By Logan Gilmore

Though it seemed as if winter would never come, it is here to stay. With that said, spring is right around the corner, as well as college students’ most notorious week of the year, Spring Break. It is a week of relaxation, sightseeing and partying, yet the financial costs of it all can be a serious hindrance in accomplishing the perfect spring vacation.

By following a few simple guidelines, students can save money on small expenses to put towards a bigger and better Spring Break trip.

Paying to park in the Harmon Parking Garage every day drains bank accounts through small transactions that add up over time. The UA campus has a free bus system for a reason. To save money, hop on one of the many bus routes to class. It might take longer, but the extra cash spared and the energy used in walking to and from will no doubt retain your wallet’s integrity and diminish the holiday’s negative effect on your health.

With water fountains extremely prevalent around campus, there is no reason to waste money on disposable water bottles. Instead, buy a Nalgene or similar durable bottle and fill up at one of the multitude of fountains. Some buildings, such as the Walton Business Building, have water fountains specifically made to refill water bottles. In addition, making use of reusable water bottles shrinks one’s carbon footprint and reduces the amount of plastic trash sent to landfills.

Starbucks is a wonderful between-classes treat, but a five-dollar coffee isn’t worth it for the cash-strapped student. Instead, make coffee at home, buy at cheaper cafés or, for true Starbucks addicts, trade in the fancy drink for a simple coffee and milk. You’ll save a few bucks, plus you’ll be taking the healthier route than a sugar-heavy latte, perfect for getting in shape for Spring Break.

When it comes to entertainment, cut the cord. Cable companies severely overprice digital cable when much of the same content can be obtained legally through the Internet. Netflix and Hulu Plus are great services that air current TV shows from the major networks as well as fantastic collections of classic movies, each for only around eight dollars. Instead of going to the movie theater, rent the latest titles from Redbox locations around town. Drastically reducing entertainment spending per month will save a substantial amount of cash that can then be used for Spring Break activities.

For students not blessed with on-campus housing and a corresponding meal plan, eating at restaurants can become a far too common occurrence. Instead of spending ten dollars per meal, buy groceries and plan out each week’s meals. This will ensure you are not only saving money but also eating healthier. To save even more money, buy in bulk.

Saving money can be stressful, especially when there are so many opportunities to spend, and spend abundantly. Resist the urge to crawl Dickson Street three nights in a week. Rather, tame it down to one or two. No one likes to miss an exciting night with friends but once Spring Break rolls around, you’ll be grateful that you are able to completely immerse yourself in a week full of revelry and leisure.

These are just a few of the ways students can prepare themselves for the financial burden that is Spring Break. A strict budget can go a long way to ensure that the absolute best week of your life transpires this spring. Get your friends involved and make it a competition to see who can save the most. A friendly competition will keep you all on a set goal and, hopefully, satisfied that the small sacrifices paid off in the end.