I fully intended to resurrect my blogging with a review of fall fashion and the like. However, since I can’t afford to purchase any wardrobe additions this year, let’s shift focus a bit. The Sweet Life has taken a hit in recent weeks. When you wake up in the morning to learn that you’ve decreased in value overnight, you hold off on that pair of shoes so you can make sure to fill your gas tank later. Plane tickets have also doubled in price. That combined with Congress taking my money to give CEOs sweet vacations is killing the 3L year I had planned–especially the part about spending my loans on the ankle boots I’ve been eyeing for months.

Except not really. Here are a few measures I’ve implemented to save money, stick it to the man, and still buy plane tickets. Follow these ideas to tighten the belt, and you can still play–and maybe literally tighten the belt:

• The obvious one: walk as much as possible. Put in place some rules and see how much you save on gas.* If you stay in town, try to fill your car every other week. If you commute, at least try to keep it at once a week. There are several benefits from this: not having to buy a parking pass for the Myrtle lot is the huge one. Yes Iowa is freezing and snowy and crappy, but you should already own a coat and a pair of boots. Deal. Otherwise get the ‘S’ permit and just pay to park on those days when it is really terrible (not that you will be able to move your car). Or do what I do: skip class. Approx. $50 to fill a gas tank; ‘R’ permit $621. You do the math. That is 621 fewer dollars you hand over to the University of Iowa. That is totally worth walking in a foot of snow with two inches of ice underneath.
• Financially motivated vegetarian. Meat is outrageous these days, as is dairy unfortunately.** While it might be fabulous for the waistline, cereal/1300 calories per day can only take you so far. Fortunately, there are ways to have a protein life and still rely on canned food. Option 1 is canned salmon: less mercury than tuna, comparable price. Mix with some crumbled saltines or oats and some miracle whip and fry it like crab cakes…because crab right now? Yeah right. Option 2: black beans save lives. Put them in a tortilla with cheese and salsa, amazing. Or you can just do what I do: cheerios and pickles.
• Gainful employment. The library is pretty boring on a Friday night but I get a lot of work done (or at least blogging). And Walgreens is hiring if anyone wants to join me in the photo lab; we also get a 19% discount on Verizon service. Money. 3Ls, you are not studying; get a job.
• Clothing and shoe repair. Minji directed me to a great tailor on Burlington; this woman is amazing. $16 to have buttons and zippers fixed, jackets tailored, pants shortened–all instead of buying new clothes (which I would usually do since I’m helpless). New shoes were tough to let go; but new heel tips and shoe polish from The Shoe Doctor on S. Dubuque St. provide a cheaper solution than buying new pumps. Less than $15 as opposed to no less than $60…
• Sober up. Soda is free in Iowa City. Done.
• Canceled the Netflix. Le sigh.

What could not go:

• Gym pass. The guy who does Thursday morning boot camp at the Field House is cute.
• Driving fast. I know they say you should drive at a steady speed to be more fuel efficient; but I set the cruise at 78 and constantly have to slow down for Iowans who think it’s okay to drive 70 in the left lane. Sorry, can’t do it.
• Caffeine. $1.25 per day in the Canteen adds up over the semester. Try to make the coffee at home as much as possible and hit the Canteen on emergency days when you read PR at 2 am and you’re out of absences. Another alternative is gas station coffee, which I’ve learned is phenomenal. $1.47 for a 24 oz. But not every day; I only allow myself a cup when I have to fill up the gas tank.***

Obviously some lists might not be so drastic. And there may be some people in this world who think driving 70 mph is fast enough (seriously stay away from me). If you have any tips on how I can be cheap to an even greater extent, please comment. Always looking to expand the recession diet.

*Reasons why ethanol and farm subsidies are going to end the world is the topic of a future blog post.

**Reasons why ethanol and farm subsidies are going to end the world is the topic of a future blog post.

***I hate ethanol.