Spring Break
Livin' Large
Christina CaldwellIssue date: 7/2/09 Section: News
3. You're a little too independent
You're out on your own and you want to prove to friends and family you can make it. That's fair. But asking for their help could prove to be a frugal move, especially when moving into a new apartment with very little, Peter Sanders says.
America is a throw-away society, Jennifer Sanders says. Those end tables your Aunt Helen is throwing away might not be your taste, but it's better than buying new ones for hundreds of dollars. It's likely nothing a coat of paint couldn't fix.
When moving out of the dorms, students throw away perfectly good blankets, furniture and food just because they can't haul it home for the summer. Take advantage of other people's wastefulness by asking what friends are planning to keep.
And even if you loathe having roommates, it's a wise financial decision, says Nicolas Aretakis, author of "No More Ramen: The 20-Something's Real World Survival Guide." Six hundred dollars for a sweet studio apartment monthly might sound like it could be affordable, but multiply that amount by 12 months and you have quite a hefty bill on your hands. Divide that by two and it's not nearly as bad.
4. You can't give up the little luxuries
We all like to pamper ourselves from time to time. If you have the means to buy the newest iPhone, Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses and Diesel Denim, why not splurge a little?
Well, according to researchers at the University of Rochester, those fancy things might cost you more than the hundred dollar price tag.
Edward Deci, a psychology professor at Rochester, says acquiring wealth, fame and an attractive image might actually contribute your "ill-being." Material goods do not contribute to one's happiness, according to the study, which examined the goals of college graduates right after they graduated school and one year later.
Those students who improved in their extrinsic goals, like wealth and money, did not report being any more happy with their lives. In fact, the graduates who said those things mattered to them showed higher levels of anxiety and negativity in their lives. Instead, Deci says things like time spent with family and volunteering contribute to the richness of one's life.
You're out on your own and you want to prove to friends and family you can make it. That's fair. But asking for their help could prove to be a frugal move, especially when moving into a new apartment with very little, Peter Sanders says.
America is a throw-away society, Jennifer Sanders says. Those end tables your Aunt Helen is throwing away might not be your taste, but it's better than buying new ones for hundreds of dollars. It's likely nothing a coat of paint couldn't fix.
When moving out of the dorms, students throw away perfectly good blankets, furniture and food just because they can't haul it home for the summer. Take advantage of other people's wastefulness by asking what friends are planning to keep.
And even if you loathe having roommates, it's a wise financial decision, says Nicolas Aretakis, author of "No More Ramen: The 20-Something's Real World Survival Guide." Six hundred dollars for a sweet studio apartment monthly might sound like it could be affordable, but multiply that amount by 12 months and you have quite a hefty bill on your hands. Divide that by two and it's not nearly as bad.
4. You can't give up the little luxuries
We all like to pamper ourselves from time to time. If you have the means to buy the newest iPhone, Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses and Diesel Denim, why not splurge a little?
Well, according to researchers at the University of Rochester, those fancy things might cost you more than the hundred dollar price tag.
Edward Deci, a psychology professor at Rochester, says acquiring wealth, fame and an attractive image might actually contribute your "ill-being." Material goods do not contribute to one's happiness, according to the study, which examined the goals of college graduates right after they graduated school and one year later.
Those students who improved in their extrinsic goals, like wealth and money, did not report being any more happy with their lives. In fact, the graduates who said those things mattered to them showed higher levels of anxiety and negativity in their lives. Instead, Deci says things like time spent with family and volunteering contribute to the richness of one's life.
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