<p>2 words....cup noodles</p>
<p>I buy most of my textbooks from the Amazon Marketplace and Overstock.com . "Like New" books may actually be new for all intents and purposes. Have probably saved about 30-60% off the retail cost per book, which translates to $40-$100 per item. </p>
<p>Also, generally just avoid shopping at college stores. Taking the bus from Princeton to the Rte. 1 shopping center, I found just about everything I was going to buy at the school furnishing store: office supplies, furniture, food, electronics, everything. The price difference is shocking, but not surprising. </p>
<p>Finally, if you must satisfy consumer urges, shop online when there's a sale.</p>
<p>Please people, take showers...I'm not kidding. Sensory habituation is a phenomenon where your brain ignores sensory stimuli (smells, tastes, temperatures, etc) when the stimulus lasts for an extended period in order to respond to other new stimuli. </p>
<p>This means although you may not detect when you are emitting unsavory odors, other people who happen to pass you will. Don't let that happen to you in delicate social settings!</p>
<p>RAMEN. And if I'm hungry and the dining hall is closed, I usually walk to sheetz (local convienence store) and get a little egg sandwich... I think it costs around $2.</p>
<p>To go along with Entity's idea, start a Free Food Club that's in charge of finding out where the free food on campus is. So you don't run out of dining points so quickly (unless your dining plan is one with a pre-set # of meals that don't accumulate over time). My friend suggested this :)</p>
<p>Also, buy grocery instead of eating out all the time! My friend gets creative with meals... tuna on plain pasta is her favorite. It's pretty good actually.</p>
<p>Don't buy bottled water.</p>
<p>Don't withdraw from an ATM machine that's not by your official bank.</p>
<p>Buy clothes from thrift stores. There's an oversupply of clothing out there.</p>
<p>Get free pens from different events (I still have some from the org. fair in the beginning of the semester). Your university library might even have some (mine has only pencils).</p>