Posts Tagged ‘NYC college life’

Tasting with Thomas: Mexiterranean Grill Express

Wednesday, August 20th, 2025

Welcome back! You’re tuning into the third edition of Tasting With Thomas, where I explore the affordable eats that New York City has to offer. I’m all for the bites that are going to leave my wallet and my tastebuds satisfied, so today my friend Surina and I hopped on over to West Village’s Mexiterranean Grill Express to see what they had to offer.

The first thing I noticed about the spot was its’ accessible and popular location. No more than a 5 minute walk below Washington Square Park, Surina and I were more than ecstatic to have the option of taking our meals to-go for a nice picnic by the fountain. While the restaurant primarily serves as a takeout establishment, we took our seats at the table and bar seating in the entry way of the establishment.

Upon walking in we were greeted with a warm welcome and attentive service from the Grill’s waitress. We were each presented a menu with an expansive variety of options spanning across cuisines and diets. As a pescatarian, our waitress was kind enough to highlight some of the special offers that featured pescatarian friendly options such as the falafel humus wrap special or the fish taco platter.

If I’m being honest, it took us a minute to decide on our order. There were so many different options, and they all sounded like they would hit the spot. After some deliberation (and consulting our waitress friend) we finally decided on our meal.

We decided that I would cover the Mexican cuisine while Surina would cover the Mediterranean food for our meal. My side of the table was served two fish tacos, which were fresh and filling with their blackened tilapia, pico de gallo, lettuce, avocado and salsa fresca. Surina enjoyed the falafel humus wrap special that filled her plate with falafel, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, humus, and onion all wrapped in a tortilla. On top of that, Surina’s meal also came with a side of beer battered french fries (which are my all time favorite fry) and a soft drink, all for only $11.95!

Surina and I are two peas in a pod when it comes to sharing meals, so we promptly swapped out one half of the wrap for one of the fish tacos and got to chowing down. Funnily enough, we both enjoyed each other’s meal better than our own! Surina was quick to enjoy the fish taco right away. For her, the seafood twang paired with the Mexican flavored veggies hit the spot. On the other hand, the Mediterranean spices springing out of the falafel wrap were the perfect combination of comfort food goodness for me. Don’t be mistaken – we both thoroughly enjoyed and finished both of our meals!

While we were stuffed and satisfied after our entrees, we decided we had just enough wiggle room left for a sweet treat to top it all off. A few minutes later, our waitress brought out a warmed and cakey brownie for us to share. The decadent chocolate chips and fluffy texture were the perfect conclusion to our dining experience!

By this point we were grinning ear to ear from our full bellies and appeased cravings. We waved goodbye and thank you to our waitress and headed out of the restaurant to soak up the sun in Washington Square Park. While we were content leaving at the moment, we both promised our waitress that we were eager to make a return. With a menu that diverse, we’ll definitely be coming back to try more!

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Posted in Cheap Eats, Eating Healthy, NYC Student Guide, onCollege, onFood, Out On The Town, Restaurant Reviews, student discounts | No Comments »

Niche-ing New York City: Building Your Community

Monday, July 21st, 2025
Our suite’s first walk across the Brooklyn Bridge

It was late August, 2023. I was hot, red-faced, dripping with sweat. My heart was racing – from the three trips up and down twenty-three stories or from the debilitating anxiety and uncertainty, I wasn’t sure. There were nine of us, plus a few siblings and too many parents, and we all tried to act cool around each other even though any one of us could have (and later would have) broken down and cried. It was late August when I unknowingly stepped foot into a too-small room inside a too-small suite that would change my life. 

My suitemates were my first community and, two years later, my closest community. We were each others’ therapists before we knew about the Counseling Center, we were each others’ financial advisors before we knew about Career Services, we were each others’ built-in friends before we even knew who we were going to become. It’s surreal to look back on this moment now; I seem to have forgotten the period of time in which we transitioned from roommates to family. Maybe it was when we played We’re Not Really Strangers the first night, or maybe it happened so slowly over our first year that I never noticed the change, but it feels like our community has existed as long as we’ve been alive; it feels like I know each one of them inside and out – and they me.

Me (right), Leah (second to right), and Caroline (second to left)

Two members of this community, Leah Eastwood and Caroline Lattanzio, offer their insight into the necessity of community in finding ourselves and developing our talents. Something I’ve found to be missing in conversations around a certain unifying skill, trait, or opinion is the importance interacting with a diverse range of talents. Yes, as an English major, I thrive in the community I’ve built within the English department. They commiserate with me on the struggles of research as much as they push me to dive deeper, to follow the rabbit hole. But if I was surrounded by this throughout my university experience – if Leah was only surrounded by Film majors or Caroline by Business majors – I likely would not only grow tired of it, but also fail to learn anything else. From Leah, I have learned nuances of screenwriting and directing I wouldn’t have otherwise. From Caroline, I have gained insight into the inner-workings of the music industry.

Caroline and Leah tend to agree with me. “I moved to New York City from Arkansas to avoid being around the same type of person every day,” Caroline notes. Similarly, Leah is glad that our suite had such a vast range of majors, interests, and talents. Seeing other suites break up because they were all members of the same – very competitive – major was disheartening. When we weren’t all competing with each other it was because we used our knowledge and talents collaboratively to help on a creative final or a research project and, miraculously, they all seemed to fit together perfectly.

The Pforzheimer Honors College at Pace provided us a similar diverse range of people, though who all had one thing in common: drive. Being around passionately motivated people – regardless of your talent or theirs – is necessary to keep going when it gets tough. Our Honors advisors are also a huge help in discovering our niches, assuring us that everyone has something that they’re good at, even if we don’t know it yet. Then, like our suitemates and our major departments, they push us to follow that niche, to try it out if not build a career in it. College is a unique time in which our lives are dedicated to perfecting a craft and to learning from everyone else’s crafts as they master their own. There is support and there is help everywhere around us, and it’s not hard to find if we only look.

However, there may be nothing so unique in this way as attending university in New York City. Leaving our tiny city campus, we find ourselves with exponentially more opportunity and community than we ever could have thought. Everyone you pass on the street is doing something cool, exciting, and necessary. Everyone has important knowledge and advice to impart. We just have to listen.

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By Lauren Male

Lauren is a senior at Pace University majoring in English and Communications, with a minor in Journalism. She is pursuing Pace’s M.S. Publishing program. When she’s not reading, Lauren can be found trying new coffee shops, thrift shopping, and spending all of her money on concert tickets.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for our newsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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Crash Course Connections Ch. 3: Parenting Apart

Wednesday, June 25th, 2025

For many, college represents the first real step into adulthood. It’s a time of personal growth, exploration, and, inevitably, distance from the comfort of home. Whether you’re just a few miles down the road or hours away by plane, the transition is rarely easy. It’s not just about leaving your bed or your family meals behind; it’s about redefining your daily support system. One of the most unexpected challenges I faced wasn’t the academic load or even the social adjustment- it was recalibrating my relationship with my parents.

When I moved from Long Island to Manhattan for college, I initially thought I was too close to home. A simple train ride away, I figured I’d be able to maintain my independence while still dipping back into the familiarity of home whenever I wanted. I had spent that last summer completely surrounded by my family, and I was more than ready, or so I thought, to spread my wings. I welcomed the idea of a break, some distance, a fresh start.

My parents, Ed and Katina O’Connor circa 2000.

But reality hit hard. My dorm room felt cold and empty the first night. It wasn’t the physical distance that got to me; it was the emotional shift. I found myself calling home far more than I expected. I’d call to ask about little things like laundry or just to hear a familiar voice. It wasn’t my parents checking up on me; I was the one reaching out.And in those first few weeks, I went home three out of the four weekends. Looking back, I realize I was trying to straddle two worlds, not fully committing to either. As much as I wanted to build something new, I couldn’t let go of the old.

But this is where some advice I got during my senior year of high school came back to me. My guidance counselor, Mr. Spenato, told me something that really stuck:

“You will be homesick. Those first few months are hard. Many students go back home thinking they’re not ready, that they should take a gap year. And for a select few, maybe that’s true. But for most? They just need to push through. Call home as much as you want but, stay there. Give it a real shot.”

Graphic of girl feeling homesick while studying. Illustration by Ren Rader

So I stayed. I still called home often, sometimes daily, but I began putting more energy into life at college rather than life outside of it. I said yes to social events, joined clubs, explored the city, and slowly began building a routine. I carved out a space for myself in a place that initially felt so foreign.

It didn’t happen overnight. But little by little, what once felt strange started to feel normal. My relationship with my parents evolved, too. Instead of being part of every moment, they became the people I updated—my biggest fans from afar. As I grew more comfortable with my independence, our conversations became less about needing comfort and more about sharing my growth.

In hindsight, I see how important that shift was. You don’t lose your relationship with your parents in college;, you simply redefine it. They stop being your constant presence and become your foundation. And through that distance, I found a new appreciation for the bond we shared.

Family trip to Disney, right before I began my first semester at NYU.

College forces you to change both your environment and how you relate to the people who raised you. It’s a painful process at times, but it’s also essential. You come out of it more independent, more self-aware, and often, with a stronger relationship than before.

So if you’re in the thick of that first semester and wondering whether it gets better, know that it does. Push through the homesickness. Stay. Give it a real shot. And call home when you need to.


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By Logan O’Connor

Logan is a rising senior at NYU pursuing degrees in Journalism and Politics. She grew up on Long Island, but always dreamed of living in New York City. When she’s not in class or at her favorite local cafe, you can find her wandering the city (film camera in hand) or baking up a storm in her kitchen.

For over 25 years, the Campus Clipper has helped college students in New York City—and later in Boston and Philadelphia—save money and succeed in city life. We offer a digital coupon booklet with discounts on food, clothing, and services, plus an Official Student Guidebook with real advice on how to navigate college life in a big city. Our internship program lets students build skills, earn money, and publish their own e-books. Follow us on Instagram andTikTok @CampusClipper, and sign up for ournewsletter to get deals straight to your inbox. To access the digital coupons, scan the QR code on our printed card—available in dorms, student centers, and around campus.

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Tasting With Thomas: Kyuramen

Sunday, March 2nd, 2025

Hey there! Welcome to the first edition of Tasting With Thomas. As an avid connoisseur of dining atmospheres, interesting flavors, and a good sweet treat, I’m excited to explore and share the affordable eats that New York City has to offer. For this first edition, my friend Eres and I made our way over to Kyuramen’s Columbia location to enjoy some creative Japanese cuisine.

As we ducked into the warmly lit eatery off Broadway Ave, Eres and I were instantly attended to despite the apparent business of the Friday evening. From the minimalist, Japanese style decorations to the private booth seating arrangements, the atmosphere of the restaurant was the perfect prelude to the notable dining experience that was to come.

Kyuramen’s inviting entrance.

We started our meal off with two Thai iced teas. While I personally was trying the drink for the first time, Eres had already proclaimed her status as a “division one milk tea critic”. After a good shake, we stabbed our straws through the plastic lid and took a sip of the refreshing milk tea. Even with Eres’ tenured taste for Thai tea, she described the drink as “Not too sweet but not too sophisticated. It’s that classic Thai tea flavor that can never disappoint.”

Our two refreshing Thai Iced Teas.

After working up our appetites with our drinks, we were ready for the generous variety of platters and entrees that Kyuramen had to offer. After some consideration, we decided to taste the Honey Comb and Yakitori Platters first. Between the chili garlic edamame, lobster & chashu salad ball, tamago egg, shrimp tempura, eel unagi, scallops, and seaweed salad, we had an incredibly diverse array of flavors to indulge in. Shockingly, those were only the bites in the Honey Comb Platter! Eres and I especially loved trying the more savory flavors like shrimp tempura and eel unagi while routinely cleansing our palette with the fresh seaweed salad. 

The Honey Comb and Yakitori Platters. Lots of variety!

The Yin-Yang Bowl and the Seafood/Eel Kamameshi dishes were our main entrees for the night. The innovative design of the Yin-Yang bowl aesthetically incorporated two different broths and toppings, making it the perfect choice for customers sharing their meal. As a pescatarian, I appreciated the opportunity to enjoy the same dish with Eres without sacrificing my dietary restrictions. Both Kamameshi dishes were beautifully presented with skewers of shrimp, prawns, and eel stuck into an unsuspectingly deep dish of sushi rice, egg, and spring onions. The bottomless base of rice was the perfect compliment to the salty seafood skewers we got to pick and choose from.

The full dinner spread, including two platters, two kamameshi rice dishes, yin-yang ramen, and the matcha tiramisu.

We concluded the dining experience with the cutest presentation of tiramisu that I’ve ever seen. What’s more, Kyuramen had put their own Japanese twist on the conventionally italian dessert by flavoring it with matcha instead of espresso. We were delighted to taste the distinct herbal tones of the matcha paired with the light mascarpone cream. “ I loved that it wasn’t too rich or heavy, but more airy and sweet”, remarked Eres as we set down our spoons with satisfied smiles.

The light and airy matcha tiramisu dessert.

As we stepped out of our booth and back onto Broadway Ave, we couldn’t wipe those smiles off our faces. Reflecting on the delicious flavors, the aesthetic presentation, and the welcoming hospitality had us in an afterglow of appreciation throughout our walk home. We didn’t just have a good meal, we had a good experience.

Written By Thomas Stewart, 03/01/2025

Author Bio: Thomas Stewart is an undergraduate student at Columbia University pursuing studies in creative writing and human rights in an effort to utilize media as a tool to vitalize our communities. When Thomas isn’t off overthinking in his journal, you can find him on campus volunteering for the local Housing Equity Project, organizing for the Black Student Organization, or playing a jam session at Columbia University Records club. Ultimately, his love for all things creative prevails throughout his life.


Connect with Thomas via Linkedin here!

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College Student Grocery Haul @ LifeThyme Market

Saturday, November 19th, 2022
Watch NYU student Senaida shop for organic groceries at LifeThyme Natural Market on 8th St. and 6th Ave.

While shopping, try the coffee and muffin combo at LifeThyme!

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Procrastinating! We All Do It.

Wednesday, November 25th, 2020

Show me anyone who claims they never procrastinate, and I’ll show you a liar. And, if you’re one of the unicorns who doesn’t, then you are a lucky person indeed. Certainly, throughout my high school career, I’ve had teachers lecture me about how to manage my time better in order to avoid procrastinating. 

Then, in college, if I ask a professor for an extension on a deadline, there’s a real chance that I’ll get a snide remark about time management and procrastination. I’m certain that I’m not the only one with this experience, either; the common train of thought in the academic community seems to be that procrastination results from the student’s time mismanagement. While not entirely false, it is not the full story: there’s something irrational about procrastinating. 

Logically, we should all be motivated to complete our work, because that is more conducive to happiness. Instead, it seems that nearly every college student participates in procrastination; possibly because it is influenced by psychology. Our innate “fight or flight” reflexes have adapted to the societies we live in; long gone are the days of having to run or fight for your life, rather, our battles have become more “mundane.” The issue, though, is that our survival instincts have remained as sharp as ever, not that that’s necessarily a bad thing. 

What it does mean is that parts of the brain will see a problem– for instance, let’s say you have a lot of deadlines on the same day — these instincts will interfere with your cognition. There’s two options here: you can “fight,” or work through until your assignments are complete, or you can “flee,” avoiding your work until it’s absolutely necessary (see: procrastinating).

Another way of thinking about it is, we are driven to do the things we do thanks to motivation. A number of factors weigh into your sense of motivation, and they work against demotivating factors. If there are more demotivating factors than motivating factors in a decision, the result is procrastination. As your deadline approaches, the motivating factors gain strength until you overcome your procrastination. Unfortunately, this process does not always leave enough time to actually do whatever it is you needed to do. The best way to avoid procrastination, then, is to consider what is “demotivating” you and figure out how to resolve these demotivations! Listed below are some examples of factors that can discourage your sense of motivation.

https://www.mindful.org/11-ways-to-finally-stop-procrastinating/
  • Anxiety and Depression. It’s pretty obvious, but they are two major factors that will weigh heavily on your motivation. Mental health is one of those things that, unfortunately, you’re  going to have to work around. After all, there is no way to just “cure” either anxiety or depression. One thing to be weary of is setting off a feedback loop of anxiety. Oftentimes, I will find that large tasks impose a ton of anxiety on me. In response, I procrastinate,  which only builds up my anxiety, because I know I have to do it. It is important to be aware of this phenomenon so that you can identify it in yourself, and act accordingly. Step back, take a deep breath and organize your thoughts so that you can at least consider your next steps. 
  • You’re a perfectionist. This  is common in creative work: oftentimes there might be  a disconnect between what you are visualizing and what you are creating. Certainly, it is something that I struggle with– especially when writing. It is a frustrating thing, when you can’t properly verbalize what your ideas are. Try not to let your desire to produce high-quality work impede your process; instead, use it as a driving factor to do a good job. Recognize that, especially in schoolwork, perfect is simply unnecessary, and the anticipated standards may actually be much lower than your own standards. 
  • “This is future me’s problem.” Again, I am very guilty of this one. It can be very easy to see a task as unnecessary because it can be done in the future. It can also be easy to slip into, because it applies to the very mundane; sometimes I won’t make my bed simply because I know it won’t be a problem until I try to go to bed, or I push off putting my clothes away properly because I know I’m just gonna put them on later at some point, so instead I’ll just throw them on a chair. 

While things might be inconvenient to do now, it is important to recognize that part of taking care of yourself is taking care of your future self, too. Try making things a little easier on your future self, sometimes. 

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By Sebastian Ortega

Sebastian is a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, where he majors in Fashion Business Management. He’s worked behind the scenes of New York Fashion Week with the company Nolcha Shows, and in the office of Elrene Home Fashions. Some day, he hopes to be able to make his own claim in the fashion industry by starting his own business.

For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC,  from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourages them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing, and services.  

At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.

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The Diary of a College Student: Adjusting to Life Off-Stage and into the Lecture Hall

Monday, April 2nd, 2018

In having been an actor for over 10 years of my life the adjustment that I experienced in not pursuing acting further in college was interesting, to say the least. Before that, life had been a world of opportunity in the sense that anywhere could have been a stage upon which to demonstrate my craft, my commitment, my skill, etc..

Upon arriving in New York City as a freshman college student, I found myself searching for something new around which to center my life. Something that could fill the void I felt inside me. I wanted to substitute something for the hours of intense training, detail-oriented rehearsals, and a creativity that was conditioned to image the sufferings and joys of human existence. I was in the process of reimagining my life, adjusting to my new life off-stage, in lecture halls, and among unfamiliar peers; in the manner that I would live, the activities that I would pursue daily, the motivation that I felt that pushed me toward always becoming better than what I was the day before, etc.. I believe that this time, a time of life re-imagined, can relate to, and is shared by, those who experience a dramatic shift in their day-to-day routines, their sense of limitation, and their sense of liberty when choosing what to prioritize in life.

This especially applies to college students, namely Freshmen, who recently removed themselves from a familiar environment full of routine and safety. In attending an out-of-town, an out-of-state, or international university, students are faced with the difficult task of taking what they knew as life and drastically reimaging it to suit their needs in their new localities. The difficulties arises from temptation. Temptation that is reinforced by the general newfound liberty of independent living. Spiderman taught me at a young age that “with great power comes great responsibility,” and it is a fact of human existence that ameliorating one’s liberty of choice, freedom of expression, and right to self-determination is directly relatable to one’s sense power.

So in here lies the subject of responsibility. What this essay aims to make palpable is the difficulty that exists in maintaining one’s sense of responsibility and pragmatism during this time of life re-imagined. Before, we discussed the opportunities college students have in trying to find the best student deals, spark new relationships, curate better hygiene, etc. when in an unfamiliar place, such as attending a new school. However, it is this greater realization of the individual’s power of choice that is the true subject of this discourse. I don’t want to sound cliché, but for new college students, there is no greater excitement then determining exactly what it is that makes you happy and using those sources of happiness to your advantage.

Image Credit: http://www.scei.edu.au/news

The overwhelming nature of arriving in a different city, into a situation where there are no longer limits on the things you can try, or finding where those things will begin generally brings anxiety with it. It is good to feel that anxiety, because it means that you value what your life is and your happiness in living it. If I could go back and tell myself a tidbit of advice freshman year, I would tell him this: there is no greater opportunity missed than living a life that prioritizes your health, your happiness, and your ability to make patient deliberated decisions. That may seem like an Olympian sized feat, but it begins with the littlest of things. For example, when one prioritizes their health and ability to focus and deliberate, than drinking the night before a test perhaps wouldn’t even enter one’s mind as a viable option.

Image Credit: https://www.pragmait.com/therapyboss/blog/short-term-or-long-term-goals-still-required/

It may seem a little extreme. However, when I was adjusting to my life off-stage there were many decisions that I see now as being nothing but a hindrance on my overall goal of being happy. I was more concerned with my momentary happiness and less concerned with prioritizing my long term goals.  It is easy to try and find the most exciting thing to do as a young new college freshman or sophomore, but it is all too easy to get caught up in the overwhelming liberty that comes with newfound independence. Always prioritize the life you want to be living and don’t simply live in the moment, and I promise that your life re-imagined will be a rewarding one to live.

By James Rodriguez

A Texan born and raised, James Rodriguez grew up in San Antonio TX, and has recently graduated from New York University, having studied corporate and political publicity. He sings, plays guitar, studies French, etc. in his free time, and when given the opportunity to share advice that he thought noteworthy with future or current college students, he jumped on the chance. He believes that there is something incredibly important in obtaining knowledge from those who are going through or have recently finished dealing with the difficulties one is seeking advice on. Which is exactly the aim of the Campus Clipper: to share the best advice possible in order to better the experiences of students who are struggling now. Because he was once that lost college student who was searching for instruction and who felt out-of-place and in need of direction, he hopes that his words can relate to someone’s struggle and help along the way. 

For over 20 years, the Campus Clipper has been offering awesome student discounts in NYC,  from the East Side to Greenwich Village. Along with inspiration, the company offers students a special coupon booklet and the Official Student Guide, which encourage them to discover new places in the city and save money on food, clothing and services.  

At the Campus Clipper, not only do we help our interns learn new skills, make money, and create wonderful e-books, we give them a platform to teach others. Check our website for more student savings and watch our YouTube video showing off some of New York City’s finest students during the Welcome Week of 2015.

 

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Posted in Eating Healthy, Family, Friendship, NYC Student Guide, onCollege, onHealth, onLove, onValues, Out On The Town, Relationships, Student Issues, Studying, Uniqueness in NYC | 1 Comment »

Going Out in the City on a College Budget: Five Whys and Five Hows

Tuesday, August 21st, 2012

Growing up, going to “the city” (that is, New York City) meant dressing up in whatever dress I wore for Easter Sunday or Christmas Eve and going out to dinner at a Zagat-rated restaurant somewhere in Little Italy with my family.  In those days, Mom and Dad paid.  When I first moved to the city from Westchester four years ago, going out meant throwing on a shirt and skirt in hopes of looking somewhat decent on the line of an overhyped 18+ club that I or my roommates were “on the list” for, thanks to a Facebook group that boasted to keep us up-to-date on the hottest and cheapest NYC college-age nightlife.  I quickly denied the existence of such a life.

pitfalls of fake IDs

When I turned twenty-one, I retired my once-used, two-years-expired fake ID that flaunted the image of a girl who looks absolutely nothing like me except for the fact that we are both 5’4” and have brown hair and brown eyes. At 5PM on my twenty-first birthday, I entered a heavenly paradise: Trader Joe’s Wine Shop.  Knowing that I would, without a doubt, be carded there, I stood on line with two bottles of Three-Buck-Chuck and my awkward but somehow freeing sixteen-year-old smile staring at me from my driver’s license.

When it comes to going out, the city has much to offer besides Trader Joe’s Wine Shop.  Bars are everywhere, nightclubs are plentiful, and parties often literally happen in the streets and under them in the subways.  Having gone to Manhattan for college, I was faced with the challenge of the city in addition to traditional college distractions.  Still, I believe that the ups outnumber and outweigh the downs when it comes to the typical college student’s desire to celebrate the weekend, weekday, or lack of knowing what day it is.

  1. You can leave your apartment without a set destination.  Don’t know where to go?  Just go.  Look for “two for one” signs.  Follow crowds.  Gravitate towards noise.  Ask loud people you cross on the street where they just came from and hope they remember.
  2. You meet people (whether you want to or not).  Though you may unwillingly find out about a stranger’s hygiene, astrological sign, and pick-up techniques, you may also make some new friends or at least go home with an interesting story or characters for that screenplay you’ve been working on.
  3. You don’t have to designate a driver.  Subways, taxis, and sidewalks are a New Yorker’s best friends.  Because few people going to college in the city have a car with them, there is no need to draw straws at the beginning of the night (though you may want to designate a pack leader to lead the way home if you’re sleepily returning at three in the morning).

    Designate your shoes when you don't designate a driver. Walking in heels can be tough!

  4. You can always find a place to eat.  From cookies to dollar pizza to street meat to pretty much anything, food is always available and often cheap.
  5. Nowhere is off-limits.  Though you may have to wait a bit longer for subways to arrive the closer it gets to sunrise, every borough is at your fingertips.  This also allows for you to try a new place when “the usual” just isn’t enough. 

The bad news?  Money doesn’t grow on trees, and, if it did, you still wouldn’t have any because you likely don’t have any trees growing on your fire escape.  The city is always outside your door, always awake, and always hungry for your wallet.  Plus, the fact that you may or may not already be going broke paying for a college education doesn’t help any.

However, if there’s one thing I’ve learned in the past four years, it’s that you should always be prepared.  If you plan out at least part of your night ahead of time, you don’t have to pay much for a night of fun.

  1. Eat dinner home.  Instead of going out to eat, make dinner with some friends in someone’s kitchen or have a potluck dinner.  This is often cheaper and healthier, and allows you to start the weekend celebration together and then head out when everyone is accounted for.

    Leave yourselves a large tip with all the money you save when you celebrate at home with friends.

  2. Buy your own alcohol. If you are 21 and drink, look online for which liquor stores or beer distributors have the best deals on your beverage(s) of choice, and hit them up before they close.  Make your own concoctions, which can be fun!  And, if you do go out afterwards, you’ll probably be less tempted to spend money on overpriced drinks.
  3. Arrive early.  Many locations (bars and clubs alike) that charge cover fees charge differently according to what time it is.  If your usual bar has a good happy hour, meet up with a few friends for cheap drinks.  If a club says that admission is free before ten o’clock, consider getting there early.  Don’t forget to account for the time it takes to wait on line!  Also, when possible, be female—you’ll probably pay less to get in to some places.
  4. Have your own dance/karaoke/movie/theme party.  Sometimes a night in can be even more rewarding than a night out.
  5. Take advantage of your college or university.  While you might associate school events with middle school dances when the sexes stood on opposite sides of the room and stared at their feet or giggled in circles, school-sponsored events can often be fun.  The people putting them together are probably either paid to do it (and probably at least somewhat good at it) or they are college students just like you with similar ideas of fun.  Check your school events calendar, as well as any deals that your school and local businesses offers like student-price movie tickets, coupons, brochures, and other student savings.  You’ll be surprised what you can find!

It's who you're with that counts most.

Of course, there is no perfect formula for saving money, but over time you should discover what works for you and learn your own methods along the way.  While you’re in college, remember that you’re in college.  Remember that you’re not the only one concerned about saving money while having fun, that there are whole schools of students worried about the same thing.  In this realization you can find your savior—your friends.  No matter where you’re going or what you’re doing, surround yourself by good people and you can’t go wrong.

 

Take advantage of a great happy hour at Cuba!

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Carina, New York University. Read my blog and check out my Twitter! FOLLOW ME!!

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Posted in Friendship, onEntertainment, onFun, onLove, onSavings, onValues | 1 Comment »