by Sara J. Petersen

Created on: November 26, 2009

Scrounging through the cupboard you find the last box of macaroni (aka Yellow Death), and the last serving of ramen. You silently fret about the fact that your printer ran out of ink two days ago, and your English final is due tomorrow. Financial aid is coming in for the next semester, but you wonder, if it wasn't enough this time how will it be enough next time. Here are some tips that might help you get through the coming months without feeling like you're scraping the bottom of the barrel just to stay alive.

Make your own meals with leftovers: A bag of rice and some frozen chicken breasts can go a long way. It sometimes seems like some ingredients are more expensive than just going and getting that five dollar meal at McDonald's, but keep in mind that the ingredients are for more than one meal, and they can be made into more than on kind of dish. Buy ingredients that are versatile, and can be used for multiple meals such as rice, beans, chicken, hamburger, salad, and so on. It is also good to make sure your meals can be stored in the freezer or fridge to be used again at your discretion. You can find a multitude of recipes on the internet for every kind of dish imaginable. Find meals that are simple and cheap.

Make a list in advance: Lists help us know how much we can spend, and how much we really need to spend. Every time you go to buy something make a list of what you are going for. It's easier to avoid the temptation of toys and goodies if you know what you need, and have it in plain sight as a reminder. Don't stray far from the list. A granola bar at the bookstore might be fine, but don't get three t-shirts you found on the clearance rack just because. It also helps to make a list at the begging of each semester, of items you already know you have to spend money on for school. Then you know exactly what's left for food and other expenses.

Research, try, and buy the off brand: Although the main brands in stores have more clever advertising, they are quite often not that different from the off brand. For school and household items like cell phones, microwaves, and dvd players, you probably want to do some research online, to find out what other buyers are saying about the item. Smaller items like food can be tried at home, and will most likely be just like the name brand.

Choose carefully where you live: When looking for a place to live look carefully at the prices. If living in the dorms is one hundred dollars cheaper than the apartment complex across from

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