AYL: How To Be a Broke College Kid and Still Do Cool Stuff

illustration by Angela Krieg

It's hard to be motivated to get off campus to check out events and activities when you're dirt poor. We get it. But you can't spend your entire 4–5 years on campus picking lint off the pennies in your pocket! Lucky for you, we've compiled a list of some of the best deals out there for broke college kids who still want to do cool stuff. No, they're not free: you can Google those for yourself. But they are some of the ways you can keep doing what you love and save money while you're at it.

1. Have an AT&T phone or TV/internet plan? Use your phone number or TV/internet account for buy one-get-one-free tickets to the movies on Tuesdays as part of their "Ticket Twosdays" program. Are Tuesdays a bad day for you? Check out Movies 10 on West Henrietta Road any day of the week: you can buy tickets for the low price of $3.  

2. For the caffeine addicts out there: bring your own mug the next time you hit up Java’s or Beanz! Most coffee shops and cafes — both chains and independent locations — knock a few cents off the price of a cup if you have a reusable mug. Starbucks gives you a 10-cent discount which may seem insignificant, but if you’re drinking coffee every day, you could save almost $40 over an entire year. Environmentally and economically responsible, how 'bout that? 

3.Visit the Memorial Art Gallery for half-price admission every Thursday from 5–9 p.m. No worries if you can't make it on Thursdays though: show your student ID any day of the week and you’ll pay a reduced rate.  

4. If you find yourself constantly eating out for dinner or going to the movies and museums no matter how empty your wallet is, you may want to consider getting an Entertainment® Coupon Membership. Download the app and for just $1.99/month or $19.99/year, you can save hundreds of dollars with their coupons for restaurants, activities and attractions, movie tickets, shopping, hotels and more.  

5. Take advantage of your student ID to be eligible for the discounted rates at Bowl-A-Roll on Sunday and Monday nights. The Jefferson Road bowling alley’s “College Nights” start at 9 p.m. and last until closing at midnight; students pay $1 for shoe rental and $1 for each game. Additionally, hot dogs are $1 and soda is $0.50.  

6. We know that dorm rooms are uncomfortably cozy. Consider spring cleaning a couple seasons earlier to free up some more space: swing by Record Archive to get money for the movies and music you don’t want, and then hit up Plato’s Closet to sell your gently-used clothing. 

7. Students with Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit cards can get serious perks at the Rochester Museum and Science Center, Syracuse’s Rubenstein Museum of Science and Technology (MOST) or the Buffalo Museum of Science. Just present your card and a valid photo ID on the first full weekend of every month and receive one free general admission.  

8. Forget the ZipCar! As long as you can make it to U of R, either by Uber/Lyft, public transportation or a generous friend, then the world (Rochester) is your oyster. Pick up a Zagster bike rental at U of R then head into the city to explore. For people unfamiliar with Rochester, this a cheap ($1 for 30 minutes!), easy and fun way to get to know the city that will be your home for the next few years.