I’m a Broke Bloke
$2.23 Two dollars and twenty-three cents. All the liquid cash I have in the world right now. I have some money tied up in stocks, and of course a few debtors to hassle, but as it stands I am seriously broke.
Briefly, now. Poor College Kid’s Guide to Eating Cheap! Broken down into three sources.
- Friends
There’s always a friend with a padded wallet and a generous heart, willing to throw you a warm meal. Keep in mind, you owe this person big. That means you gotta be the one to stand up to get his Coke refill. Also, be ready to whip up your best conversation, and remember to get their dinner next time it comes around.
- Strangers
In a college town, there’s always a free dinner going on. Church groups, student political organizations, honor societies, someone is always serving food, and wishing terribly that any starving student would come rid them of their sandwiches and casseroles. Look around. I know a friend who went without buying food for two whole weeks making friends at different organizations.
- Strangers with candy
Rod (my father) really only stressed one piece of advice when I went off to college: Do not get a credit card. He described to me in gruesome detail the path of financial ruin followed by those who signed up for credit cards. Then come the high interest rates and the nasty phone calls and bad credit scores. It’s a mess.But! Often times, you can find offers for free things if you’ll just sign up for one little credit card. I’ve cashed in at Pita Pit, Wendy’s, and Domino’s. I even walked away from Home Depot with a sweet set of tools for the apartment. So if you see someone standing awkwardly in your path to a nearby restaurant, clipboard in hand, take them up on it. The key is to remember to CANCEL THE CREDIT CARD. It will show up at your house a week later. Call the 800 number and cancel it. Send that plastic card down the garbage disposal, or hold near open flame to induce melting. Laugh maniacally if the impulse hits.
Also with this source comes a certain air of satisfaction, having stuck it to the Man. Go ahead and pat yourself on the back. That Wendy’s never tasted so good, did it? That’s right it didn’t!
At the end of the tunnel, there is some light shining. The good news is that debtors will soon cash in. Additionally, I got two part-time jobs yesterday. AeroWire needed someone to tweak their web site, and I said “sign me up!” I also picked up my my tenure at The Plainsman as ever-cranky Design Editor. It pays pretty bad, but the people are nice enough, and I enjoy the creative outlet a good deal. Annnnnd I’m doing some SEO for a certain convenience store equipment company. Hah :D
This weekend, I head back to bluegrass country to talk some more about getting one of those real jobs. You know, with their salaries, hawaiian shirt days, and in-house massage parlors.
They don’t have those? Damn. Maybe I should work at a spa instead.
Reflexbluestocking 1.49.2008 8:38am
Is it time for more cookies?
Jon 1.41.2008 10:55am
Only if those can be pawned for a few dollars. Have you any scrap gold or aging electronics I could take off your hands? :D
Reflexbluestocking 1.15.2008 2:22pm
Do you do windows?
Jon 1.49.2008 1:34pm
I do now!
Anonymous 1.50.2008 7:54pm
ms. kim still has my stupid paystubs.
i never wanted to look at them because i knew they were so little.
Jon 1.00.2008 10:58pm
Really? You might be the reason why she smoked so much.