Pros and Cons of Living Off-Campus
Mykel Brown
Issue date: 3/10/09 Section: Housing Special
Though many enjoy the convenience of living "around the block" from their very first morning class, the off-campus life is comparably enjoyable and, in some instances, even more convenient.
Let's talk money. We all need it and would appreciate people taking less of it. Considering the minimal cost of on-campus living, you're dropping $1,650 for 4 months of existence on school grounds. You're also required to have a meal plan that, at a trough price, would run you up the wall with an additional $500. Not to mention the joy you experience getting kicked out of your room during spring, winter and summer break.
That's $537.50 a month to live with three other potential goofballs, cooks, crazies, bed-wetters and general creeps who, by chance and statistic, could turn out to be exactly what you awfully suspect.
On top of that, if you're an independent and struggling student as myself, you have to drop
plenty of green outside of school for the use of a car (i.e. gas, insurance and repair), school supplies (self-explanatory "i.e.") and what have you. Emergencies considered, school is a trip.
On the bright side, you have cable, internet, utilities, multiple student lounges and media rooms and gym at your side, taken care of, no billing worries.
Logically, it is ludicrous.
I'll take my example, despite my luck and association, to compare these insane dollar costs against. I pay roughly $1000 a semester to do just the same thing. I live with 3 friends I've known for at least one year and continue to be best friends with. We rent a full-size house you'd expect a family to own and raise children in. Difference being the parties, excessively loud music throughout the day and reckless, yet semi-responsible, habits we love oh so much to carry.
We live as we please as there are no rules. No belligerent RA down the hall waiting for us to bring some fool in after hours or alcohol on the "premises."
Rent is $158 for a 3 bedroom/2 bathroom house. Utilities are roughly $60 for an unaccountable quantative usage of gallons of water, electricity, Christmas sacks worth of trash and internet. Let's speak mildly that we never have everything off. The money we save shows sickly on our food binging.
Anyways, the total price for me to be a commuting student 1.5 miles from campus is
about $300. That being said with an exceptionally large budget for food and equivalent permissions of campus use to those of a person living on campus. Driving is no drag either.
That's cutting the cost nearly in half before I have to worry about my other financial endeavors like having a set of wheels, innumerable visits to Starbucks and Waffle House, art supplies and savings for musical instruments. Purchasing: we all do it.
For the time being, shop smart, enjoy what you have for the semester and consider the outside world for your next string of months spent here acting your part in this studious education we all play in. Hope you're digging it as much as I am.
Let's talk money. We all need it and would appreciate people taking less of it. Considering the minimal cost of on-campus living, you're dropping $1,650 for 4 months of existence on school grounds. You're also required to have a meal plan that, at a trough price, would run you up the wall with an additional $500. Not to mention the joy you experience getting kicked out of your room during spring, winter and summer break.
That's $537.50 a month to live with three other potential goofballs, cooks, crazies, bed-wetters and general creeps who, by chance and statistic, could turn out to be exactly what you awfully suspect.
On top of that, if you're an independent and struggling student as myself, you have to drop
plenty of green outside of school for the use of a car (i.e. gas, insurance and repair), school supplies (self-explanatory "i.e.") and what have you. Emergencies considered, school is a trip.
On the bright side, you have cable, internet, utilities, multiple student lounges and media rooms and gym at your side, taken care of, no billing worries.
Logically, it is ludicrous.
I'll take my example, despite my luck and association, to compare these insane dollar costs against. I pay roughly $1000 a semester to do just the same thing. I live with 3 friends I've known for at least one year and continue to be best friends with. We rent a full-size house you'd expect a family to own and raise children in. Difference being the parties, excessively loud music throughout the day and reckless, yet semi-responsible, habits we love oh so much to carry.
We live as we please as there are no rules. No belligerent RA down the hall waiting for us to bring some fool in after hours or alcohol on the "premises."
Rent is $158 for a 3 bedroom/2 bathroom house. Utilities are roughly $60 for an unaccountable quantative usage of gallons of water, electricity, Christmas sacks worth of trash and internet. Let's speak mildly that we never have everything off. The money we save shows sickly on our food binging.
Anyways, the total price for me to be a commuting student 1.5 miles from campus is
about $300. That being said with an exceptionally large budget for food and equivalent permissions of campus use to those of a person living on campus. Driving is no drag either.
That's cutting the cost nearly in half before I have to worry about my other financial endeavors like having a set of wheels, innumerable visits to Starbucks and Waffle House, art supplies and savings for musical instruments. Purchasing: we all do it.
For the time being, shop smart, enjoy what you have for the semester and consider the outside world for your next string of months spent here acting your part in this studious education we all play in. Hope you're digging it as much as I am.
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