Students make many little changes to deal with economy

For some students, an unexpected consequence of a bad economy is leftovers. Lots and lots of leftovers.

“My roommate and I buy things in bulk and split the tab because we find that it saves more money,” sophomore Marisa Mule said.

She said she and her roommate buy a lot of food because it’s cheaper and wind up with leftovers.

Mule said that she purchases generic products and rarely shops for clothing, with the exception of the occasional sale.

While students still crowd the areas of Kirkwood Avenue and Fourth Street at lunchtime every day, some are making an effort to save their cash by cooking more meals at home.

“I don’t buy expensive health foods from Bloomingfoods anymore because I just can’t afford it,” said junior Athina Morris, who has also made coupon cutting a weekly habit.

Senior Brittany Moore said she cooks plenty of pasta because it is a cheap and easy-to-make dinner. In addition, she said she drives less, takes advantage of the Five Buck Club at the movie theater and, instead of renting from Blockbuster, she frequents Redbox, the one dollar movie vending machine outside grocery stores, fast food restaurants and other places.

Beside changing what they buy, some students are changing what they do, spending more time volunteering now than before the downturn in the economy.

“Anything to buff up my resume is rewarding,” Morris said.

Morris, a telecommunications major, is hoping to land a job soon after graduating, but widespread unemployment may force her to attend graduate school, though she doesn’t want to.

Students are showing an elevated interest in applying to graduate school, as well as a need to complete undergraduate studies in the conventional four years, said Anna Bednarski, undergraduate biology advisor,

Bednarski said she has not noticed a decrease in the number of students who find jobs or a desire to switch majors and career paths in order to ensure an income after finishing school. Bednarski said that she has not felt that students are experiencing an increased difficulty in paying for tuition.

“I’ve seen students who are very happy about the new grants for academic progress,”  Bednarski said. Starting next fall, IU offers $300 grants to in-state students who had a grade-point average of 3.0 or above for fall and spring semesters this year.

The recession is also not preventing students from gaining other educational experiences, such as studying abroad.

“IU has a very strong commitment to providing support to students who go abroad,” Bednarski said.