It may not be easy being green, but it sure is easy to spend.
The average night out on the town costs roughly $50 per person, including transportation expenses, dinner out at a restaurant, going to a movie, snack at the theatre and drinks at a bar with friends.
Ben Hale, a freshman history major, says that it usually runs him around $100 a night.
“My taste is a little expensive,” said Hale. On the other hand, some students budget less for social and leisure activities. Taryn Fugatt, a freshman, spends between $50 and $75 dollars a week.
Other students understand the financial burdens of college life. It is estimated that monthly spending for socializing and leisure for ETSU students is $400, averaging $1,600 a semester and $3,200 a school year. Many students do not budget for socializing and leisure activities when planning ahead.
Additional monthly socializing and leisure expenses can include day trips, take-out or delivery dinners, movie or game rentals, on campus events and local musical extravaganzas. All the expenses add up pretty quickly and the question on every college student’s mind is: How in the hell am I gonna pay for all this?
Instead of getting a second part-time job or putting in overtime hours, there are ways that exist to generate a little extra green.
At Plato’s Closet, located by Carmike Cinemas, students can sell their “gently used brand name clothing” for either cash or store credit. “It’s a good way to get extra money and to get rid of old things,” said Lindsey Bynum, a freshman child psychology major.
Students can earn between 40 percent to 60 percent of what Plato’s Closet would sell the clothing for. Being a repeat seller, Bynum shares that she received $70 for 10 items in one trip. The store will also buy shoes, accessories, books, CDs, DVDs and room décor such as clocks, picture frames and candles.
Don’t want to sell your assets? Then sell yourself. Advanced Biological Services pays a flat rate for plasma donations. All first-time donors need only bring a photo ID, Social Security card, proof of address and a healthy, 18-to-65-year-old body. Students can sell their plasma twice every week. The first visit will earn a student $30 and a free physical examination to ensure the student is healthy enough to donate plasma.
Sophomore public relations major Justin Grimsley became a plasma donor one year ago because he “just needed a little extra cash” and has been donating regularly twice a week since. Not only does Grimsley like to get extra cash for his donation but he also was attracted to the humanitarian side of it.
“Plasma donations help kids with hemophilia and people that need blood transfusions,” Grimsley said.
Students trying to reduce the amount they spend on social and leisure activities can visit some local, inexpensive attractions or participate in some “staying in” alternatives.
On Tuesday nights, two people can get dinner, drinks, and a movie for less than $20. At Amigos Mexican Restaurant, domestic beer is $2 a glass and tacos are 59 cents each, plus all the chips and salsa you can eat. Bonnie Kate Theatres in Downtown Elizabethton offers $2 Tuesdays movie tickets. Students can also get discounted tickets with student ID at the Bonnie Kate Theatre the rest of the week. At $10 a person on Tuesday nights, students can save $40 on a “night-out-on-the-town.”
For the outdoor lover, all one needs is transportation and a picnic basket – camera optional. A stroll in Historic Downtown Jonesborough costs nothing other than the gas prices. Students can also visit Warriors Path State Park offers a chance to enjoy some hiking, biking, fresh air and a place to munch on their healthy picnic lunches.
The staying in option, go to Blockbuster to rent a movie and order pizza from Papa John’s Pizza. Movie rentals at Blockbuster are $4.29 for a week or unlimited movie rentals for a year for a one-time payment of $29.95, which translates to $2.50 a month.
For students not willing to commit to a year’s subscription to Blockbuster, Food City offers two new releases, for two nights, for $5. Papa John’s Pizza offers a “Campus Special” – one large one topping pizza for $6.99, which can be delivered to campus or neighboring apartments or houses with student ID.
All these bargains alternatives would cost students $100 a month, saving students over $200 a month, $800 a semester and $1,600 a school year (which also happens to be 50 percent of full-time tuition at ETSU).
Saving money does not necessarily mean losing fun. Students can still save a few of these little green presidents while not sacrificing social and leisure activities.

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