Spring Break
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Life Skills You May Need
Chris Frappier
Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: Editorial/Opinion
10/01/08 - I know it is a bit early to start talking about graduation, but since anyone who wants to graduate in May needs to file their intent form this fall, it's a good time to bring it up.
Ever since we were young, our parents stressed the importance of being educated, and getting a college degree. In years past, this was excellent advice. You would graduate high school, go off to college, and somewhere between four to six years later, you would return home triumphantly with your degree in general studies. That slip of paper opened up a world of opportunities, because now you were considered educated. This same slip of paper would help you get a job anywhere, from your dad's office all the way to your uncle's insurance company. Life was good.
Now, we're facing a different story. The unemployment rate in the United States is 6.1 percent, and the unemployment rate in Rhode Island is the second highest in the nation, a staggering 8.5 percent! Now this might be scary to nearly any future college graduate (except pharmacy majors, they all have jobs once they get accepted at the University of Rhode Island). So, for all the liberal arts, business, and even some of the engineering majors out there, I have a few pieces of advice on how to wait out this awful economy.
Do-it-Yourself
Throughout the day, there are many tasks that we let more qualified people take care of. These tasks range from cooking dinner to replacing brakes on your car, or even replacing that hole in your wall that your friend fell through the other night. You can find out how to do anything online, and once you go through the instructions, you might be able to accomplish more than you think. Personally, I don't recommend electrical work, plumbing, or refrigerator repair attempts by yourself. It is likely the effort will end up costing you more money than you would have paid a professional to begin with.
Cheaper Tastes
This may seem simple, but quite a few people often overlook it. Go shop for the store brands, because it doesn't have to be a solo cup, they just have to all be the same size. As for food, look for cheaper alternatives to ingest. Cooking pasta is a lot cheaper than driving up to Warwick for the Olive Garden, and if you do go out, share a pitcher of beer instead of buying individual pints.
For all of you off-campus students who pay utilities, try being cold once in a while. Those Ugg boots and North Face jackets you all seem to have are a lot cheaper than filling up your heating oil tank. Just remember to keep the heat up enough so your pipes don't freeze, because your landlord will be none too happy with you.
Go Home
When you graduate, move home for a little bit. It seems like an awful prospect to some, but it's a great place to save money. Even if your parents have you pay rent, it should be cheaper then getting your own place fresh out of school. Just don't get too comfortable there; getting yourself on your feet is one thing, but make sure you're saving up for the long-term to move out.
Ever since we were young, our parents stressed the importance of being educated, and getting a college degree. In years past, this was excellent advice. You would graduate high school, go off to college, and somewhere between four to six years later, you would return home triumphantly with your degree in general studies. That slip of paper opened up a world of opportunities, because now you were considered educated. This same slip of paper would help you get a job anywhere, from your dad's office all the way to your uncle's insurance company. Life was good.
Now, we're facing a different story. The unemployment rate in the United States is 6.1 percent, and the unemployment rate in Rhode Island is the second highest in the nation, a staggering 8.5 percent! Now this might be scary to nearly any future college graduate (except pharmacy majors, they all have jobs once they get accepted at the University of Rhode Island). So, for all the liberal arts, business, and even some of the engineering majors out there, I have a few pieces of advice on how to wait out this awful economy.
Do-it-Yourself
Throughout the day, there are many tasks that we let more qualified people take care of. These tasks range from cooking dinner to replacing brakes on your car, or even replacing that hole in your wall that your friend fell through the other night. You can find out how to do anything online, and once you go through the instructions, you might be able to accomplish more than you think. Personally, I don't recommend electrical work, plumbing, or refrigerator repair attempts by yourself. It is likely the effort will end up costing you more money than you would have paid a professional to begin with.
Cheaper Tastes
This may seem simple, but quite a few people often overlook it. Go shop for the store brands, because it doesn't have to be a solo cup, they just have to all be the same size. As for food, look for cheaper alternatives to ingest. Cooking pasta is a lot cheaper than driving up to Warwick for the Olive Garden, and if you do go out, share a pitcher of beer instead of buying individual pints.
For all of you off-campus students who pay utilities, try being cold once in a while. Those Ugg boots and North Face jackets you all seem to have are a lot cheaper than filling up your heating oil tank. Just remember to keep the heat up enough so your pipes don't freeze, because your landlord will be none too happy with you.
Go Home
When you graduate, move home for a little bit. It seems like an awful prospect to some, but it's a great place to save money. Even if your parents have you pay rent, it should be cheaper then getting your own place fresh out of school. Just don't get too comfortable there; getting yourself on your feet is one thing, but make sure you're saving up for the long-term to move out.
