CL Apartment Living: Grocery Shopping for the College Girl on a Budget

As a newbie to living on my own, I was so excited to finally have my own kitchen; so when I actually moved in and got into my routine, I was shocked to learn how hard it actually is. Planning meals and going grocery shopping with a small budget, all on top of a busy school schedule – it’s not as easy as it looks! Yes, it’s true that I do not know everything, but I am experiencing it first-hand, just like all of you, so I am here to help you get organized and plan meals as we all try to figure out how to make the most out of living and cooking on our own. First things first: the grocery list.

I organized my shopping list by meals because I think it’s the easiest way to keep track of what you’re buying. This way, you’ll know exactly what you have in your kitchen and you won’t have eat breakfast for every meal of the day – unless you want to.

Breakfast: The most important meal of the day! It’s vital to have a nutritious and filling breakfast to keep you energized through your day’s classes, and it’s always nice to have breakfast options available on the weekends when you are really craving it. So really think about what you enjoy for breakfast and only buy what you know you will eat. Here is a list of common morning items (that last a long time) to keep in mind as you’re putting your list together. The ones with the asterisk* are the ones that I think are essential for your fridge/pantry.

• Eggs (Bonus: you can hard boil them too as a nice, protein-packed snack!)
• Yogurt and Granola
• Milk*
• Cereal
• Bread*
• Butter*
• Oatmeal: simple and microwaveable. Plus, it can be stored in the pantry without going bad for a long time.
• Juice
• Fruit*: I know fruit can get expensive, so look for deals and if you can’t find any, buy your favorite because fruit is delicious and good for you!

  

Lunch/Snacks: Because I know students don’t always eat lunch at home on school days, I have lumped snacks and lunch into the same category; i.e.: These are the items you wouldn’t necessarily eat for breakfast or dinner, unless you feel so inclined then be my guest.

• Bread/wraps, if not already purchased for breakfast
• lunch meat: turkey, ham, roast beef, etc.
• cheese: again, pick your favorite
• Peanut Butter
• Jelly
• Lettuce + things you like in salads
• Your favorite snack foods: chips, pretzels, bread, almonds etc. Buy the things you usually munch on when you’re hungry, but be careful not to go overboard!

  

Dinner: *(Sidenote: I am a big frozen foods person. You can store meat, rice, frozen entrees, vegetables, fruit and many more things in the freezer and they won’t go bad. I know that eating fresh foods is more desirable, but as a college student on a budget, sometimes you literally can’t afford that luxury. Plus, frozen items are generally easier to make. So if you’re not against eating frozen foods, I would say it’s your best bet.)

• frozen sides: vegetables, bread, rice, etc.
• frozen pizzas: CPK, Digiornio, Organic, etc.
• Meats: Many grocery stores sell individually wrapped serving sizes of meat for very reasonable prices, which is perfect for us. Stock up.
• Ice-cream: Okay, so this isn’t exactly dinner, but just in case your sweet tooth calls for a frozen treat, I didn’t want you to forget

Now the non-frozen things:

• Pasta: you can store this for a long time in your pantry and it’s easy to make
• Red Sauce: you can buy a big jar of delicious red sauce at any grocery store
• Canned Soup
• Ramen – because you really can’t be a college student without it
• Boxed Rice
• Mac n’ Cheese

Other Necessities to Buy:

• Salt and Pepper
• All Spice: you can use this for fish, meat and desserts and it will taste delicious every time
• Ketchup/mustard/mayo
• 1 Brita Filter: for if you can’t or don’t want to drink tap water
• Non-stick cooking spray
• Olive Oil
• Vegetable Oil

  

This is my list! Now, things may have to be altered to your tastes and I may have accidently forgotten some things, but this is my general guideline for what to buy and how to keep from starving. As always, look out for deals and items on sale, and don’t be afraid to use the generic brand! A lot of times, it is exactly like the other brand, but a lot less money. Also, pick only a few nights a week to have a big, sit-down dinner. I know it seems like a lot of fun to cook a big meal every night, but it just not realistic. On some nights, throw a frozen pizza in the oven or make a cheese omelet (you are in college, after all) and save those big dinners for a night when you can take the time to explore your options. And last, but not least, have fun with your own apartment/kitchen!

                                                                                                                              

Katie Maguire is a junior at Boston University, majoring in Public Relations with a minor in history. She is Sisterhood Chair of Kappa Delta Sorority and loves baking, working out and laughing with her friends!

Top Ten Phone Apps for a CLassy School Year!

Having a smart phone makes your life some much…well smarter! If you just got a smart phone or have had one for a while, here’s the top ten apps that I would recommend to start your semester off right!

1. Taskos: This program is great for making to-do-lists, and crossing things off! If you’re a list person like me, you’ll have alot of fun swiping off the stuff you already did and watching it disappear. It’s a great tool to keep you organized throughout the day. It’ll even let you sort your to do list any way you want!

2.Tip Calculator: CLassy coeds always leave a tip. And this app will help you figure out how much! If you’re going out to dinner with a large posse, the last thing you’ll want to do guest-imate the tip. Download one of these and you’ll know just how much to tip that cute waiter who gave you the extra hot sauce.

3. I-Coach: I’m always thinking about bikini season, even if its January! I-Coach  will push you, pace you, and keep track of your fitness goals. It’s literally like having your own personal trainer in the palm of your hand! You can even loop your phone’s playlist to use during your workouts.

4. Pandora: Speaking of music, want to hear some tunes but don’t want to spend time downloading each song? Well there’s a friendly way out. Pandora is an online radio program that allows you to create your own station based on your favorite artist. And the cool thing is, they’re pretty good at predicting what kind of music you’ll like. It’s worth a try!

5.Weather Bug: My favorite virtual weather man! Not only does it adjust the weather to your exact location, its constantly updated for flood warnings, missing people,  natural disasters. Pretty cool, huh?

6. Words with Friends: Got time to kill? Well here’s a great way to play with friends when you’re on the go! Words with Friends is an interactive version of scrabble that will keep your mind active while you’re standing in line at the dining hall.

7. Angry Birds: If your feeling down and need some time to relax, this will be your go-to game. Help the little birds get their eggs back from the pigs who want to gobble them up! You’ll be addicted once you start playing.

8. Daily Beauty Tips: Let’s be honest, even CLassy interns don’t have time to get dolled up every morning. But if you’re looking  to  spice up your look, Daily Beauty Tips has great advice from celebrity stylists that you can easily fit into beauty your routine.

9. Recipes: Trying to impress the cutie down the hall? Download an app that lets you search for easy and dorm-friendly recipes. You’d be surprised what you make without a kitchen.

10. Gas Buddy: Need to fill ‘er up? Gas Buddy offers a frequently updated list of gas stations in your town or within your area code. It lists the prices of the gas and the addresses of the gas station. You can even loop the program up to your phone’s GPS and learn the way to the gas station of your choice! Great for those road trips to and from school.

I have use all of these apps on a regular basis. They are super convenient, especially for CLassy ladies always on the go. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Martha-Raye Adjei is an environmental studies major with a concentration in Sustainable Apparel at the University of Delaware. She hopes to become a journalist and sustainable apparel designer. In her spare time she likes to read, swim and watch TV

Day 18: A Classy Co-Ed’s Guide to Laundry

We’ve all heard horror stories of kids who return home from college with all their clothes dyed pink. Don’t let this be you. Get a parent to teach you how to do laundry before you go. Better yet, learn how yourself with our step-by-step guide!

Before You Leave:

Quarters or Card? Many college guidebooks will tell you to gather as many quarters as possible for your laundry machines. But nowadays, you can pay for laundry at many universities with your student ID card. Find out which policy your college follows before you begin scavenging for quarters.

Is your favorite party dress dry clean only? Chances are, you won’t be making the trek to the cleaners very often. Read the tags on your clothes before you go to make sure you’ll be able to clean your expensive digs in the way that they deserve.

Buy a hamper so you can lug your clothes from your dorm to the laundry room and vice versa. Bags are easily stored in closets and easy to carry, while baskets are sturdier and can be stored under beds.

In The Laundry Room:

Step 1. The most important part about laundry in college is knowing when to go. Everybody wants to do their laundry on Sunday mornings, which can result in long waiting periods. Find a free chunk of time mid-week and do your laundry then.

Step 2. Separate your clothes by color. Most people do whites, lights (pastels), brights (reds), and darks. Patterned? Turn it inside out and wash with the background color.

Step 3. Zip all zippers to prevent snagging. Empty all your pockets – you don’t want a pen to explode on your clothes, and laundered dollar bills rip easily. And pretreat any stains with a stain remover according to the directions. Kiss Off works on almost everything.

Step 4. In general, wash your clothes in cold water to save energy and to prevent colors from fading. As for the cycle – most clothes are fine on normal, but check the label. If it’s lingerie or something that is hand wash only, toss it in a mesh bag on the delicate cycle.

Step 5. Make sure you set a timer on your phone, or stay near the washing machine until your laundry is done. Washing machines are a hot commodity, and someone will move your things out of the way to get her own laundry done. Never mind that your clothes are freshly clean and the floor is oh-so-dirty.

Step 6. To line dry your clothes, hang them up in your dorm room on a drying rack for 2-3 days. If they’re taking longer, try blasting them with a hair dryer for 10 minutes.

Step 7. Tumble drying your clothes? Make sure to remove the lint first, or it will get onto your clothes. If it grosses you out, use a card to take it out. To stay classy, take the lint out when you’re done.

Step 8. Take your clothes out of the dryer ASAP to avoid wrinkling. Make sure you’ve gotten everything (I always forget something in the dryer) and revel in the wonder of warm, clean, laundry.

Sasha Graffagna is a soon-to-be junior at New York University. A proud sister of Theta Phi Beta, she talks too fast, travels a lot, and loves coffee.

CL’s Top Ten Things to Do Before Summer Ends!

August is right around the corner, which means it is almost time to go back to school. Some of you classy co-eds are super excited to be headed back to your university to reunite with friends and college life. Others are dreading heading back to exams and all-nighters. Either way, you should definitely be enjoying your last few weeks of summer! Read on for CL’s top ten fun things to do before heading back to school.

1. Go to a landmark/site unique to the place you’re at for the summer. Take advantage of wherever you are by going to a museum, park or restaurant that’s only in your city.

2. Shop around for a first-weekend outfit. You know how you used to have a first-day-of-school outfit? Well, in college that equates to a first-weekend outfit. Remember to pick something classy that shows off your summer tan!

3. Plan a final “hurrah” weekend trip with your friends! Pick somewhere not too far away, and take a little trip before you start getting bogged down with back-t0-school packing.

4. Get some cute dorm gear. Be sure to check out Room It Up and Dorm Smart for your dorm and apartment shopping.

5. Start the school year fresh with a haircut. This will save you the challenge of finding a salon near your university.

6. Spend at least one day at the pool, the lake or the beach. (Do all three if possible!) Do I really need to explain why spending the day in the water and the sun is a fabulous idea?

7. Go on a “date” with people you won’t be seeing during the school year. Whether it’s your internship buddies or your high school best friend who goes to a different college, try to squeeze in a goodbye dinner before you part ways.

8. If you’re home, make sure to have at least one family meal before you leave. You’re going to be gone for a while, so the least you can do is commit to a couple of hours of quality family time.

9. Grab an ice cream cone, and eat it outside. Ice cream in the summertime is just a little bit better! (I am a huge sucker for chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream.)

10. Learn how to change a tire. A lot of us drive a long ways to get to school. If I ever got a flat tire, I would call my parents or a close guy friend, whoever was closest. Not very independent of me! I have vowed to learn how to change one before I leave for school. This CL article is a great resource on learning how to change a tire.

Carli Christain is a junior at Kansas State University majoring in Spanish and taking pre-pharmacy requirements with the intent of going to pharmacy school. She absolutely cannot wait to get back to school but loves summertime!

College Lifestyles’ Classy Back-to-School Shopping Guide with Room It Up

The back-to-school shopping frenzy has begun! Step back to class in class by shopping with Room it Up.

Keeping track of your keys has never been easier with these Room It Up key chains, like this Houndstooth Key Chain. From $3.00 to $5.00 apiece and 13 prints to chose from, you are sure to find one that fits your budget and unique style.

Houndstooth Key Chain
from: Room It Up

Stay dry and in style while  walking from class to class with these fabulous umbrellas from RIU. A Retro Dot Umbrella in black and white priced from $19.00 goes PERFECT with a pair of matching rainboots!

Retro Dot Umbrella
from: Room It Up

Love these products? Then don’t forget to ”Like” them on Facebook!

Debra Schreiber is a senior at Duquesne University where she studies journalism and Spanish. She loves cake decorating, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the television show So You Think You Can Dance, hitting the gym, and her lovely Alpha Sigma Tau sisters!

Ask a CLIntern Responds: Staying Fitness Savvy at School

CL ladies want to know:  What are ways to stay in shape while living in the dorm?

 

Here are several tips you can use to help you stay in shape while at school.

1.      Work out at your college or university’s fitness center.

Colleges and universities can have different fitness center payment policies. Some schools have fitness centers that offer free classes and facility use for students and faculty with a campus ID, for example, Duquesne University. Others require you to pay, for example, Miami University of Ohio requires students to purchase passes in order to take group fitness classes. These passes could be for one day, one month, one semester or one academic year. To motivate yourself, and moderate your money, try a one month pass first. If participating in these classes is something you think you can keep up with, purchase the semester pass. These classes are well worth the cost – they will keep you in shape, both physically and mentally, and, with the wide variety offered at most schools, you’ll never get bored!

2.      Work out in your dorm.

No gym? Try working out in your dorm room. Having dance parties with your room and hall mates can be a great bonding experience as well as a quick and easy way to burn off major calories. Have a Wii or Xbox with Kinect? Try games like Wii Fit Plus or Just Dance for Kinect. Also, if you do not have a lot of space, remember that yoga is a stationary exercise routine that can be practiced just about anywhere!

3.      Work out at a nearby gym.

No campus gym or dorm space? Then sign up at a local gym in your college town. Most offer student rates and/or discounts. Also, if you belong to a gym at home, and the same one is near your school, try using your membership there.

4.      Eat healthy.

Eating health foods is one of the most important things you could do for your health throughout the academic year. If you live in an apartment with an oven/stove, sautéed vegetables are a quick and easy make; if not, salads are a fresh way to help you get your daily serving of vegetables. Keeping the bad sweet treats out and the good, healthy fruits in your dorm room quickly helps to eliminate food temptations. If you’re eating in your college’s dining hall or out at a restaurant, just use common sense. Remember – you are what you eat.

5.      Drink water instead of pop (soda).

Frequently drinking Pepsi or Coke means you are literally drinking your calories. Even diet and “zero” products could leave you feeling bloated. Drinking more water will keep you more hydrated and will allow you those few extra calories for a treat.

6.      Get enough sleep.

Your body needs rest, so make sure you get at least eight or nine hours of sleep at night (yes, you protest that this is impossible, but if I can do it – you can, too!). This is especially important after an intense work out (your body needs the time to rebuild muscle). Lack of sleep could cause you to crave foods that will give you a sugar rush, such as donuts, according to WedMD.com. This adds up over time, adding on extra pounds. WebMD.com also stated that getting enough sleep will help your metabolism to function its best.

7.      Treat yourself.

Staying in shape is not about making treats 100% off-limits. It’s about moderation. So, go ahead, if you’re craving a scoop of vanilla ice cream, go for it – just get one scoop instead of two.

And a quick tip from College Lifestyle’s founder/CEO Shelly Marie Redmond – walking around your campus with friends will help you stay in shape, too!

Have another question about College Life or anything in general? Ask bellow in the comments or email intern@collegelifestyles.org! (“Send in your question and be featured in a future College Lifestyles post! (Out of privacy, we will not use your name in the post)”). Check out the Ask Intern Post for more information.

Debra Schreiber is a senior at Duquesne University where she studies journalism and Spanish. She loves cake decorating, the Pittsburgh Penguins, the television show So You Think You Can Dance, hitting the gym, and her lovely Alpha Sigma Tau sisters!

5 Fun ways to CLassify your Room!

If you’ve ever lived in an apartment or dorm, you probably know what it feels like to have little to no freedom of expression.  Here are 5 fun, simple, and inexpensive ways to take your room from drab to fab (and even stick to the dorm decorating rules!)

1)      Wall decals – These are super awesome because they’re easy to apply, easy to remove, and can be moved around, too!  Wall decals, such as this one from target ($18) will peel right off the wall without leaving any sticky residue (perfect for dorm rooms!)

2)      Original Paintings – Since you can’t paint the walls in your dorm room, why not express yourself on a canvas?  If you don’t already have art supplies, don’t fret!  They’re not as expensive as you may think and you can get everything in one stop if you know where to go!  Craft stores such as Michael’s and Hobby Lobby are generally your best bet, but you can sometimes find canvases and paints at stores such as WalMart (just be sure to call ahead!)  Also, craft stores will often have great package deals on art supplies, so it’s a good idea to check your local ads before you hit the stores.

3)      Fun Bedding – A comforter with fun prints or bold colors is a fantastic way to add some flair to your dorm room (especially if you don’t want to mess with your walls).  I recommend the “Bed in a Bag” options because they come with a sheet set and a comforter, are color-coordinated, and are a great value.  This one from WalMart even comes with a reversible comforter! ($39 total)

4)      Curtains – A 2-for-1 deal: curtains add a splash of color to your room AND they’re great for keeping the light out of your room on those (lucky) days when you don’t have 8am classes!  Quick tip for curtains – Buy a rod that is advertised as a “spring tension rod” (such as this one from Amazon.com, $8) because they require hardly any installation.  Just lengthen the rod until it fits in your window space, tighten, and you’re good to go!

5)      Posters – Whether you’re a movie junkie or a history buff, there’s sure to be some posters that express what you love!  I like to check out music/movie stores such as FYE for posters, because they always have a variety of poster “genres” and they’re very reasonably priced.  Target and WalMart are great places to look for posters during the back-to-school season as well!

Alli is a Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics junior at Michigan State University.  When she isn’t spending time with friends and family or on the sidelines of an MSU football game, she can always be found playing with her dogs!

A Classy Co-eds Guide to Preparing to Live Comfortably at College

It can be hard leaving home to attend your first year of college. You probably visited that campus once or twice, but the area, the people, and the way of life are completely unfamiliar than what you know. It is hard to know what to expect. Here are some ways to prepare to make the adjustment to dorm life more comfortable.

Communicate: A huge part of living comfortably at college is to communicate with your roommate. You’re going to spend the entire school year living with this person so you have to try to understand how to live with each other. Get to know your roommate through Facebook or Skype when you are notified of who she will be. Trading class schedules, communicating about how you expect the cleanliness of the room to be, and talking about personal space are also important. Communication about your living habits as well as hers decreases the chance for that there will be further issues.

Keep it clean: Not everyone is a neat freak but maintaining a clean room can tremendously improve the comfort of dorm room living. With assignments, exams, and the other stresses that college can pile on, it can be hard to find time to clean your room. I find it best to pick a day every week where you typically don’t have a lot of work to do to take the time to sweep, vacuum, windex, and reorganize belongings that may have gotten out of place during the week. Coming into a clean room will help you to better relax and focus on schoolwork.

Decorate: This is one of the most important steps because this is where you will be living for almost nine months. Decorating is more than just hanging posters and pictures on your wall. Buy a bed comforter that adds some color or reflects your own personal style. There is not much to a dorm room and your bed take up quite a bit of space so you should make sure it adds color. If your room is not carpeted, buy a carpet. Curtains can also be used to add color.

Don’t bring too much: This is a lesson I learned the hard way. Freshman year I thought I had to bring everything. Bad idea. Dorm rooms, as well as space for clothes and other belongings, are small. Bringing too much with you will make you feel cramped.

Make it comfortable: You are going to be living in a twenty by ten foot room with another person, but that’s not all that can make living in a dorm uncomfortable. The big light in the ceiling of the dorm can be too bright or too dull. Bring a lamp, comfortable lighting can make any tiny room more bearable. Finally, bring something that gives off a good scent. Candles generally aren’t allowed in dorms, so try scented oil or flowers, these will also add some decoration to your room!

Anna is a junior at Duquesne University studying International Relations and Internal Marketing Communications. She loves traveling, friends & family, Alpha Sigma Tau, Starbucks, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Philadelphia Phillies and snowboarding!

3 Easy CL Ways to Keep Yourself Sane!

College can be overwhelming. Many of you savvy co-eds are probably over achievers like me who give 110% in everything you do. And when I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING—mastering your assignments, starting up a new organization, acing your exams, keeping the attention of your latest crush, working out 5 times a week, calling your mother every day—you get the picture.

It is easy to get stressed out trying to balance school, extracurriculars, sleep, and your social life. Sometimes the simplest little things can drive you nuts. But you have the composure and poise to stay well-rounded and still feel great. If you are going to be this involved throughout college life, you have to keep yourself sane. Here are 3 easy ways:

1. Keep your room neat. Do you throw your clothes all over the floor after trying on every article of clothing you own? Do you refuse to make your bed because it means you get another 3 minutes of shut-eye? Do you leave papers and folders lying around your room? Do you have mugs full of coffee sitting on your desktop? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time to make some organizational changes. The key to tackling these problems is to straighten your room before it even becomes a mess.

2. Learn to say no. If you want to succeed in all that you do, you have to prioritize and put time and energy into the things you love the most. You might want to commit to everything that interests you, but there just aren’t enough hours in a day. Limit yourself to a few activities, jobs, etc. that are fun, meaningful, and possible to do.

3. Make reasonable to-do lists. I am guilty of writing to-do lists that take up entire sheets of paper. All this accomplishes is a high level of stress. To prevent this from happening, set realistic, specific goals that you know you have the ability to complete within a given amount of time. List tasks in order of when they need to be completed and then estimate how long it will take you to complete each task. Write down whatever is doable within the given time constraints. You should make a new to-do list every day, but if you want you can also make a weekly to-do list at the beginning of each week so you can budget your time wisely.

Follow these tips and I know you classy co-eds can keep yourselves sane!

Erica Avesian is an intern at College Lifestyles (TM). She is a Communications major at the University of Michigan. Erica loves eating home-cooked meals and being pampered.

The Classy Way to Manage Your Budget

Having full control over your money isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. We beg and beg and beg our parents to let us spend our money the way we want, but when we are finally granted our wish, it can be extremely overwhelming. As classy co-eds, it is imperative to know how to manage your money and stay fabulous without going over your budget. Here are a few ways you can save money when it counts.

Make a list. When you go food shopping, bring a list of everything you need. This will save you from buying excess items and going over your monetary limit – as long as you stick to it. Also, don’t wander the aisles; this will also lead to overbuying.

Learn to balance your checkbook. Even with the convenience of online banking, it is important to keep track of your expenses in a checkbook since checks don’t get cashed right away and can be easily forgotten. Phone bill, car insurance, and student loans are all things you need to write a check for; you may even write a check when you buy books. Knowing exactly how much money you have at all times will help you keep track and stay conscious of how much you’re spending.

Limit going out to eat. As co-eds, we often look to convenience when it comes to eating (and get sick of cafeteria food!). That, of course, means hitting up fast food chains and cheap restaurants. With drinks, tip and tax, the total of your meal could be as much as your bill at the grocery store for a week’s worth of food that will most likely be better for you anyway. Making your own food is not only cheaper in the long run, but healthier for you as well.

Stick to these tips, and it’ll help you stay within your budget and maintain your fabulous lifestyle!

Nicole Celli is an intern at College Lifestyles. She is a senior English major at Quinnipiac University and a member of Phi Sigma Sigma. She is excited to save money this semester!

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