Tag: budget

How To: Use Paw Points

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Every LSU Freshman living on campus is required to enroll into the LSU Dining plan. With the LSU meal plan, students receive credits called Paw Points. Paw Points can be redeemed in a variety of different ways. They act as a supplementary currency for Freshman and can be purchased during any year at LSU. Paw Points are great but are sometimes complicated to understand. Here is a guide on exactly what Paw Points are, where to spend them, and how they work.

What Are Paw Points?

            Paw Points are the university’s retail portion of the dining plan. The LSU website writes,”These dollars can be used in any Dining retail location to pay a la carte. These dollars may also be used to pay door price for entrance into the all-you-care-to-eat facilities. Paw Points may NOT be used off campus.”

Where do I use them?

            Paw Points can be used at most locations on campus and are treated like real cash.

Here is a list of a few locations that Paw Points can be used on campus:

  • McDonald’s
  • Einstein Bros Bagels
  • Tiger Lair Food Court
  • Magnolia Room Restaurant
  • CC’s Coffeehouse
  • Smoothie King
  • Atrium Café
  • The Club at Union Square

How Paw Points work?

Paw Points are used like cash, but feel more like a debit card. Paw Points are loaded up into your LSU Tiger ID by using LSUMylink. Paw Points can be redeemed at most on campus restaurants. It is important to keep your Tiger ID on you so that you can use your Paw Points. You swipe your Tiger ID like a debit card at participating locations in order to redeem your Paw Points. Once you use your Paw Points they’re gone for good, but excess Paw Points from first semester roll over into second semester. Paw Points not used by the second semester are then terminated.

Paw Points are an effective and useful way to get food during freshman year. It is a great system and is super convenient for an acclimating student. Paw Points were a very important part of my freshman year and kept me well fed after Tigerland.

Image via LSU Auxiliary Services

Money Moves

If there is one thing that comes with college no matter what major you’re in, it’s the price tag. From food, shelter, textbooks, transportation, and self-upkeep the list goes on and on. All these things can add up and be the most overwhelming aspects of college itself. So to start out our blog, we wanted to list eight things all of us have done to save a couple extra bucks and make sure that we’re all a little bit more economically sound.

Brad’s Money Saving Tips:

Books– Books are easily one of the most cost heavy things when it comes to college. Everyone knows the basic rule, if a professor says a book is recommended, that means don’t get it. But there’s a good chance you will need it anyway and end up going to LSU’s Barnes and Nobles. STOP! Check your resources before going there right away. Websites like Amazon and Chegg are a great resource for getting your books cheap and fast. Also, always rent when the option is available. Sometimes it might not be much cheaper than buying, but more than likely you will never need the book again. A penny saved is a penny earned.

Budget Apps– Budgeting is the key essential to saving money. If you can keep and follow a budget, your wallet will be 100% happier than it was before. Now, keeping up with and tracking a budget is easier said than done. If you want to follow a budget I recommend the app Mint. You can link your credit/debit card with this app and it tracks all your purchases and allows you to budget them out fast and easy. If you keep up with this app and your budget, you’ll for sure be on the right track.

Sarah’s School Saving Advice:

School Supplies– More than likely during your four or more years at LSU you will need a scantron or a bluebook. The bookstore sells these materials but why buy them when you can

get them for free. LSU’s Student Government office provides students with free scantronsand bluebooks by just showing your LSU ID. If you forgot to print your paper that’s due next class don’t worry, LSU’s Greek Life office provides free printing for students in the Union. These things may seem minute but make sure to take advantage of all of the free services LSU has to offer.IMG_6076

Coupons/Groupon-Coupons are a great way to save money and now they are more accessible than ever! Local restaurants and businesses are constantly delivering coupons to different spots around campus. Make sure to check the Union and Middleton for coupons. Groupon is another way to save a couple bucks. This app is updated daily with local coupons and deals. Coupons range from food to gas to a free haircut. So make sure to check Groupon before buying anything full price.

Image via Groupon App

 

Abby’s Top Picks To Help You Feel and Look Your Best:

As you’ve probably figured out by now college is pretty stressful. You’ll learn quickly that to stay afloat it’s important to take some time for yourself every so often. In this segment I’ll touch on two ways you can unwind and tend to yourself, all while on a college student budget.

LSU University Recreation/ U Rec

Working out isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but a stable workout routine can sometimes be essential in helping to maintain sanity during the semester.

Even if you’ve never set foot in a gym, the U Rec offers something for literally EVERYONE, beyond just barbells and burpees.23550152_10156693249533942_7557571262975174863_o

  • To skim the surface the rec offers an extensive list of instructor led Group X classes including cycling, Zumba, boxing, HIIT courses, and yoga classes just to name a few. All basic classes are free and covered by the student fee included in your tuition each   year.
  • For a small extra fee, students also haveaccess to the recs certified student personal trainers.
  • Each semester the rec hosts a variety of activities that take place near and off campus adventures including hiking trips across the area, kayaking opportunities, rock climbing, and many more.
  • There are 2 locations across campus, a lazy river, 2 lap pools, ping pong and pool tables, racquetball courts, bike and equipment rentals, basketball and volleyball courts along with a built in track that surrounds the facility just to skim the surface.

If you’ve been apprehensive to take advantage of what the U Rec has to offer, hopefully this has changed your perception.

Image via LSU University Recreation

Thrift Shopping

When you’re dressed your best, you feel your best. When it comes to shopping, Thrift shopping, or thrifting as we’ll call it, is a personal favorite, and a must for anyone ‘”balling on a budget.” Why pay full priced for clothing when you could be paying a fraction of the price? Thrifting is like a scavenger hunt and you never know what you’ll find from name brands to the occasionally designer items. Don’t let the large quantity of items some of these stores carry intimidate you because you never know what you’ll fine. Listed below are a variety of thrift stores in Baton Rouge, along with their addresses, that we recommend hitting when searching for a good bargain.

  • Good Will
    • 3121 College Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
    • 10778 Coursey Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70816
    • 10350 Burbank Drive, Baton Rouge, LA, 70810
  • The Purple Cow
    • 3651 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA, 70808
  • Here Today Gone Tomorrow
    • 10240 Burbank Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70810
  • Time Warped (slightly pricier, but good for unique pieces)
    • 3001 Government Street, Baton Rouge, LA, 70806

Hopefully these two bits of information will keep you both looking and feeling your best. If you check out any of the activities or shops above, feel free to let us know what you think, or if you have any recommendations to add to these lists

Buffetting on a Budget with Brooks

With the fast paced life of college, preparing food becomes a hassle and grabbing a quick bite to eat becomes way more convenient. Eating out quickly adds up and then your left either eating ramen noodles for weeks or living off of Paw Points. Here is a guide to cheap food options and great deals to help you save money and stay full as an undergraduate.

Fast and Convenient Locations

  • Canes
    • Great promotional campaigns for rewards members
      • Buy a Box get a Boxor BOGO Deal
      • Free Green Lemonades on St. Patricks Day
      • Canes Peel the Love Campaign
        • Offers Tailgating Package, Cash Rewards, and Free Menu Items
    • A staple Location of LSU and Baton Rouge as a whole
    • Fast Casual
    • Late Night
  • Mellow Mushroom
    • Half Price Wine Night Wednesday
    • Students eat half price nights
    • Trivia Nights
      • Themed
      • Prizes including food and drinks from menu
  • Hungry Howies
    • $5 Double Howie Rolls
    • $15 3 Medium Pizzas Deal
    • Open with delivery until 4am
    • Flavored crusts
  • American Mart or Am Mart
  • $10 fresh to order Po-Boys
    • Comes with Zapp’s Potato chips and a drink
  • Voted LSU’s Best Sandwich
  • Local Business
  • Walk-Ons
    • Half Price Food Nights (usually Wednesdays)

Pocket Points

Pocket Points is an app used to make sure you are paying attention in class while also rewarding you for doing so. The way the app works is you make an account and register your school’s campus. Once you have your account set up your phones geo locator can tell when you are in class. Once you are in class you turn on the app and lock your phone. Every 30 minutes you don’t unlock your phone, you are awarded a Pocket Point. Once you collect enough Pocket Points you can turn them in to unlock rewards. The rewards are food delivery offers for nearby restaurants. Rewards are usually 4-15 points depending on the deal. Once you unlock a reward it gives you a code for that companies delivery service.

College can be expensive but with these tips we hope that you will be more savvy with your money. Use all of your resources and check daily deals, all of that money saved can really add up. If you have any more money saving tips leave them in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you!

Featured Image via Money Under 30