather and let the music flow.
After heading west for about 20 minutes, I came to an intersection. If I went left it would take me to the Purdue West shopping center which didnt fit the criteria of the walk. I didnt know where right went, or where I would end up. I could possibly get lost. Perfect. I started right and by this time the surroundings were new, so I was trying to take everything in. There was a golf course that ran adjacent to the walkway I was on, I think it was Purdues Ackerman Hills. Every so often a car would zoom by at what I can only imagine was NOT the speed limit. The night was just so dark that the trees seemed to be one black mass. Itwas a really amazing thing to see, the black outline of the forest against the midnight blue of the sky. It was something that would make for an excellent photograph; the only thing is that it might not be able to be captured by photo lens. Maybe it would be better off as a painting. The sky was clear and the stars were out. I mean they were out at full force. It was truly a breathtaking view. It was like someone took a handful of glitter and threw it across the sky. I spent much of my journey with my head tilted towards the sky.
I wondered to myself how many people had taken the same path I was currently walking and why. The walk was paved so it had to get some use. Did they need a break from the tediousness? I wonder if anyone was in the exact same situation I was in. Not just here, but all over the world. I tried to think of people who had it worse off. I was in such a rut of self pity that I needed something to put the whole situation into perspective. Staring at the stars and thinking of the marble we live on really is a humbling experience. It shows how insignificant we really are in the grand scheme of things. We can really loose focus when we get wrapped up in our own personal problems.
I continued floating aimlessly down sidewalk just admiring the night, letting my mind drift into any direction it pleased. I cant recall specifics as to what I was thinking about for a large part of the walk as I was in a trance like state. If I had to play third-party looking at me I can only imagine the thoughts that would go through my mind. Something to the sound of is this kid high?wouldnt be outside the realm of reality. So, I was sauntering about when I come to this 3-way intersection. I was quite a ways from campus by this time. My natural sense of directionit told me campus was to the right. A little ways up ahead I notice this old fence. The kind you would see by some rotting old barn that you swear the slightest breeze will have that thing topple into dust. The fence had this walkway lined with trees and such, it was really pretty. I take this little side path and I was still not one with reality. Most of the time my head was tilted towards the sky admiring the starlight, but something made me angle my head down and check the ground. I was standing on some type of lettering. I back off it and it reads, TURN BACKwith an arrow pointing the other way. It was like I was immediately thrusted from my land of beautiful stars and plunged into a dark world of fear. My heart was racing and to add to it in front of the path there were trees that were encroaching on either side that seems to swallow up any thing that it housed. The first thing that entered my mind was, Why the hell am I out here in the middle of nowhere at night, and to top it off, by myself. I turned off my iPod so I could hear if anyone was coming up behind me. I was that paranoid. I started back to campus. Not my lackadaisical stroll I had prior, but a power walk for my life. I kept checking over my shoulder expecting to see some deranged old redneck toting a chainsaw or bloody hatchet. It had to be the longest walk of my life, the road seemed to get longer.
I did make it back physically unscathed, mentally, not so much. I told my roommate and he kind of gave me this expression of, Yeah, right and monkeys might come flying out of my butt. Surprisingly, this did not deter me from future night walks along, but I wasnt stupid enough to go back that way again. I realized later that it was probably some prank kids pulled because it was after Halloween.
The walk did exactly what I wanted it to do; put things in perspective and take my mind of things. Nothing quite puts things into the right light like your life being in danger, or at least you thinking your life is in danger. So in essence, even though the whole thing lead me to be terrified, it was a success. Its weird how your mind can really play tricks on you. In retrospect I dont think I would have been hacked to pieces or disemboweled, but being all alone in an unfamiliar place can transform even the most logical of people.It also makes you think how quickly a situation can take a 180. Just a few simple words changed what was a very enjoyable walk into something life threatening. I leave you with this sentiment. When you feel life bearing down on you and the weight of the world on your shoulders, take a deep breath, grab your jacket and some music and take a walk. It something so simple, but can really make a world of difference.