College Spending..

<p>Hey Guys,</p>

<p>I understand the main financial concern in college is to just get those darn registration and housing fees paid in full and on time. But what about the other side of university finances; the more 'recreational realm' of spending cash in college.</p>

<p>As a student, especially one at Cal in paticular, how much money do you set aside for yourself each week, for say, grabbing some food at a local resturaunt, catching a movie, or picking up a new book or cd? </p>

<p>I will be taking a very small amount of my own spending money (saved from job) that i plan on using recreationally this semester (or at least however long it lasts). i'm not talking about a lot of here, probably a few hundred dollars. the rest of my earnings are going straight into the 'future adult life' savings bin. my parents are going to be giving me an allowance, probably not an amazing load, but enough to have some fun at a reasonable cost. I also plan on working a part time job once I get there.</p>

<p>So I guess my question is, what is your freetime like, in terms of spending? Do you see yourself as more of a 'starving college student' (i.e. rented movies and ramen noodles) or is it common for you to blow 50 bucks in dinner and drinks on a saturday night? </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p><3,</p>

<p>Izzie Bear</p>

<p>P.S. This post was in no way written to sound as if I'm overly concerned with one's financial status. I honestly dont' think tons of money needs to be spent to have a great time. I'm just wondering, so I have an idea of what to bring.</p>

<p>Man, I'm just too poor !!!</p>

<p>well a meal plan comes with your dorm fees, so you would never have to live off ramen noodles.</p>

<p>don't make it sound so sad!</p>

<p>yeah, you are right. i guess im just being dramatic with the whole ramen thing, haha. but im sure the dining hall gets old after a while, so dining out will be the next best thing to dad's italian cooking. </p>

<p>p.s. i actually like ramen noodles! i'm sorry, i hope my post doesn't sound depressing or bratty! i'm just thinking about whatever i might spend my cash on that is considered 'above and beyond' what is already included. just wanted some feedback from those already experienced with the whole college life. thanks everyone!</p>

<p><3,</p>

<p>Izzie Bear</p>

<p>my cousin who is attending uc berkeley says the meal plan is more than enough to eat, and she says the chicken tastes like the beef like the rice like the pork like the tomatoes after awhile.</p>

<p>I think you have to dine out sometimes (like twice a month ?). There are pretty good Asian food restaurants around the campus.
Does having a girlfriend cost a lot of money?</p>

<p>depends on the girl. and yes, berkeley has amazing cuisine. </p>

<p>hehe...about the chicken tasting like everything else - im sure that is bound to happen.</p>

<p>im not really concerned with starving, haha. i'm just talking about recreational spending. gah, i dont think my post is coming off as i originally intended.</p>

<p><3,</p>

<p>Izzie Bear</p>

<p>recreational spending... get those six packs hehe</p>

<p>..seriously</p>

<p>Oh man, I was thinking about that.
<a href="http://calbears.berkeley.edu/programs/default.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://calbears.berkeley.edu/programs/default.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>i'm getting that gym membership. </p>

<p>im glad im going to live at clark kerr - at least i won't be far from some sort of rec club. gives me an excuse to move and shake off the evil greasy dining hall food, not to mention the beer. wait, me? no, im underage, geeze.</p>

<p><3,</p>

<p>Izzie Bear</p>

<p>clark kerr is great, there is a track and swimming pool over there right?</p>

<p>about RSF:
<a href="http://calbears.berkeley.edu/descriptions/dscindpt.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://calbears.berkeley.edu/descriptions/dscindpt.asp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>personal trainer!</p>

<p>food is more than decent and pretty f'ing cheap (you can definitely get a meal for $5). the dorm food gets old, but you can use your swipes at the campus cafes. i got really sick of dorm food second semester so i used my swipes (they're 'points' now?) on sandwiches (both GBC and ramona's panini-like things), burritos, and smoothies. lots of smoothies. movies are the same as you would pay anywhere else. (although, there are $1 rentals at elephant pharmacy if anybody ever decides to live on north side.) plenty of places that sell used books and cd's.</p>

<p>yeah, swimming pool and track, yay! will you be living there too?</p>

<p>personal trainer, ooo. lets get 3-5 people together and split the cost of the 4-session set, haha.</p>

<p>oh, and glad to know about the $1 rentals. im sure living in berkeley won't cost up the wa-zoo (grandma word indeed)</p>

<p><3,</p>

<p>Izzie Bear</p>

<p>Man, I have lived in America for nearly 2 years, and still not used to American& Mexican foods.</p>

<p>twitb, where are you originally from?</p>

<p><3,</p>

<p>Izzie Bear</p>

<p>Me? I'm from Vietnam(Dec,03). My family is a poor family in a destitute village in an average district of an average province of a developing country.
Why are you asking? Also from Asia ?</p>

<p>No, I've lived in America my whole life, although my parents have not. </p>

<p>I was just wondering since you mentioned you had only been here for two years. I was just curious, and I'm fascniated with other cultures, so I thought I would ask.</p>

<p><3,</p>

<p>Izzie Bear</p>

<p>I can't find the info about joining and i forget what they said at CalSO. What's free and what isn't?</p>

<p>joining what?</p>