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| Cheap leisure alternatives
for tight budgets |
Jessica Hines
Associate Editor
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Ahh,the
summer. This time can creep by without proper amusement for
the always-ADD college students I know we all are.
The amusement possibilities are endless. That is, they are
endless if you have a money tree growing under your bed.
Summer jobs are nice and contribute lots of helpful cheddar
to the distraction fund, but unless Wendy’s drive-thru
window is your style, summer jobs are slim pickins in Boone.
For the employment-challenged, or just the spendthrifts, here
are a few tips to stretch your dollar in the High Country.
First, learn to cook. Pooling your friends—and money—is
a great way to stay well fed and well funded. For about $15
you can prepare meat lasagna for at least 10 people. Muellers
has made it so easy it’s sickening, with not one, but
two, lasagna recipes on the side of the noodle box.
Lasagna is only the tip of the cheap-food iceberg. Once you’ve
mastered Italian specialties, feel free to venture into chilis,
stews and cookout favorites such as hamburgers and hotdogs.
Feel free to splurge on watermelon. It is summertime after
all.
Second, learn to shop around. Just because it’s convenient
doesn’t make it the best option.
Blowing Rock can be a great destination for bargain shoppers—especially
you men out there. My favorite flower shop is just a short
drive down Highway 321, and although the store is small it
is surprisingly cheap.
The Tanger outlet mall is another great place to shop, but
be selective. Outlet doesn’t mean cheap. If you catch
the right sale at the right time, you can score some awesome
attire.
Third, learn to be patient. Movie theatres in the area are
expensive, due to the small market area, but there are other
options.
The Carmike Appalachian (AKA the $1.50 theatre) shows films
that have been pulled from other theatres for—you guessed
it—$1.50. With a little patience and a small hike to
King Street, the best of Hollywood can be yours, and you can
actually afford to buy junk food at the concession stand.
For those with even more patience, on-campus films are available
throughout the summer and school year. The new Greenbriar
Theatre in Plemmons Student Union plays recently released
films for free. During the school year, I.G. Greer Auditorium
hosts many popular films for $1.
Fourth, learn to love live music. Music is another great facet
of the Boone area. Something from all flavors makes its way
through Boone eventually. Yes, Lee Ann Womack could set you
back a pretty penny, but great live performances can be found
for a mere cover charge at many local restaurants.
If free is more your style, many performers can be found in
Whitewater or Crossroads Coffeehouse throughout the year,
both located in the student union. There are also occasional
free performances in local businessses.
Fifth, learn to love the outdoors. There is a reason you can’t
get from the Dan’l Boone Inn to Blockbuster in under
30 minutes. Everyone on the East Coast has learned that Boone
is a great place to be in the summertime.
Hiking trails are famous in the area, as well as waterways
and camping. For a small fee, students can rent equipment
from Outdoor Programs.
Try to avoid well-known areas that are generally known as
tourist attractions. This is the season for Floridians, and
they tend to clog the place up.
If you really want to score with your lady friend, head out
to the parkway on a clear night with a blanket. Enough said.
Living in the area can be expensive. Rent, tuition and parking
tickets can sap fundage fast.
Besides, when March rolls around it’ll be time to repay
the Floridians for their kindness, and a week of drunken stupidity
requires capital. |
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