Pointlife
With limited money at their disposal, students must seek unique ways in order to stretch their dollars to the max including shopping at discount-type stores.
Students seek financial prosperity in today’s troubled economic times
The Pointer
mbaum925@uwsp.edu
With bills incurred from tuition, housing and other collegial expenses, it’s hard for students at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to find money to spend on other creature comforts. A few revealed how they manage to spend their greenbacks.
In the world, there are normally those who budget their money while others just grab from a pile of savings, with little insight as to where the money goes. Ben Houghton, a junior, tends to fall into the former category.
“I try to figure it out what I can spend on fun activities and food, but mostly for fun,” said Houghton.
Terisa Anderson, a sophomore, doesn’t necessarily fit into one of these two categories.
“I don’t have a budget. I just tend to think about my finances to see if there is something worth spending my money on,” said Anderson.
As students detach themselves from the classism that is perceived to go on in high school and the feelings of inferiority that are associated with them, shopping at secondhand stores such as Goodwill and Nice as New and discount stores such as Dollar Tree and Dollar General are not as frowned upon.
Anderson, who currently does not shop at these locations, knows that if things changed for her economically, it would not be a problem.
“I would if I had to,” said Anderson.
Houghton does mention that he has been to these stores before, but keys in on one of America’s corporate giants depending on the circumstance.
“I shop at Wal-Mart if it is cheaper,” said Houghton.
When it comes to buying snack foods, neither Anderson nor Houghton find themselves staring at a vending machine, contemplating if they should have bought the goodies inside in bulk. In fact, they were really direct in stating what happens.
“I buy chocolate,“ said Anderson.
“It’s more of an impulse, so I don’t really care,” said Houghton.
Another hidden expense in attending college is how forms of entertainment, especially drinking are paid for. The students weighed in on how this affects them.
“I’m not much of a partier so it does not affect me,” said Anderson.
“It certainly does affect me,” said Houghton.
Being in the culture of America the last several months, financial strife does not escape the minds of students in regards to their loved ones.
“I do notice the way it impacts my family, although I remain persistent about not asking my parents for money, and try to remain independent,” said Houghton.
As for many college students, the ability to afford to drive home and visit the parents isn’t that large of a stumbling block.
“It depends; I normally only visit my parents once a semester regardless,” said Houghton.
In whatever way students choose to spend their money, UW-SP will still have an abundance of opportunities for knowledge to be garnered on campus.
