Day Six: Panhandling at Colonnades Brunch

What better way to cut corners and save money than mooching off the meal plans that other student's parents paid for?  Yep, its that time of year when many students begin to realize that they went to Crazy Fire a few too many times and they still have 60 meal plans to burn off.  So this morning I headed to Colonnades dining hall to enjoy a delicious brunch, compliments of somebody's parents.

Day Five: Leftovers and Dad Saves the Day

Every college student looks forward to parents weekend: an opportunity for free dinners and possible trips to the grocery store and target to stock up on cereal and toilet paper.  This weekend was a special occasion; Mr. Paul Schnabel headed down to the Piedmont for a day to visit his wonderful daughter and check out her senior thesis exhibition. (Which will be up for a few more days at Arts West Gallery, Elon University, hint, hint). 

The trip was a short one but still fruitful: sushi dinner at Red Bowl, frozen yogurt at YoZone, coffee at Irazu, and lunch at Fat Frogg...a dream come true and not a penny spent! (None of my pennies, at least).   

Leftover sushi at home 

Day Four: Friends Provide Food (Hallelujah)

Friday brought the weekend and some generosity from a friend who decided to cook a gourmet meal for me and a few others.

Day Three: Scrounging Around

Day Two, Part Two: Radio Station Pizza

College Chapel

I've never been to College Chapel before but after reading the following E-Net note, I'll definitely be attending tomorrow:

Thursday Chapel is a time and space to take a break from the business of the week and refresh the spirit. It is not a “worship service,” rather a time of reflection offered by a member of the Elon community or guest speaker. Music is provided each week by students and faculty from the Music department. Refreshments will be served following Chapel. All are welcome!

Join me tomorrow for College Chapel: Senior Sharing – Journey, Lessons, Legacy, 9:50 am - 10:20 am at Whitley Auditorium.  

Free ice cream was awesome...until I realized that was all I ate today

Smitty's makes wonderful ice cream, all rich, creamy and delicious.  I thoroughly enjoyed the noon time snack until around 5:30 this afternoon when I realized that was all I had eaten today.  Then I realized that I had to work at the library until 9pm and had no time to return to my apartment to eat.  So here I sit, at the second floor periodicals desk, listening to my stomach growling and thinking up ways to convince students in Octagon to give me a meal plan.

I also realized that I have my wallet at the bottom of my backpack which is oh so tempting but I have resisted the urge to give in, especially since I am only two days into this project.  Tomorrow I will have to plan ahead more.

If I get desperate enough before 9pm, I'm considering making a sign to hold while I sit on the bench just outside of Octagon.  It will say something like, "Starving Senior, please donate meal plans."  If I am just too weak from hunger to make a sign, I'll go into Octagon, grab a sandwich, fruit, chips, and a drink and then get into line.  I'll hand my phoenix card to the woman who swipes and then play dumb when she tells me I don't have any meal plans.  Then hopefully, someone in line behind me will find it in their heart to reach out to a needy, starving, mooching artist.

Ahh...frugality at its best. 

Day Two: Free Ice Cream, Heck Yes.

Today, I had ice cream for breakfast.

FREE Ice Cream Social

To all of my frugal fans:

Elon Town Center and Samet Corporation would like to say “Thank You” to the Elon community. Your patience and understanding is greatly appreciated during our construction project. Please enjoy ice cream (on us) from Smitty’s Homemade Ice Cream and community fellowship this Wednesday at the corner of Williamson & College.

Wednesday, May 4th
from 12 pm – 1:30 pm
Corner of N. Williamson Avenue & W. College Avenue

Day One, Part Two: Library Student Worker Meeting

Tip #2: Encourage others to take advantage of free food opportunities on campus. 

Almost forgot about this way to save $$$ today until I read my e-mail this morning: 

Day One: Tupperware is a College Student's Best Friend

Tip #1: Always be prepared with some sort of a tupperware container or ziplock bag when attending an event that provides free food.

Seven Days on Seven Cents: An Introduction

Lets face it, its a fast paced, dog-eat-dog world out there.  How do you get ahead in a society where the economy is down in the dumps and you have nothing to look forward to after graduation except the possibility of deferring your student loans for another six months?  The answer?  Frugality, frugality, frugality.  

This project is aimed at you- the down and out college student with nothing but a hole in your pocket and a song in your heart.  For the next seven days, I will spend no more than seven whopping cents.  Check in every day for my latest adventures...you'll learn how to cut corner$ and get ahead!