Students suffer significant financial burden. Books, tuition, necessities, and entertainment all add up at an alarming rate. However, the struggle of the student does not go unnoticed. There are many establishments that offer students discounts of some kind, and for those students unaware of these businesses here is some help.
The list of establishments that offer some sort of student break is a surprisingly diverse one, but it must be noted that in order to take advantage of these breaks usually a student I.D. needs to be presented to the cashier.
First on the list is Tropical Island Tanning Salon. Kay Parkhurst is the assistant manager of Tropical Island. “I think it’s good for any business to give a student discount,” Parkhurst said. “If more local businesses gave a student discount it would help the local economy.”
Tropical Island on 14th Street and North Avenue offers a discount even when school is not in session. Tanning lotions are 20 percent off for students, one month of tanning on level one beds are $29.95, and for level two beds it’s 15 percent off per month.
Other cosmetic based businesses are included on the list as well.  B’Dazzled Hair Salon provides a 10 percent student discount, and Big League’s Haircuts offer $2 off for students who show their MAVcard.
Kevin Reed works as a receptionist at Big League Haircuts and he also happens to be the son of the owner. “The business is a franchise. It’s been open since 1992,” said Reed. The Big League in Grand Junction opened in October of 2008, but the did not always have a student discount. The discount first started last year with the Mesa State hockey team.
“We did $2 off for the hockey team and then we just expanded it to all of Mesa,” Reed said. Cost Cutters also offers discounted haircuts to students.
One of the most popular student discounts can be found at Chipotle, which offers a free drink with purchase with a valid student I.D. Kristy Keim works at Chipotle and she is also a student at Mesa.
“Well, students like saving money,” Keim said. In addition to the student drink discount, Chipotle also has an additional promotion for the month of September. Students can bring in their MAVcards and with purchase of a burrito they get a second one for free.
“It goes on all day long, and the student drink comes with as well,” said Keim, “so if you come in and get two burritos with a drink it’s like $6”.
Students can get a tan, a haircut, and dinner all with a discount but what is there left to do after that. How about smoking some hookah? Tuesday nights are college nights at the Smoke Shack on 1st and Grand Ave. Ashlee Corcoran is an associate at the Smoke Shack and playfully referred to herself as a “hookah tender.” “You get $2 off your first bowl and every bowl after that” said Corcoran. The Smoke Shack is an 18 and up establishment and doesn’t serve alcohol, which is good news for those students who have not reached the legal drinking age. “People need stuff to do and we’re open late,” said Corcoran. The Smoke Shack opens at 4 p.m. and closes at 4 a.m. “We’re having themed nights starting Sept. 11,” Corcoran said, “Sept. 18 is lingerie and best dressed best wins $50.” Theme nights don’t offer a student discount.
There are plenty of businesses with student discounts of some sort. The trick is knowing where to go and when. Mesa Theater and Whiskey River have College Night every Thursday, Coldstone has a discount for students, Yoga Vinyassa in the Redlands, and Crossroads Fitness Center as well all have student discounts. The best way to ensure a student discount is to never leave home without your MAVcard, and when in doubt if there is a discount available, just ask.