• The New York Times helps you decide if getting a Master’s degree is worth it.

• You may have heard that Obama has introduced a new program aimed at aiding college graduates who are struggling with college debt. The Washington Post and The Daily News explain it a bit here and here.

• Are you thinking about going to a community college before a 4 year university? Well, you’re not alone! Unfortunately, it appears that funding for community colleges is going down!

Be sure to share your thoughts on these articles after you have read them! I’d love to hear what you think about them!

1. KeePass – This program helps you store and keep track of your passwords for nearly anything you do on your computer.  This program isn’t absolutely necessary for those of you that are using Firefox’s built in functionality, but this program takes things a step further. It’s great and easy to use! Check it out!

2. Pidgin or Meebo – Like most students, you likely spend a ton of time online. As you’re surfing, you’re likely using some sort of instant messenger to keep in touch with your friends. Pidgin and Meebo (web-based) makes things easier. They both allow you to login to multiple accounts (Yahoo, MSN, Google chat, etc.) all at the same time. The days of having 4 different programs all running at once are over!

3. GIMP - Gimp is probably the best free program out there that can compete (sort of) with Adobe Photoshop. Save your $300+ and use this instead of buying photoshop!

4. Open Office - You may already know about this one. It’s essentially a free alternative to Microsft Office. If you’ve been used to Microsoft, this will take some getting used to, but not spending $150 is worth that!

5. VLC Media Player – This program will play nearly any kind of video file you throw at it. If you’re like me, you probably aren’t a huge fan of Quicktime or Real Player. This easily takes the place of them!

6. OttoBib – This is a nice little site that makes writing up a bibliography much, much easier. It does all the work for you!

7. FreeMind – This program allows you to do what is called “mind-mapping” – which basically means brainstorming. It allows you to take ideas in your head and put them down on paper in a natural, readable layout. I used this a lot when preparing to write papers or when starting projects. You’ll be amazed at how much it helps your thoughts stay organized!

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My niece recently reminded me of the first soup recipe I taught her to make.  It was my college go-to recipe for a delicious meal on a limited budget.  I lived on this soup during my college days at the University of Arizona.  Truth be told, I also made it frequently after college as young working gal. A large pot of soup could last for days – and was wonderful hot, warm or cold.

It still amazes me that these simple ingredients combine together to create a taste of Greece – making this meal not only simple and nutritious but also a respite during a busy week.  This recipe became my signature soup at dinner parties during those years and now my niece makes it as part of our family Thanksgiving dinner.

Soupa Avgolemono (Greek Lemon Soup)
A Greek classic.  This recipe makes rich, filling, comforting soup. The blend of flavors is intoxicating.  Enjoy the subtle melding of lemon, chicken, eggs and rice. Serves 4 -6 (can be doubled)

Ingredients

• 4 cups chicken stock
• 1/2  cup orzo, small pasta or rice
• 2 eggs
• Juice of 1 lemon (more or less depending on taste)
• Fresh ground black pepper

Preparation

• In a stockpot bring broth to a boil and add orzo, small pasta or rice and simmer on low until tender – about 20 minutes. As the pasta/rice is cooking, whisk the eggs in a medium bowl until well incorporated, beating continuously, add lemon juice, and mix until frothy. To temper the eggs before adding to the broth/rice mixture – ladle 1 cup of the broth in constant slow stream while continuing to beat rapidly so you do not curdle the eggs.
• Lower the heat on the stockpot. Slowly add the egg mixture back to remaining broth, stirring constantly. The soup will turn a cloudy white-yellow color. Stir for about two minutes. Do not re-boil; heat slowly until very warm or you may curdle the eggs. Serve.

Notes and suggestions:

• When you reheat the leftovers do not re-boil, gently reheat on low.
• For dinner parties garnish with parsley – for a festive look.
• If you have leftover chicken, shredded chicken makes a nice addition but it isn’t necessary.

It’s a vacation in a bowl – enjoy the memories.

Chef Bio: Lynn Epstein and Iris Feinberg, co-founders of Mama Says, recently introduced the No More Frozen Pizza! a recipe collection for recent college graduates, newlyweds and those finding their way in the kitchen.  The collection includes delicious and economical recipes for main dishes, sides and salads packaged in a retro pizza box.  It is available online at www.mamasays.us/.

Photo credit: SPOONS © Angela Luchianiuc | Dreamstime.com

Paper route -  My local newspaper advertises that they will pay you $400 per month to deliver newspapers. I haven’t done a cost-analysis to determine what it would come to per hour, but it’s not too shabby for some part-time work. You’ll be forced to wake up much earlier than the 10 or 11am that you might be used to, but you’ll have to decide if having some extra money is worth losing some sleep.

Mowing Lawns -  I’d be willing to bet that many of you mowed other people’s lawns for your first job when you were a kid. Why not go back to it and do it while in college? I’m not saying that you should start a business and do a ton of lawns, but maybe get to know some people that live near you and see if they’d be willing to pay you to do the work for them. There’s always other students who are renting a house or apartment and are responsible for doing the yardwork, but don’t want to spend the money to get a lawnmower also.

Deliver Phone Books -  This job will NOT be a steady source of income, however, once or twice a year, you can make some extra cash. Phone book companies are always looking for capable people to deliver their phone books to certain neighborhoods or whole towns and cities. This last year, I saw some kids that were delivering them to my apartment complex and they were walking around with a big stack of books in a red wagon. They said they were getting a $100 for doing it. I’m not sure how much work they were doing, but I think this one is worth looking into.

Be a Golf Caddy -  So this one might seem a bit weird, but there can be good money in it. I think your best bet on cashing in on this one would be to find the course that costs the most in your town and figure out a way to hang out in their clubhouse for a while. Then do some schmoozing with the players and see if any of them need some help carrying their clubs. Obviously, you’re going to do much better at this if you actually know something about golf. Give it a shot and maybe you’ll find a guy that will need you once or twice a week and you’ll have some steady income!

Babysitting -  This one probably takes you back to middle or high school, but it can have some good money. Families with kids that I know often have a hard time finding reliable people to watch their children. They often have to use irresponsible teenagers to do it. Although you might not be the most responsible person in the world, you are definitely a step up. I know lots of families that would jump at the chance to have college students watch their kids and even more who already do. I’ve seen people make anywhere from $10 to $30 an hour babysitting.

So there you go! I hope one of these side jobs can help you out. Choose the one that you think will fit you and your schedule the best and go for it!

Here is the third installment of my quick tips for saving and making money while in college.  I’ve been sharing them on Twitter, so f you’re not already, you should start  following me on Twitter!

21)  If you pay for internet, consider doing your work on campus where the connection is likely free! Hassle is worth the savings!

22)  Buy in bulk! Works especially well when you live with other people. Buy together and cook together! Bonding AND saving money!

23)  Get the best price for buying in bulk by joining a warehouse club like Sam’s Club. Split the membership cost with a friend!

24)  Take the time to plan out your meals. You won’t be tempted to hit up fast food when your bare cupboards give you no ideas!

25)  Get to know someone in class and see if you can borrow their book when you need it! No need to buy the overpriced books!

26)  Stop buying bottled water. It’s expensive and doesn’t help the environment. Buy a filter and a Nalgene and put them to use!

27)  Cancel your cable if you have to pay for it. You’ll more than likely be able to find most of your shows online, even legally!

28)  Clip coupons for the things that you actually buy. Yes, coupons are worth it. No, they don’t make you look dorky. Save some $

29)  Keep your kitchen clean! You’re much more likely to cook a meal if you don’t have to do work beforehand to make it happen!

30)  Delay instant gratification! It’s tempting to use that credit card, but if u don’t have the money, don’t make the purchase!

By the way, if you’re not already doing so, you should think about subscribing to my RSS! Just click the links to the right and you’re set! Also, I am looking for advertisers. Want to reach college students with your product or message? Just click advertise and fill out the form.

Here is the second installment of my quick tips for saving and making money while in college.  I’ve been sharing them on Twitter, so f you’re not already, you should start  following me on Twitter!

11)  Learn how to change your own oil! Think about the $30 you spend each time you go to a mechanic. It’s more work, but worth it!

12)  Live with relatives or friends (if able) instead of the dorms or apts. Not the coolest, but will save you a ton of money!

13)  Volunteer! Does not make u money, but u’ll feel better about yourself and u won’t buy so much junk just to make you happy.

14)  Establish a $1K emergency fund somehow. You’ll need it for that unexpected expense that WILL arise. Don’t rely on credit!

15)  Have a credit card? Pay the balance off monthly, or if u can’t do that, ask the lender to lower your interest rate. It works!

16)  Rent movies from the Redbox for $1 per night or use the free codes. See http://bit.ly/vS0i5 for more info on how it works!

17)  Open up an online savings account. You’ll get a higher return than a regular bank and you don’t have the commitment of a CD.

18)  Sell your textbooks online instead of the bookstore. In most cases, you’ll get a much better return even with shipping!

19)  Making a big ticket purchase (i.e. tv)? Ask for a discount! Many times they’ll give it to you. Might work on small stuff too!

20)  Utilize your local Freecycle movement. People getting rid of old stuff that can u have for free! Check out www.freecycle.org/

By the way, if you’re not already doing so, you should think about subscribing to my RSS! Just click the links to the right and you’re set!

Congratulations, you’ve been accepted to college! Apart from severe lack of sleep, an immense increase of alcohol intake, and the joys of sharing the shower with a total (and most likely hairy) stranger, you’ve started to notice that your wallet is becoming more of a pocket warmer than a resource. It’s no secret that the cost of college doesn’t stop at tuition; classes need supplies and your raging hormones need to be constantly entertained to balance work and play. What do both things have in common? Money. Here are some simple tips to help keep both you in college and the money in your wallet.

1.  Keep track of your funds. The biggest mistake college students make is spending superfluously. Cataloguing what you spend and what you earn is going to help you tremendously with knowing what parts of college are taking the most of your money. Not the spreadsheet guru? Mint.com is a great tool to keep track of your finances for you! The sign up takes less than five minutes, and it places your costs of attendance in a neat little pie chart for you simple, visual learners (and in college, that’s everyone).

2.  Do your research. Many students make the mistake of going straight to their school’s primary book store to buy their supplies. Don’t hesitate to look around! If you wanted to buy a car, would you go straight to the maker’s lot and buy the first one you saw? (If so, I don’t think this article applies to you). Textbooks are notorious for taking the biggest chunk out of your wallet – but that doesn’t have to be the case. Buying used books has been given a bad rap. If the book includes all of the pages and is at the most only minutely annotated? Get it! You’re sure to save at least 25% on book costs. There are also sites to help you find the best deal on books such as Half.com. Remember, college is all about getting the best deal – make it happen!

3.  Make lists. Apart from charting your finances, being prepared before going to the grocery store is going to keep the extraneous costs down. It’s kind of like getting food while you’re hungry – that cart is going to fill up quick with things you’d rather have in your belly at that moment! It sounds a bit “granny-ish”, but a grocery list is a necessity! Treat all shopping like a mission; you’ve got these things that you need right away, and that’s all you can allow yourself to buy. Get only the supplies you need for the week, and get out of the store before that jumbo pack of Crunchy Cheetos catches your eye!

4. Cheat the Laundromat. Everyone knows you can’t wash darks and lights together (although every once in a while you’re sure to come across Jimmy’s Fruit of the Looms as pink as a Panther on the laundry room floor). But it’s not rocket science to realize that separate colors can indeed be dried together – if the load isn’t too big. You’ll start to notice how easy – and free – washing clothes at home used to be. Laundry takes a big chunk out of everyone’s wallet (unless you’re not into being…clean…) so drying two small loads together saves you tons of money over time. Just make sure you don’t try to cram in two normal loads into one machine; sure you saved a dollar then but you’ll open the door to find your clothes still swamped in soapy water. Trust me, this is from experience.

5.  Share the wheels. You’re out of high school and you’re bringing your ride to the big U – now how are you going to pay to keep those wheels rollin’? If your college is an enclosed campus, you’re lucky to only have to use your car to run errands and go out (and hopefully go to work). But, if you have a campus dispersed throughout a city – or just a really really big campus – that gas gage is going to be your worst enemy. Carpooling with friends to class and everywhere else is the first easy solution to your tank dilemmas. Make sure it’s clear how much it’ll cost you to drive them to and from per week beforehand so that arguments are avoided. Giving more sporadic rides? Some students place a “money pot” in their car for occasional riders to donate into for helping them out. That way each person gives what they have and you’ll be surprised the profit you’ll make if you have a jam-packed car to that famous pizza joint!

Remember, college is all about a good time but it’s more importantly about having it for less! Keep conscious of your savings and you’ll spend less time worrying about cash and focusing more of your stress on the whole reason you hopefully went to school in the first place – a higher education!

1)  Don’t buy term papers. The quality is crap and typically on par with junior high level intelligence. Don’t waste your $$$!

2)  Don’t buy things on a whim. Even if things are cheap or on sale, ask yourself if you really need it. If not, don’t!

3)  Listen to music for free online. Check out Pandora, Ruckus, Last.fm, and others. They’re all free and easy!

4)  Stop buying lunch at the food court! Just make yourself a sandwich and pack some snacks for the day and you’ll be fine!

5)  Wait to get that pet you want. You probably can’t afford it and you won’t be around enough to give it the attention it needs!

6)  Create and stick to a budget. Knowing where all your money is going is half the battle. Control your spending!

7)  Try to be an RA in the dorms. The pay often includes room + board + a stipend on top of that. Saved me nearly $10K in costs!

8)  Walk, bike, roller blade, scooter, or skateboard to campus. Overcome the laziness and you’ll save money not driving every day!

9)  Don’t go grocery shopping without a plan to buy a few items. Go once a week and get all that you’ll need for the week.

10)  Work at your library or computer lab. You’ll be able to study (or play) most of the time and get paid for it! Extra cash!!!

After a quick google search, I was able to find listings of deals at restaurants in Seattle, Chicago, Philly, and Miami in about 2 minutes. You can do it too! Go find some deals people and have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!