The city is tough, and coming from a girl who self-proclaims that she can handle anything, that’s saying a lot.

Things went wayward when upon my arrival my roommate backed out of the lease we were all set to sign. It was Thursday, her lease ended Tuesday, I started work Monday, and I had no place to live. My four-day plan to unpack, unwind and explore my new city of residence was thwarted and replaced by stress, tears, uncertainty and the strong possibility of being homeless in the immediate future.

I searched and searched and searched for hours and days on end until I found a solution. I’m now subletting an apartment in Chinatown for a month, and my roommate is a 29-year-old Swedish man who works in an art gallery.  Throughout the ordeal, all I can remember is longing for the days when my parents could fix everything for me. But, seeing as Mom is in Jacksonville, Fla. and Dad is in San Francisco, it would have been even more work for them than it was for me. And let me just say, it was work—hard, grueling, frustrating work.

But, everyone in New York City is working hard, working tirelessly, and students aren’t the exception. In a city that revolves around hard work, it’s easy to forget to pamper yourself every once in a while. In such an expensive city, though, budgets often leave no room for a little pampering, and I could definitely use some.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a Campus Clipper coupon book. The Beauty and Youth Salon + Spa is offering special student packages such as $15 manicure and 10-minute massage and $25 for a chocolate manicure and pedicure. Receive peace of mind for a lot less.

Julia Jacobo, University of Florida

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I have an addiction, and it’s receiving free stuff for stuff that I was going to buy anyway. Free shipping for spending $25 online at American Eagle? Sure. Free gift bag full of goodies from Clinique for buying the foundation I needed anyway? Heck yes! People say nothing is ever free. I choose to ignore them.

I have another addiction, and it’s ice cream. It doesn’t matter how cold it is outside or what time of day it is, I could always go for a bowl of Rocky Road or French Vanilla with chocolate syrup and sprinkles (or both!).

The best part of New York is even ice cream parlors deliver. You don’t even have to step out into the cold to get your fix of frozen sweetness. Check out the Campus Clipper coupon book for a Haagen-Daaz deal: a free pint of ice cream with your first delivery order of $10 or more. What a yummy deal!

Julia Jacobo, University of Florida

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Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and the majority of you will probably be going home for the holiday weekend.  Some of you may be lucky enough to have a family member or friend drive you back.  For the rest of you, though, you probably have to deal with this.

Philadelphia's 30th Street Station. Note the number of people at the bottom of the picture.

Whether you’re from Jersey or Kansas, you will probably have to deal with transportation like this.  And this isn’t like the subway, either: here you’ll be on the rail or the road from one hour to 20.  It’s a long trip, but if you follow some of these tips, you’ll get though it relatively painless.

First, plan your trip ahead of time.  You may know how long it takes to drive from college to home, but it’s probably a lot different on a bus or a train.  Amtrak and Greyhound have trip planner services on their websites, which tell you the approximate time that you will arrive at your destination.  Put in the appropriate times and see how long it will take, and when your ride is going to leave.  If you have to leave during a time you have class, make sure to notify your teacher ahead of time.

Second, make sure you can afford it.  New Jersey Transit and the Metro North are both relatively inexpensive, and the most you’ll pay with them is around $20.  However, if you’re taking Amtrak, you’ll pay a lot more.  Depending on where you’re getting off, tickets can cost upwards of around $30 each way.  It’s never a good idea to spend all your money on a train ticket, so make sure there is some way you can pay for it and still have enough for yourself.  Amtrak also offers student discounts for holders of the Student Advantage card and other services, so be sure to check that out.

Some trains may make scheduled stops, at which point you might be able to walk to the station to grab some food or use the restroom. Ask a conductor when the train is about to depart, and whether or not you'll be able to walk off the platform and get back on before the train leaves.

Finally, plan out what you’re gonna do in transit.  If you’re forced to take the Amtrak or Greyhound, chances are you live pretty far away.  Don’t pack too much stuff, as trains and buses don’t usually have much in the way of storage.  Pack a small backpack or tote bag full of a few trip essentials, like books, an iPod, and maybe a few snacks.  Trains and buses sometimes make scheduled stops to transfer crew or drivers, so you might be able to take advantage of those instances.  Just remember; there may be a bathroom on the train, but it’s what you expect a bathroom on a moving platform to be like.  You might be able to take a quick nap until you reach your destination, but just be prepared to have some wicked neck pains!

I probably should have included this in the last few points, but please make sure that you have someone to pick you up when you reach your destination.  It’s really not fun when you have to wait at a bus stop for an hour because you didn’t let your parents know when you’re about to get off!

Follow these steps, and you may very well have a pleasant trip.  And when you get back, you can enjoy a nice slice of pizza!

Sergio Lopez, Polytechnic Institute of NYU, Graduate Student ’12

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There are a lot of things that you can miss if you don’t look hard enough. The right exit on the freeway, the perfect pair of shoes, the exact point where you invest in a company. There are also places that once you find it, no matter how small and easy to miss it is, you’ll never forget about it. THELEwala is such a place, and now that I have been there, I will never forget it!

THELEwala is a new business just south of Washington Square Park that takes on a little-known corner of Indian food: Indian cart food. These are much like the hot dog stands in cities like New York, except that instead of hot dogs, they serve chaatwala and masala chai.

Now, don’t worry, all you health-centric collegians! This place has earned a Grade A in Health Inspection. All of the food is prepared fresh on the spot and never reheated, and all of the chicken served is farm-grown without any hormones and antibiotics.

One of their most celebrated dishes (and by far my favorite!) is the Calcutta Nizami Rolls. This is a tradition from Calcutta, India, and is truly a testament to Indian cart food. It is akin to a wrap, except it utilizes spices traditionally used for Indian cuisine, like coriander and cumin, as well as extra virgin olive oil. Now I have a bit of experience with Indian cuisine, but this is something I have never heard of before, so I had no idea what to expect. Fortunately, Nisar, the manager, recommended to me the Chicken Malai Roll. I chose to take his suggestion, and within a few minutes, I was presented with a modest-yet powerful Nizami Roll.
I took the first bite, and I have to say, I’ve never tasted Indian food so amazing! It was a symphony of flavors, both savory and spicy, powerful, yet not overwhelming.

Photo courtesy of yelp.com

As I mentioned, this place is rather small. There is very little sitting room. Don’t let that discourage you, though. All of their dishes are available for takeout, and there is even a delivery service that reaches from 14th to Canal, and Broadway to Hudson. Their hours are 11 am to 2 am, with hours extending to 5 am on Fridays and Saturdays. Delivery is available until 11 pm each night, and is limited to orders with a $10 minimum. Sitting in, when available, is a very pleasant experience featuring authentic Indian décor, popular Indian music, and a well-mannered staff. You really feel like you have a bit of India in a small corner of Manhattan!

And here’s the part all you students are gonna love: all students may present their IDs to receive a 10% discount! There is a coupon for this, but as most students do not own a printer of their own, students are not required to present one. This is a huge plus if, like me, you often find yourself low on funds and in a hurry.

So, would I recommend this place? Definitely! It’s a good place to sit down, enjoy some unique Indian food, and just enjoy your surroundings. It has its own sort of character that I personally love. I am so glad I didn’t miss this place, because I will definitely be coming back.

Sergio Lopez, Polytechnic Institute of NYU, Graduate Student ’12

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Interested in more deals for students? Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter to get the latest in student discounts and promotions. For savings on-the-go, download our printable coupon e-book!