EagleBucks are both a blessing and a curse - they’re so easy to use that if you’re not careful, they’ll be gone before you know it. Here are 10 tips to making the most out of your money:
h3. Know where to shop.
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Don’t do your weekly grocery or supply shopping at Eagle’s Nest. Although it’s located in a really convenient location, you’ll be paying for the shorter walk with higher prices. Save Eagle’s Nest for late night or last minute purchases. On a regular basis, make the trek into Tenleytown or to Safeway - your EagleBucks will thank you. h3. Know what to buy (or not buy).
On the same note, don’t make major purchases at the Campus Bookstore with EagleBucks if you can help it. Try to get your parents to pay for that AU hoodie or water bottle when they’re visiting during All-American weekend or through the web site. Although these are often worthy purchases, they will eat up a big chunk of your EagleBucks, leaving you short elsewhere.
h3. Keep it off-campus.
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Try not to use your EagleBucks when you’re on campus - especially if you’re buying food. Every on-campus eatery should take Dining Dollars, and you can’t use those anywhere else, so why waste EagleBucks? h3. Know your laundry schedule.
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You know that it will cost you $3.50 in EagleBucks to do one load of laundry, so plan ahead. How often do you do your laundry? How many loads do you do at a time? Calculate ahead of time how much money you’ll be spending on your laundry for the semester and subtract that from your account. This way, you can spend the rest of your EagleBucks without worrying if you’ll have clean clothes that week. h3. Make a budget.
Yes, it sounds boring, but it’s a skill every college student will need to learn sooner or later. Figure out how much money you have to spend (in EagleBucks, Dining Dollars or your own cash) and ration it out per week. The smarter you are with your money, the more you’ll be able to enjoy it.
h3. Know where you can spend them.
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AU Housing & Dining has a list of on-campus and off-campus vendors that take both Eaglebucks and Dining Dollars. The more familiar you are with this list, the easier your spending will be. h3. Compare prices.
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Knowing where certain items are cheaper may take a little extra work and initiative, but it’ll pay off in the long run. Even saving 50 cents worth of EagleBucks here and there can add up. h3. Control yourself.
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Resist sudden urges to buy things. Maybe you’re walking by Robek’s and have a sudden craving for a smoothie, or you’re by Cava around lunchtime and don’t feel like making the trek back to campus. It will be hard, but impulse buys are almost never worth it - you’ll just end up feeling guilty later. h3. Beware of Whole Foods.
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Sure, it’s a great store with high quality products - but the prices are higher too. If the organic label isn’t as important to you, consider making the slightly longer but cheaper trip to Safeway or any other nearby grocery store. h3. Whatever you do, don’t panic.
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If you do run out, you can always re-load EagleBucks onto your card. If your birthday or a holiday is coming up, let your parents, friends and family know (politely) that they can do it online. EagleBucks are one of the best gifts an AU student can receive. "asrikanth@theeagleonline.com":mailto:asrikanth@theeagleonline.com