10 Signs You’re a Broke Student

1. When your parents are in town and offer to take you grocery shopping, it’s basically Christmas.

“Wait — you mean I can get the fancy yogurt that isn’t 50% off because it expires tomorrow?”

 

2. Your car is so rusty that it’s been deemed “unfit to drive.” R.I.P. Ol’ Bessie. You will be missed.

Another fun University car story is the time that my boyfriend drove me to a job interview downtown. When I came out thirty minutes later, there was a disaster in front of me. Ryder’s passenger side door had broken somehow, and would not stay closed. He’d taken the climbing rope out of his trunk and tied the two doors together on the inside of the car in a web that barely allowed him to drive. Needless to say, I sat in the back.

 

3. You’ve acquired enough underwear to only have to pay for laundry every three weeks…

…that’s totally hygienic, right?

 

4. You’re willing to sit through uncomfortable dinners with strangers for that free church dinner.

 

5. You refuse to go to Bin 4 at any time other than after 9:00pm (when it’s half off), even though you’ve been starving since 6:00pm.

Although it could be argued that this is just good budgeting?

 

6. Most of your house is furnished with what is commonly known as “street furniture” — pieces you’ve picked up on the side of the road for free.

Yeah, that eclectic design thing we’ve got going on in the living room? Totally planned.

 

7. You spent a significant amount of time researching and calculating the most cost-effective gym membership you can buy, and then analyzed how many times you need to go to make it worthwhile.

 

8. You’ll do pretty much anything for free food.

Free corn on the cob at Thunderfest? Sold. Free pizza for volunteering? I’m in.

 

9. Let’s be honest, you’re way too broke to be justifying a $5 latte right now. You get asked for a coffee date? Tea for me, please, with a side of disappointment.

 

10. You wait three extra months to get your haircut until you go home, cuz you know your Mom will pay for it. Thanks Ma ;).

In all seriousness, though, I hope this post made you laugh a little bit, or maybe cry if it was just a bit too relatable.

As much as I can, I try to appreciate the little moments of this crazy broke student life we live, so that when I am a successful and rich businesswoman I can look back and laugh about the time my car was sent to the junkyard, or the time I lived off canned foods for far too long. When I get my first big kid job you better believe I will appreciate the first brunch I buy without guilt, the slightly unnecessary but really cute outfit, or the mug at Chapters that just “spoke” to me.

Carry on, Vikes. Be proud of your broke selves. We might not be able to afford houses one day due to our obsession with avocado toast(?!), but we’re in this together.