Ramen Noodles are an Acquired Taste

I moved into my first ever dorm room at Boston University at the age of 18 with a comfortable financial safety net of $3,000. It was a sum that I had worked very hard to accrue over the summer following college graduation. It was plenty of money to get me through the year, I thought. In fact, I’d probably finish the year with plenty of money to pay for beach parking when I went home for the summer! And so I began my first year, rarely ever checking my bank accounts and never worrying about a budget. I knew I had enough.

When I finished my second semester of freshman year in May, I had a whopping $200 left in my bank account. I had no idea how I had spent so much money, or what I could do to slow the accelerating rate at which the numbers dwindled. I didn’t go on outrageous online shopping binges and I didn’t eat out at expensive restaurants. And yet, I transitioned from scoffing at the thought of checking up on my bank account to hesitating, second guessing, and then regretting every coffee I bought during the last two weeks of school.

I am now in my third year of college and have officially been confined to the dreaded and inescapable “Ramen-Noodle-Every-Night” budget. It’s not something you can avoid. You will get there, whether you swear you can deflect the impending lifestyle or not. And don’t scoff at it. Thinking that you have time to save enough money to Postmate Sweetgreen every other night is a mistake. Not happening. For the next five years of your life, you’ll be staring ramen noodles in the face. So, once you’ve swallowed the hard truth, here are 10 tips on how to do the “Ramen-Noodle-Every-Night” budget the right way.

1.) Invest in a Keurig

I went through the “venti-hot-coconut-milk-caramel-latte-every-morning” phase. Sometimes I’d even have two a day: one in the morning before class and one at night before I buried myself in the dark corners of the library cubicles. Spending $5 a day on coffee is a ridiculous concept, as appealing as a pumpkin spice latte on a chilly October morning may sound. Invest in a $200 Keurig (which is worth 40 PSL’s at Starbucks), and make yourself limitless amounts of cheap coffee for years to come.

2.) Rideshare Neverwhere

If you live on campus, walking/skateboarding/riding your bike is probably the most efficient and logical way to get to and from class. If your college or university is located in the city and your campus is more spread out and intertwined with commercial and residential buildings, it’s tempting to forgo public transportation when you wake up late and don’t have enough time to walk to class. Bring your bike! It’s not only cheaper, but also healthier and better for the environment. Save Lyft for when you’re really in a hurry or going into town at night with your friends.

3.) Force your student ID on everyone

From J.Crew to the Apple Store to Subway, there are plenty of places that offer student discounts that students miss out on because they just don’t know about them. Get into the habit of presenting your student ID along with your credit card/money to the cashier at all times. The savings will add up!

4.) Shop for this winter’s sorority formal dress in your roommate’s closet

Got invited to Winter Formal by Chad from Phi Delt? Or maybe your BFF Jill is bringing you as her plus one to her newspaper club’s fall date party. DO NOT EVEN THINK about going to the mall or surfing Nasty Gal's online dress collection. Knock on your roommate’s door and ask if you can wear her dress from last spring. No one will notice that you’re outfit-repeating unless you have posted previous Formal pictures of yourself in her dress before. Everyone knows “Formal Szn” is just a less obnoxious Instagram caption for what it should really be titled: “sisterhood of the traveling black bodycon dress.”

5.) Find a paid internship

Many try to juggle a part-time job, classes, and an unpaid internship while in school. Kill two birds with one stone by looking for a paid internship. You can find them simply by Googling “paid internships near me” or talking to your advisor to see if they know of any local companies that are hiring. If you’re having difficulty finding a paid internship, talk to your advisor about how to get it funded. Many organizations will give you a stipend for your internship if you apply for it.

6.) Nanny

If you do choose to find a job during the school year, the absolute best way to make money is to work as a babysitter or nanny. Download the Care.com app, and you can choose your own hours, how much you want to get paid, and how many kids you’re comfortable working with. Most times, you won’t have to work on the weekends and you can get paid up to $25 an hour.

7.) Download Mint

Download an app that helps you keep track of your budget. I use Mint, and I know exactly how much I spend (and overspend) on restaurants, shopping, gas, and electricity.It also reminds me to pay my bills on time.

8.) Borrow books

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Before you spend $700 on your textbooks, check to see if your university has a “book trading/selling” Facebook page. Post on the Facebook page exactly what books you need, and usually someone will get back to you with how much they are willing to sell them for. Some people even give away their old books for free. If that doesn’t work, search Slugbooks or Amazon for the books, and compare the prices to your University’s bookstore prices. Always rent or buy “used” before you buy “new” textbooks. Alternatively, you can ask your friends who have already taken your classes if you can borrow their books for the semester.

9.) Download Venmo

Downloading Venmo was the singular most life-altering decision I’ve ever made. Before Venmo was invented, during my first year of college, I was constantly spotting my friends for money and mentally keeping track of how much they owed me. At the same time, I always felt super cheap, and it was annoying to have to verbally remind them to pay me. I lost a lot of money that way, because I suffer from confrontation-phobia. Venmo is instantaneous and passive-aggressive. If your friends don’t have cash on them, just request the money on the spot through Venmo, and nothing else needs to be discussed.

10.) It’s called the “Ramen-Noodle-Every-Night” budget for a reason

My version of a “Ramen-Noodle-Diet” features Kraft Spongebob-shaped instant mac n’ cheese, for which I have an instant microwaveable bowl in my bag at all times. On days that I have my internship, I pack one so that I don’t go spend money at Caffè Nero across the street; on days that I have class, I pack one so that I don’t blow my meal points on Pinkberry and Panda Express (I like to save my points for Starbucks;) ).

Slowly, but surely, these ten tips will help you save your hard-earned dollars. It will not prevent you from having to embrace the ramen noodle lifestyle, but it might just help you transition from that lifestyle more quickly and easily.