Let’s face it, unless you’re still getting pocket money from your parents, most of the time you’re flat broke. Why? Let’s break it down:
- Income (if any): slave wages for selling your soul to retail/fast food/ telemarketing/medical research
- Expenses: Uni fees, textbooks, petrol, clothes, food, rent, bills, mobile plans, alcohol, transport, cover charges, concert tickets, eating out…
- Balance: inevitably in the red
Of course, you could give up all those expenses, but then you’d be wasting the best years of your life. Instead let a fifth year uni veteran share some of the ways of the world.
Introducing the: Scabby Students’ Super Scab Master List: for a scab-tastic life on the cheap*
Part 1: What you need
Food
Groceries
o Buy in bulk
o Stock up on frozen food on special and freeze it ‘til you need it
o Get cheaper Asian food at an Asian supermarket/grocery store
o Get away with homebrand/no-name products for basics like pasta, tinned tomatoes, sugar, flour and salt
o Shop towards the end of the day for bargain cast-offs e.g bread, chicken and soon-to-expire milk and juice
o Look out for free samples in supermarkets and bakeries, and ask for them at ice-cream parlours
o Super scabby students’ condiments: grab extra ketchup, salt, pepper and mustard with your fast food (don’t forget the plastic cutlery)..
Take away
o Smile and be nice to serving staff—they’ll give you a larger serve. And don’t be afraid to ask for the biggest slice
o Find a bakery for savory snacks, pizzas and rolls for around $2
o Pick up half-price takeaway lunch boxes in food courts at the end of the day
o Never buy overpriced drinks from takeaways—always find a supermarket
o Super-Dooper-Scabby Students’ tip: If you have coffee with a friend, ask for an extra large one in two cups.
Moving out
o Turn appliances off at the power point to save on electricity bills
o Don’t waste money, do your research! The following websites can help you to compare prices:
o Choice for consumer products, computers, food and cars
o Download Skype and make free calls over the net
o Use the free internet at the library/ tafe/uni
o Can’t afford art? Buy posters and cheap simple frames
o Super-Scabby Students’ tip: Running hot water adds to the electricity bill. If your landlord refuses to fix dripping taps, make sure they’re dripping cold by running the cold water before you turn them off
Feeling good
o Exercise is free!!! Run in the park, do sit-ups in front of the TV, lift bags of sugar for weights, always take the stairs
o Also use your health-care card for free dental treatment, where accepted.
o On-campus counseling and medical services—these free services would cost you hundreds of dollars if you weren’t a student.
o Book a cheap massage, acupuncture or Chinese medicine consultation through a natural health-care college or university. You’ll be treated by a student doing their practical studies.
o Super-scabby students’ tip: Give up smoking! It’s very expensive.
On campus
o NEVER buy textbooks you’ll never read again
o Buy the previous edition
o Borrow from someone who already did the course
o Learn how to print and photocopy 4 pages to a page (6 or 8 pages to a page if you have good eyes)—saves paper and money
o Photocopying 2 A4 pages to 1 A3 page is usually cheaper than photocopying 2 A4 pages. Just cut it in half
o There’s always a free BBQ on. Volunteer for uni events and they usually reward you with a snag or two
o Attend free events/talks sponsored by corporations—they sometimes provide complementary refreshments
*Compiled with the help of like-minded scabs.
