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Summer 2009
How to be frugal — and smile
By David Levitan
It’s summer, usually the time of year so many students crave. Normally it’s a time filled with summer jobs, vacations, road trips and countless hours at the beach or just going out; but not this summer. Many students are without summer jobs and with the economy in crisis, they are holding off spending on social activities. The National unemployment rate was at 8.9 percent in April, the highest since 1983, so many of the part time jobs are taken by adults who’ve been laid off.
Many of the college graduates have searched for jobs in the fields they majored in, without much success. A current graduate of the University of Miami with a degree in Audio Engineering has applied to work for the majority of the venues, sound companies and faculties in Orlando as well as the Miami area, and yet each has responded back with the same response: They are not hiring at this time.
Young adults short on cash are carefully choosing activities that give them the most fun for money. For example movie ticket prices have gone up from an average of $7.18 in 2008 to now around $10.00, and that doesn’t include the snacks. This reflects a 40 percent increase in the last year alone. So perhaps this summer more young people will wait for the movies to go to DVD and then watch it with friends. And those who do spring for the $10.00 movie ticket might just sneak in a snack to avoid spending that extra cash.
Moviegoers also discovered that the internet can rescue a boring night brought on by an empty wallet by turning to websites such as Hulu and even Myspace for free online movie watching. Most college students know of other sites that feature "leaked" movies or movies currently playing in theaters. Of course this adds to the downturn in ticket sales and food sales in theaters across the country.
It all comes down to that essential question while out shopping:
Do I really need this, or is it just something I want?
Why is it that when you’re on a tight budget, ticket prices seem to skyrocket? Not to worry though, live concert fans may have some hope this summer. The Cruzan Amphitheater in West Palm Beach understands your pain and is offering special "four-pack" or "six-pack" lawn tickets. For example, to see the recent Coldplay concert, you could have purchased tickets for $24.75 (four "four-pack" lawn tickets). It’s a pretty sweet discount!
For me, spending money has become something of a hassle. I'm saving my income from work and only spending on things when really needed or occasionally on an activity every so often. It all comes down to that essential question while out shopping: Do I really need this, or is it just something I want?
Those students who are on summer break and do have the luxury of summer jobs have other options on how they will spend their summer income. Marissa Gai, a student at the University of Florida, plans on using her income to help pay for classes in the fall and to save some for future use. Gai worked for CampMeds in Fort Lauderdale for the last two years and had no problem regaining employment with them.
Saving some of the income seems to be the focus of others as well. Erin Cirulnick, a student at Broward College and hostess at Outback Steakhouse, saves her paychecks and uses her tip-shares as spending money. Saving money has become a high priority to most students right now, and almost everyone is socking away their cash to use on school and bills or later down the road.
Summer 2009 will be remembered as the one where people spent more time in the comfort of their backyards or friend’s pools while feeling the relief of not having to spend money they don’t have. I know I’ll enjoy the cool summer breezes, the smell of home barbeques, and good friends gathering in the simple comfort of their own home enjoying the small things.
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