With the fall semester kicking into full gear, many students are stressed about how they are going to financially and academically survive the semester. I’ve gathered some different tools that I use every semester to save money and keep up with school.
A tool that is hidden in the IRIS webpage is the budget worksheet. This is an Excel file that is free for all students to download and can help them budget for the upcoming semester. All students need to do is fill out information like whether they are in-state or out-of-state, the number of credit hours they are taking, and any financial aid they are using.
The spreadsheet does the math and gives you an accurate idea of what you are going to pay for the semester. This worksheet gets updated every semester with the new costs and it is a great way to get an idea of how much you might owe for the semester. You can find the file under the Financial Assistance Resources tab on the IRIS page of the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) website.
Something that I feel isn’t utilized enough is Google. For the past three semesters, I have found all but a few textbooks I need just by searching the title and author in Google. Most of the time, you can find a free PDF document or a cheaper alternative to the bookstore. If you don’t want to dig around, Chegg is the perfect website. They sell books for significantly cheaper than the bookstore and will ship them to you as well.
A great resource for students looking to spruce up their wardrobe are some of the thrift-second hand stores we have in town. The one most recommended is ARC Thrift store that is located a little over a mile away from campus on North Avenue. There is a big selection at a super affordable price. I know many students who have found name-brand clothes and have gotten them for under ten dollars.
Another great option for students is the local Goodwill which is a little over two miles from campus and is across the street from the mall. The prices can be slightly more expensive than ARC, but another great option for students who don’t want to spend a bunch of money on clothes. Both stores have local bus stops close by for students who don’t want to walk.
Speaking of buses, all students can get free Grand Valley Transit (GVT) passes at the Information Desk in the University Center. With parking becoming a constant battle and students not wanting to give up their spots, the GVT is a great way to get around town if you have the time.
Another way to get around town is biking. I know some students worry that their bikes will just sit if their tires go flat in the cold winter months when it is too snowy to bike. Something that most students don’t know is that The Bike Shop on the south side of campus will fill up your bike tires for free. They will even fill it to a specific PSI if you let them know.
If you prefer to stay home in your free time there are still ways to save money for your TV and music services. Spotify offers a student premium account that includes a basic Hulu subscription for only six dollars a month. All you have to do is log in or create an account and verify your student email to qualify.
A space on campus I think students can underutilize is the Tomilson Library. The library offers a lot of resources that most students, especially freshmen, don’t know about. The first is the private study rooms.
Most of the rooms are located on the second and third floor and can be reserved in MavZone. The rooms come with different things based on the size but most contain a whiteboard, TV and a computer. The small rooms are a great quiet space to take online exams, and the bigger rooms are great for larger study groups.
