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Limitations
to extravagances help
By
Stephanie Seitz
Skiff Staff
Heather Spexarth looks frustrated as she opens yet another
box of macaroni and cheese. For the past four years, it
has been an all-too-common meal. In college, she has moved
into an inexpensive house, avoided shopping and taken
part-time jobs to get by. But like many college students,
even these measures will not provide her with extra money
for luxuries. Like milk. Or butter.
“Saving money in college is like trying to ride a
bike with no wheels,” said Spexarth, a senior history
major. “Spending $10 on a meal doesn’t seem
so bad,” she said.
It is these small expenditures that make budgeting so
difficult.
But for college students, who generally rely on part-time
jobs or family support to get by, budgeting is a must.
And at TCU, students have many opportunities to limit
their spending on daily activities.
Many students see food as the area most important to budget
control. Val Lund, a senior communication studies and
Spanish double-major, curbs spending by trying to limit
herself to one meal a week in restaurants.
Students Sara Blackwood, a junior art history major, and
Tara Tibbetts, a second-year communication in human relations
graduate student, also said they try to stay out of restaurants
and cook at home.
Other students said buying in bulk is a good way to keep
food costs down. Shelby Ann Sutcliffe, a junior chemistry
major, and Josh McNamara, a freshman accounting and finance
double major, said shopping at Costco or Sam’s is
a great money-saver.
For freshmen, who are automatically charged $1,000 a semester
on their dining card, eating on campus is an obvious choice.
“Why not swipe the card and eat for free?” said
freshman Stephanie Sherwood, an advertising/public relations
major. McNamara said, “by forcing yourself to eat
on campus, you can save money by avoiding expensive places
you might go with your friends.”
Taking advantage of on-campus entertainment can be just
as helpful as eating on campus. Sherwood said art exhibits
in Moudy are inspiring, fun and free. And many even serve
snacks. She also credited supporting Horned Frog athletics
as another type of free entertainment.
The University Recreational Center provides many activities
that are free or inexpensive for students. Sherwood said
she is always taking advantage of the workout facilities
and the swimming pool. Tibbetts, the graduate student,
said using the URC instead of joining a different gym
saves her a lot of money.
Even when students venture off campus, the TCU name can
cut prices. Many restaurants in the area offer discounts
for TCU students. Chains, like Boston Market and Fresh
Choice, and locally owned restaurants, like The Ionian
Grill and Perrotti’s Pizza, all participate in this
service.
Some restaurant owners said the discounts are not always
used. Joe’s, Pizza, Pasta and Subs in Trinity Commons
offers a 20 percent discount, but owner and manager Joe
Lusha, said students rarely ask about discounts. Management
at the Ionian, however, reports that their discount has
brought in some TCU students.
Most movie theaters offer matinee prices at night for
students, a discount many students use regularly. “The
movie discount is the best!” said Lund.
Even boutiques and stores offer student discounts. From
tanning salons to art supplies and camera equipment to
clothing, there are many Fort Worth businesses that give
10 to 15 percent off their prices when students show their
TCU identification cards.
Dry-cleaning seems to be one field in which businesses
around TCU are especially competitive about providing
discounts. The four closest dry-cleaners to TCU —
Park Hill Cleaners, Brothers II One Hour Cleaners, Circle
Cleaners and Carleton Cleaners — all offer discounts.
For many students, using discounts is a way of life. “I
refuse to pay full price if I don’t have to,”
said Amanda Grantham, a senior Spanish major. Blackwood
said she takes advantages of TCU discounts everywhere
as well.
Saving money with discounts and taking advantage of free
entertainment might afford students the opportunity to
replace some of their mac and cheese meals with more glamorous
foods.
“You don’t have to have tons of money to be
truly happy or social,” said Lund. |
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Restaurant
Discounts:
Boston Market (10%)
Denny’s (20%)
Fresh Choice (15%)
IHOP (15%)
The Ionian (10%)
Joe’s Pizza, Pasta and Subs (20%)
Perrotti’s (varies)
Red, Hot & Blue (buy one, get one free)
Rosa’s (10%)
Quizno’s (10%)
Shop & Store Discounts:
Asel’s Art Supply (10%)
Brothers II One Hour Cleaners (25%)
Carleton Cleaners (varies)
Circle Cleaners (10%)
Fort Worth Camera Supply (10% film/supplies)
Park Hill Cleaners (25%)
Pinc & Blu Jeans (15%)
Salon Classique ($10 off one month)
Perfect Touch Massage (10%)
Most movie theaters
Free Entertainment:
Kimbell Art Museum
Amon Carter Museum
Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Fort Worth Water Gardens
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (Wednesdays)
Kino Monda Film Series
6:30 p.m. Wednesdays
RTVF Film Series
7:00 p.m. Thursdays |
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