With our Facebook theme being "Entertainment," we thought this article from Delish was terrific! Reposted from: http://www.delish.com/recipes/cooking-recipes/cooking-tips-for-college-kids?gt1=47001
Authors (and sisters) Megan and Jill Carle wanted a better dining option than their college meal plan. Rather than depend on sustenance from the campus cafeteria, the students prepared fresh meals in their off-campus apartment. The twosome knew they weren't alone in their quest, so they documented their findings and recipes in College Cooking and College Vegetarian Cooking, both designed for first-time cooks living on a limited budget with limited resources.
What are the secrets to being a savvy student chef? Jill Carle dishes up her best tips and recipes for anyone looking to eat well while away from Mom's cooking.
By Kiri Tannenbaum
Check Your Dorm Kitchen
While some older dorms don't offer private kitchens, many universities are creating apartment-style living quarters equipped with cooking facilities. But even with a built-in kitchen, remember that your resources are likely to be limited. "Cooking in your mom's kitchen is different than cooking on your own," explains Jill Carle, co-author of College Cooking. Aside from not having a fully stocked pantry, you'll have to adjust to limited equipment and following campus rules. Microwaves are usually allowed, but toaster ovens, hot plates, and electric pots might be prohibited. Check with your school before purchasing.
Photo Credit: Eric Audras / Getty Images
Equipment Essentials
Carle suggests stocking up on the basics: "Bowls, silverware, a plate, and a can opener." If you do have access to a kitchen, also acquire a good knife — a chef's or even a steak knife — and a big pot. "If you have a bigger pot, you can do a lot more. If you don't have mixing bowls, you can mix in a large pot. You can make a big batch of something in a big pot and you can make a small batch in a big pot, but you can't make a big batch in a small pot," Carle says.
Photo Credit: Shana Novak/ Getty Images
Keep Cooking Basics on Hand
To avoid late-night fast-food visits, keep a few of your favorite foods on hand. "Canned goods are good," says Carle, who suggests canned beans: "They always work very well in the microwave." Supplement with rice and you've got a meal. Always have salt and pepper, plus other seasonings, like a Cajun mix, to keep things interesting. If you've got the room, stock basic starches. "Rice, pasta, and even potatoes because they keep for a long time," suggests Carle. "You can always make something with those ingredients plus a few canned and fresh vegetables." If getting or carrying supplies is a problem, learn to substitute. Buy bouillon cubes instead of canned stock. "It doesn't have the same flavor, but they aren't as heavy as carrying home 12 cans of stock," says Carle.
Photo Credit: Foodcollection / Getty Images
Shop Smartly and You'll Save
After tuition and textbooks, your budget is tapped out. Though fast food might seem cheaper, it's more economical (and healthier) to make your own meals. Stock up on items when they go on sale. "If it's something you eat regularly, then there is no reason not to buy sale items," says Carle. Another cost-cutting tip: "If you're cooking for yourself, that doesn't mean you have to cut down a recipe for a single serving. Make the whole recipe and take the leftovers for lunch the next day or freeze it so you have it for a future dinner. In the long run, it's easier, because then you don't have to cook every single day."
Carle's favorite freezable dinner: stuffed shells.
Photo Credit: UpperCut Images / Getty Images
Avoid the Freshman Fifteen
"The first time on your own, it's really easy to eat pizza for every meal and tempting to chow down on ice cream and fries, but it doesn't mean you should," says Carle. Get some variety in your diet. "I would say what every mom says: 'Eat your veggies' or some sort of fiber or it's all just gonna sit there for a really long time." That says it all.
Read on for the recipes!
Photo Credit: Peter Cade / Getty Images
Breakfast of Champions
Craving: After a long night of studying (or partying) you need sustenance. Eggs are the perfect option for a filling breakfast packed with protein.
Try This Recipe:
What's-in-the-Fridge Frittata
Photo Credit: Jessica Boone
Mexican Cravings Conquered
Craving: Tacos. It's hard to resist the convenience (and price) of Taco Bell. But nothing beats packing a warm tortilla with fresh ingredients.
Try This Recipe:
Black Bean and Corn Tacos
Photo Credit: Penny De Los Santos
Pizza Party
Craving: Pizza. In less time than it takes Domino's delivery to get to your door, you could make your own custom pie, hot and fresh out of the oven.
Try This Recipe:
Homemade Pizza
Photo Credit: Penny De Los Santos
Say No to Chinese Takeout
Craving: Chinese. Hang up that phone. You can make a steaming plate of Chinese food that's even more flavorful and less caloric than your local take-out shop's version.
Try This Recipe:
Chinese Chicken and Broccoli
Photo Credit: Jessica Boone
Skip the Ramen, Go Thai
Craving: Noodles. We know: All you need is hot water to have an instant cup of noodles. Invest a few more minutes and make a hot noodle dish that won't taste like the Styrofoam cup it came from.
Try This Recipe:
Tofu Pad Thai
Photo Credit: Penny De Los Santos
According to VisualEconomics.com, the average US Consumer spends approximately 5.4% of their paycheck (or $2698) on entertainment each year. That doesn't sound like a lot, but let's put it in perspective:
- 5.7% of the average paycheck (or $2853) is spent on health care.
- 4.8% of the average paycheck (or $2384) is spent on gas.
- 5.4% of the average paycheck (or $2668) is spent on eating out.
When we put it in those terms – it looks a little more substantial.
What entertains us? Movies – the theatre, the Redbox, Netflix, Blockbuster, premium movie channels, pay-per-view… Video games – Xbox, Wii, Playstations… Social Media – Facebook, MySpace, Twitter… Sporting events, concerts, plays, museums, festivals… We find entertainment in an endless list of mediums and depending on your personal interests – it can get pricey.
Some might argue that entertainment should be cut when you're trying to get out of debt or save money. We agree… and we also disagree.
When one is struggling to get out of debt, pay off loans, and save for a down payment on a house – it seems rather frivolous to go to the movies twice a week when, for a fraction of the cost and a little patience, you can watch that movie for a fraction of the cost when it comes out on video (and buy your popcorn a whole lot cheaper too!)
One of the philosophies of Generation Millionaire to make smart economic decisions while still maintaining a quality of life. If your passion is skydiving – you may want to think about a low-cost alternative such as an indoor skydiving unit until debt is cleared up, but we still want you to have fun!
We just want you to be smart about it and be aware of your choices!
This article from MSN on car expenses was too good not to share…
Reposted from: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveonaCar/Your5MinuteGuideToCarExpenses.aspx?page=all
Your 5-minute guide to car expenses
You'll spend more money on cars than just about anything except a house. Let these 31 tips steer you in the right direction to lower your car expenses.
[Related content: automotive, savings, cars, budgeting, auto insurance]
By MSN Money staff
The cost of a car is a lot more than the sum of its payments. It's the gas, the repairs, the insurance, the parking. It's the lost opportunity to do other things with your money as well.
Your homework should involve a lot more than a test drive. In fact, it starts with simply doing the math. Consider this: If you're 25 and buy a $20,000 car rather than a $30,000 one, and sock away that 10 grand in a Roth individual retirement account at 7%, you'll have $160,000 to retire on. (See MSN Money's Savings Calculator.)
And consider these points:
One rule of thumb is that you should spend no more than 20% of your household income to buy and operate car.
If you don't have a car payment now, consider whether you're willing and able to take one on. Try putting aside a car payment, say, $500, each month for three months and not touching it. Are you able to live easily without that money? Would you really rather do something else with it? (See "Keep your old clunker or buy a new car?")
Have a realistic idea about the value of your trade-in. (You can find Kelley Blue Book values here.)
If you owe money on your current car, rethink any plans to buy a new one if your loan is "upside down" -- if the car isn't worth what you owe. Rolling over debt is the fast track to real trouble. You'll pay higher interest rates because what you owe isn't secured by the new car itself. (See "The real reason you're broke.")
Look further ahead than the monthly payment. Choosing a car that requires premium gasoline will cost you several hundred dollars more a year. Choosing a car equipped with summer-only tires could force you to buy another set for winter. Satellite radio? That'll cost $140 or so a year.
Consider your credit. Loans for people with marginal credit have grown increasingly more expensive. A few months' work on your credit rating could pay off in a loan rate several points less expensive. (You can get an estimate of your credit scores here.)
If you decide to buy, there are still a few key steps before you leave the house:
Get a feel for what's out there. (Check MSN Autos' 2010 model year review or used-car listings at AutoTrader.) Unless you're a gearhead or intensely brand-loyal, you should find several models to compare and test-drive rather than fixing on just one.
Resist the urge to pay sticker price or more for a high-demand car. Demand -- and selling prices -- always fall. Remember the New Beetle and the PT Cruiser?
Call your insurer for full-coverage rates on the cars you're considering. (You can compare the relative risk for theft, injury and collision repairs for different cars with MSN Money's Auto Risk tool.)
Contact your local motor-vehicles department to see what registration and licensing would cost. You probably will roll the first year's costs into your loan, but the hit can be substantial in subsequent years in states with yearly fees based on the value of the car.
Arrange financing. You can get an idea of rates here. You should apply with at least one bank or credit union. (If a bank won't lend you money for a car, you really shouldn't be buying one until your credit is repaired. A car dealer probably can find financing for you, but you will pay dearly for it.)
Do a reality check. If you have little to no down payment, you are upside down the second you leave the dealer's lot. The longer the loan, the longer you'll stay trapped that way. Aim for 48 months; that way you can get a few payment-free years before the car begins to need major repairs -- and you'll have positive equity much more quickly. (See "10 steps to the best car loan")
Tricks of the trade
Will you trade your old car? Selling can be a hassle, and it's not always worth the trouble. But sometimes it is. Consider:
Is your old car worth less than $5,000 or so and paid off? If so, sell it yourself. A new-car dealer wouldn't be generous (probably it would go to auction rather than stay on his lot), yet cars in that price range are a sweet spot for buyers who can't afford to finance -- and for smart folks who don't want to go into debt.
Selling a car worth a substantial sum is more difficult. You can't offer the kind of financing and dickering room a dealer can. And selling a car on which you still owe money can be a lot of work. (See "How to sell a car you don't own.")
A deciding factor on trade-ins may be your state's sales-tax policy. Some states tax only the difference between the sale price of the new car and the trade-in value of the old. In others, you pay sales tax on the full value of the new car. A $20,000 trade-in in Washington state, for example, would save a buyer at least $1,460 in sales tax.
Remember that the value of your old car is what someone will pay to buy it, not necessarily what a dealer will give you in trade. If a dealer offers you $2,000 above Blue Book for your car, he's making up the difference elsewhere.
In the hot seat
If you have arranged financing in advance, you can drive a harder bargain or simply walk away. If a dealer can offer a better deal, great, but you won't be compelled to buy at the only place that would finance you.
If you hate to haggle, you can try either a no-haggle dealership or a service that does the haggling for you.
Buy a car, not a payment. Negotiate the total price of the car. (Use the chart below as a rule of thumb to figure payments.) When the salesman asks about monthly payments, say, "I'm more interested in the price of the car right now."
Estimate your payments as you shop
Here's what you'll pay for each $1,000 you borrow:
| At 0.0% APR* | At 2.9% APR | At 5.9% APR | $41.66 for 24 months | $42.94 for 24 months | $44.28 for 24 months | $27.78 for 36 months | $29.04 for 36 months | $30.38 for 36 months | $20.83 for 48 months | $22.09 for 48 months | $23.44 for 48 months | $16.67 for 60 months | $17.92 for 60 months | $19.29 for 60 months | $13.89 for 72 months | $15.15 for 72 months | $16.53 for 72 months | At 0.9% APR | At 3.9% APR | At 6.9% APR | $42.06 for 24 months | $43.38 for 24 months | $44.73 for 24 months | $28.16 for 36 months | $29.48 for 36 months | $30.83 for 36 months | $21.22 for 48 months | $22.53 for 48 months | $23.90 for 48 months | $17.05 for 60 months | $18.37 for 60 months | $19.75 for 60 months | $14.27 for 72 months | $15.60 for 72 months | $17.00 for 72 months | At 1.9% APR | At 4.9% APR | At 7.9% APR | $42.50 for 24 months | $43.83 for 24 months | $45.18 for 24 months | $28.60 for 36 months | $29.93 for 36 months | $31.29 for 36 months | $21.65 for 48 months | $22.98 for 48 months | $24.37 for 48 months | $17.48 for 60 months | $18.83 for 60 months | $20.23 for 60 months | $14.71 for 72 months | $16.06 for 72 months | $17.48 for 72 months |
*Annual percentage rate
Leasing is just another method of financing. It could make sense if you like to trade every two or three years and don't drive a lot. Negotiate the cost of the car first. Put as little down as possible; gap insurance on leases won't repay any "capital reduction" if you total the car. (See "A $199-a-month car isn't always a deal.")
Fill 'er up . . . gulp
While gas prices have fallen from their 2008 highs, it's still expensive to gas up, and there's no quick fix. But there are some things you can do to ease the pain at the pump:
Consume less, either by choosing fuel-efficient models or ditching a car altogether. Look for a car no bigger than you can use regularly (and rent a pickup when you need to go to Lowe's). (See "Is the car-free life for you?" and MSN Autos' Green Vehicle Center.)
Plan your trips. That means not just combining errands but also planning your route to avoid left turns, for example. Also avoid idling in the drive-through.
Forget premium gas. Buy the cheapest gasoline that doesn't make your car engine knock. See "10 things gas stations won't tell you.")
Compare fuel prices on Internet sites that track them, such as GasBuddy.com and GasPriceWatch.com.
Text messages about low prices also are available. If your phone supports sending a text message to an e-mail address, get prices from gas@gasbuddy.com or gas@fuelgo.com. For up-to-date delivery to your desktop, MSN Autos offers a downloadable program that grabs gas-price data.
In general, the nicer the neighborhood, the more you'll pay for gas because station owners' overhead is higher. So stop in a less-expensive part of town to fuel up. However, it's rarely worth it to drive around looking for cheaper gas.
Try not to drive with a cold engine, don't carry things on top of your vehicle, slow down, and avoid hard acceleration and braking. (See "Fuel-saving driving tips.")
Squeeze out more savings
Whether driving a new car or the old one, we're all looking for ways to save money. Here are more ideas:
Updated April 22, 2010
Bottom of Form
You know the feeling…you've just gotten your car serviced, you've just filled up with gas, and you've just had the car cleaned… Does it feel like it runs better or is that in your imagination?
Whether real or imagined – car maintenance will keep your car running smoothly and save big money in the long run. Failure to get regular oil changes, filter changes, or scheduled maintenance could leave you stranded on the side of the road. This week, on Facebook, we're exploring ways to make our dollars go farther on our cars, but in no way are we advocating for you to ignore the needs of your car. Just be smarter about it…
Stay tuned for more ways to save on your car's maintenance this week on Facebook! And be sure to suggest our page to your friends!
Hey college students! Did you know you have special benefits and perks that can help you financially? You qualify for discounts on:
- Computers
- Software
- Groceries
- Travel
- Entertainment
- Clothes
Why do these retailers offer these discounts? Because they want to build loyalty from you now while you're young and keep you as a customer as you grow older… Do you have some particular retailer with whom you have established such a rapport that you will remain loyal to them even with or without a discount that may be available to you? As consumerism experiences grows – customer service will become a feature as important as a price point and retailers and business are depending on your future business as much as your current…
We've taken the liberty of sourcing a few online sources that can direct you to other places who will offer financial incentives for college students:
Three questions for you:
- Do you take advantage of student discounts?
- Do you have other sources for discounts?
- If a student discount is not made apparent – do you ask about them?
Generation Millionaire teaches a program that teaches how to make small changes in your life to reap big benefits. We want to show the up and coming generation how they can be millionaires! Careful planning and a little discipline are the key ingredients. This week, we're talking about financial security. What does it mean?
For some, financial security is the typical American dream: big house, fancy cars, exotic vacations, and expensive jewelry. For some, it's having money put aside to cover unexpected expenses. For others, it might be just having enough to cover the costs of monthly living. Today, we had a fan of our Facebook page today who said that for her, financial security was being able to hire someone to do her laundry.
Everyone's definition is different. But one thing is consistent: in order to achieve your personal definition of financial security, you have to be committed to making smart financial decisions. Using the pay-yourself-first philosophy, Generation Millionaire is committed to showing you the way to financial security…no matter what your personal definition of it may be.
Today, we are posting an article about problems Generation Y may face according to a recent Western Union survey.
Survey: Gen Y'ers face a big pile of money trouble
Investment Advisor - Aug. 16, 2010
Copyright 2010 Investment Advisor. A Summit Business Media publication.
All rights reserved
By Joyce Hanson
A financial storm may be brewing for the debt-laden, stressed young Americans who are part of the Generation Y demographic, according to a recent Western Union survey. Financial positions in the first half of 2010 deteriorated for one out of three of 87 million Americans age 18-34, the index shows. Nearly 30% of Gen Y'ers reported having difficulty in managing their spending, more than 20% waited longer to pay their bills, 35% borrowed money from friends or family members, and 50% reported feeling increased stress about financial obligations.
"Gen Y'ers are generally described as creative, independent, and tech savvy, while at the same time they are sometimes seen as overly confident and impatient. Many are also in trouble financially," says a Western Union news release for the latest Money Mindset Index.
Western Union has a good understanding of financial trouble. Now over 150 years old, the company went bankrupt in 1994 and survived by undergoing a corporate facelift that incorporates modern electronic tools such as global account transfers and prepaid credit cards. The company's consumer-to-consumer segment, representing 84% of overall revenue, offers money transfer services that are popular with immigrants as well as college students and their parents. As a result, Western Union has become something of an expert in the spending patterns of America's youth. The survey was conducted for Western Union in May 2010 by Javelin Research, which surveyed more than 3,000 consumers online about their current behaviors and emotional mindset regarding debt and personal finance issues.
One bright spot for Gen Y'ers is their use of technology to better manage their finances. "The silver lining is that, in spite of the difficult economy, Gen Y is
engaging in money-savvy behaviors that can help build a better financial future," said David Shapiro, Western Union senior vice president, in a statement. "The Money Mindset Index identified Gen Y's use of tools such as online bill pay to manage their budget and credit standing. Factor in their high comfort level with web-based programs and budgeting tools, and Gen Y has a solid foundation for getting their finances back on track."
The survey also found that 27% of Gen Y survey participants have been turned down for a loan or line of credit. Sixty percent have not seen their credit score in the past year, and 44% have never seen their credit score. Older Americans are experiencing less financial trouble, according to the survey.
"Gen Y's difficulties are in contrast to other survey respondents, many of whom are seeing positive changes in their financial situation, including less impact from economic challenges such as changes in credit card limits and increased interest rates, a declining need for spending cutbacks, and decreased shopping at discount retailers," according to the Western Union news release.
(c) 2009 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.
This week on Facebook, we've posted a variety of money-saving quotes from famous voices in history. Why? Because history repeats itself. What we are going through economically is not a new situation. Our country and societies / cultures around the globe have gone through economic hardships and depressions. In recent years, we have come the closest to repeating the Great Depression and as a whole, our nation has buckled belts a bit tighter and started seriously looking at finances, ways to cut back, and ways to save for the future.
Many have embraced old habits of making clothing, planting gardens, and other do-it-yourself cost saving strategies employed by generations past. These are critical skills that we should embrace – economic hardships or not!
About a year ago, a colleague of ours interviewed a Great Depression survivor who, when asked if people in today's society could survive another Great Depression, shared, "I don't know because people today aren't as self-sufficient as we were back then." There's a lot of truth in that statement. Think of the things we spend money on instead of taking care of it ourselves:
Using what you know about American history – what are some of the things you pay for that are really a matter of convenience versus a need. Are there things you could do at home to be more self-sufficient AND save money? Please share your thoughts here or on our Facebook
page. We will be exploring some do-it-yourself ideas in Thursday's blog.
Today's blog is a repost on paying for college… there's some great advice in here!
How to Pay for College
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
Although it may seem like after January 1st, all you have to do is sit back and wait for your acceptance letters, there's a long way to go before you move into your college dorm.
Applying to college is only the first step. If you hope to enter the hallowed halls of your first-choice, you need to find a way to pay for college, and fast.
Calm down, applying for financial aid is all about the basics: loans and scholarships.
Loans:
Alright, here's is the catch: you might get some cash for your college education, but it won't be there for long, so you can't treat it as a windfall and go on a major shopping spree. That's the thing about loans-you have to actually pay them back.
So they are more like "temporarily free money." But that's still a huge help for the students relying on a loan as part of their financial aid package. In fact, college loans are the largest form of student aid, making up 54% of the total aid awarded each year.
There are basically two broad categories of loans: loans based on financial need and loans not based on financial need. Either way, you must fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as a first step. (By the way, these are long and complicated, and there are some cool companies like fafsa.com who can make this a breeze).
If your FAFSA application does demonstrate need, a need-based loan will be less expensive than a non-need loan (need-based loans usually have better payback terms). As mentioned above, to be eligible for any loan, you have to fill out the FAFSA first. Below are some of the different kinds of loans:
Need Based Loans
- Subsidized Direct Loans
- Subsidized Stafford FFEL Program Loan
- Perkins Loan
Non-Need Based Loans
- Subsidized Direct Loans
- Subsidized Stafford FFEL Program Loan
- Perkins Loan
- Private Loans
Scholarships:
The great thing about scholarships is they don't need to be paid back. Scholarships are generally offered through colleges, businesses, private individuals and outside sponsors. There are no standardized scholarships, meaning they vary from college to college. Those awarded by the college itself are often called merit aid. For some scholarships you need to be nominated. For most of them, you apply directly to a sponsor (the person or institution who is issuing the scholarship). So, check with your college to see what types of scholarships are available. Or, go online to scholarships.com to search thousands of scholarships for the ones that perfectly match you.
Some students are very successful at getting many little scholarships or occasionally landing a substantial award. These scholarships are awarded on a broad-base of criteria, the most common being academic merit. However, others are based on conditions such as financial need, affiliation with a church or community group, demonstrated leadership, athletic talent, artistic or musical ability so don't rule them out. Think of your skills and your community and get creative! Apply for as many as you can, as a bunch of little awards can add up to one big scholarship.
Beyond the Basics
Okay, so now you know the basics of applying for financial aid. But what's next? How do you find these mythical "scholarships" and how do you know which loans to apply for? Well that's where the "Pay For College" page comes in. CampusCompare has just launched a new page to deal with all your financial-aid worries. You can search and compare scholarships and loans to find the right combo for you! And as the dollars add up, you'll be that much closer to the college of your dreams.
Still don't understand the ins-and-outs of financial aid? Check out our Financial Aid FAQ's, glossary, and more expert advice on the "Pay For College" page. It has everything you need to go from $0 to your full college tuition.
Are you ready for school? It's coming before long…do you have the money to make it? Our blog today is featuring a number of online resources that point you in the direction of scholarships.
As much as a credit card seems like "free money," applying for college scholarships is the only way to get "free" money for college. Is it time consuming? Yes. Is it competitive? Highly. Is it worth it? If you want to do what you can to avoid high debt after school, definitely.
Check out these sites…let us know if you're able to obtain any financial assistance…
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