Dear Addie: When you can't afford it...

Dear Addie, My friends are always going out for dinners, shopping or to the movies. I don't really have the money to keep up, but I also don't want to be left out. Any ideas on how I can keep my group of friends without always being the one who can't afford to participate? - Penniless Penelope

Dear Penelope, Being strapped for cash is the worst, especially when it starts to seep into your social life. So many of the things we do for fun cost a TON and add up quickly; as I'm sure you noticed, it can really start to become more stressful than enjoyable. But don't fret, I have some solid ideas for you. 

This is gonna probably sound like a drag, but I would start off by making a budget. Either a weekly budget or a monthly budget, just something where you can track how much you spend on things that aren't absolutely "necessary". Then when you complete that week, two weeks or month, you can look back and say "Hey, look where all my money went... that was a great use of my dollar bills or that was a sad choice and definitely wasn't worth it." 

Then, once you figure out where all of your money is going, you can boost your personal allowance by looking for either an on-campus job or an off-campus job (if your schedule allows). Even if it's just taking on a few hours a week working for an office on campus or after class at a local coffee shop or restaurant, part-time employment can be quite beneficial for your resume, morale and wallet.

My last and final tip would be to look at Boulder through a new lens. There is so much to do here that costs absolutely nothing (or close to it). Invite your friends to go to Celestial Seasonings for a tour and relaxing tea-tasting experience or spend an afternoon visiting the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA) for just $2. Once the weather warms up, you can take a walk on the Boulder Creek Path, down Pearl Street or venture up into Chautauqua. There's tons to do around here that costs a whole lotta nothing and I imagine your friends will appreciate the break in spending too!

Good luck budgeting, job searching and loving Boulder, it'll all be worth it in the end.

Dear Addie is written by Addie H., a CU alum. She was admitted to CU as an open option student and as she got involved on campus, she quickly found her path as a writer and expert advice giver. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dog Odin, watching all the medical drama TV shows that exist and going on trips to Target.