I'm 24. At the moment I am a volunteer in Central America, but in a few short weeks I will be moving back the US. Where I will be broke. And jobless. While I hopefully won't be jobless for long, I dont' have hopes of chaging the "broke" thing. I graduated from college with a degree in Visual Communications, but while photography is fun and can definitely make good money it's the kind of career I can't count on for regular income, at least not for a while.
What does this mean for me? Well...likely it means jobs that don't even require a college degree. Not always bad. However, in this economy with this job market I can't be picky, especially because I can't afford to wait. I need money for food. Money for rent. Money for a lot of things. And what I found when lived in an apartment during college: little left for entertainment.
Here's some ideas on how to keep entertained without spend (as much) money:
Magazines
This has to be one of the biggest ways people our age waste money. Oh, I'm not saying magazines are a waste, but what we pay for them in line at the grocery store is. If you buy your favorite magazine every month anyways, why not go ahead and buy a full year's subscription? Here's the math: If your favorite magazine comes out every month and costs $5 a month you'll spend $60 a year. Many magazines cost around $15 to subscribe to a year. Others cost around $20, but come with a subscription to another magazine for people with similar interests. And it's delivered right to your house. Another way to share is to swap with your girlfriends. If you and your best friend love the same two magazines why not subscribe to one of them and her to the other and the then swap out when you're done with them? Another way to save is look at mags online. It's free. Ok...so...it's not quite the same as flipping through the pages. And not all the content is there. But-it's free. And it saves paper.
TV
Get a fast internet connection. You'll have to weigh the costs based on the plans available in your area but in college my roommate and I saved ourselves a cable bill by paying $10 more a month for internet to get a fast enough connection to watch TV online. Lots of channels now put the latest episodes of their favorite shows online. You may not have all your faves, but I always had plenty to watch-and added bonus: you watch at your own convenience.
Books
Check out your local library. Yes, I know...Barnes and Nobles smells like coffee and new books, but why spend so much on a book when you can get one for free? Libraries offer a large selection-especially when you take into account interlibrary loan. I worked at a university library for 2 years and with this lovely tool you can get any book you want and often times pretty fast and most libraries will let you keep their books for over a months, so ýou have plenty of time to read your books. If you really want to keep the book go online. I've found great deals on Amazon (and not just on books!). They even have used books for sale, which are often in great shape and really cheap. I've bought a lot from sellers and it's always been a great experience (check their seller ratings before you buy). Also, take advantage of the free Super Saver Shipping.
Movies
My suggestions for movies are the same as books. Libraries and Amazon. I've gotten a ton of movies on Amazong for $0.01 and $3.99 shipping. It's the cost of a rental-but I get to keep it.
Music
I can't really think of any suggestions for concerts and my only advice on music is that check out used CD stores, but if you're craving the lastest CD from you're favorite band...? I can advise thought that you see if you can find a good preview of CDs before you buy them and if you only want a couple of the tracks that you buy them as MP3s...why spend $12 when you want $2 worth of songs?
Anyone else have good (legal!)ways to save money on entertainment?
