Like Funny About Money, I had a customer service win recently: the email I sent to Asics about Frugal Son's fallen-apart shoes was successful! I sent in the old shoes and they will send a new pair! Savings: about $60.00.
I didn't post about this because of a financial panic, also involving Frugal Son. As you may know, he spent 2009-2010 in Nantes, studying French. Upon return, he had to get credits from the home insitution. Hello, Bureaucracy! Hello, Procrastination! In the meantime, his scholarship was affected by the delay in not getting credits.
"Oh, by the way, I just got a bill for $9200.00, retroactive. I'm sure it will work out."
Yeah, maybe. So Mr. FS and I called various places at the university and the state offices. So far, we have gotten a partial reprieve. As of Friday, the bill is down to $5200.00.
The problem with bureaucracies is that you don't know if you've done something wrong (or not done something) until it's too late. I've heard horror stories about students losing scholarships (in one case of about $16000) because of neglecting to fill out a piece of paper. I almost made a mistake myself.
Now that the total reprieve is in sight, I can be happy about the replacement of the defective shoes.
It seems that the little financial victories are often accompanied by panic-inducing dangers also of the financial sort.
But it's worth taking a chance with Asics I guess. Just be mindful of the scary bureaucracies that hold so much power over us.
Any good customer service lately?
Showing posts with label College Students. Show all posts
Showing posts with label College Students. Show all posts
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
A Roth IRA for my Daughter
Ahhhh. A poignant moment. Miss Em earned about $1100.00 last year, so I urged her to start a Roth IRA. Of course, I had to help her through the complexities, which were exacerbated by computer glitches and other stuff. So a 15 minute on-line process ended up taking a lot of time.
Miss Em doesn't quite understand WHY I am so insistent on her Roth. I said, "In 40 years, when Mr. FS and I are gone, you will see this account and be happy you did it."
In case you are wondering, she got Vanguard STAR, a balanced fund, which is the only one with a $1000.00 minimum. We are putting it under our family account umbrella, so she is exempt from the low balance fee.
My college-age children earn very little money. They chose fully-paid-for scholarships, so we are happy to provide spending money and support summer programs. Both also volunteer in the summer. Their scholarships allow them the luxury of participating in service activities.
But when they earn some money, it goes into the IRA. Now our family has funded its Roths for 2010 and Mr. FS and I have funded for 2011. You have till April 18 to fund your 2010 Roth. JUST DO IT.
If you are lower-income, you may be eligible for a Saver's Tax Credit.
Do you love the Roth IRA as I do?
Miss Em doesn't quite understand WHY I am so insistent on her Roth. I said, "In 40 years, when Mr. FS and I are gone, you will see this account and be happy you did it."
In case you are wondering, she got Vanguard STAR, a balanced fund, which is the only one with a $1000.00 minimum. We are putting it under our family account umbrella, so she is exempt from the low balance fee.
My college-age children earn very little money. They chose fully-paid-for scholarships, so we are happy to provide spending money and support summer programs. Both also volunteer in the summer. Their scholarships allow them the luxury of participating in service activities.
But when they earn some money, it goes into the IRA. Now our family has funded its Roths for 2010 and Mr. FS and I have funded for 2011. You have till April 18 to fund your 2010 Roth. JUST DO IT.
If you are lower-income, you may be eligible for a Saver's Tax Credit.
Do you love the Roth IRA as I do?
Monday, 7 March 2011
College Debt Once More: Worth It?
I haven't written on this topic for a while. Then I got a comment on an oldish post. Rather than answer there, where it will languish in obscurity, I thought I would appeal to my readers for some more responses. From Alyssa:
Though the debt is daunting, as a senior in high school hoping to major in Anthro and Archaeo with an acceptance into Oxford (which will only give me a scholarship if I'm from a third world country) tucked under my belt, it seems worth it. However, struck by the thought of so much debt (with the current $ to pound exchange rate the tuition + room + board + extra expenses is about $43,000 (25000 pounds)) my parents forced me to apply to UIC. UIC does NOT have an archaeology program, only an anthropology one. Trying to explain to my parents (who did not go to college during the worst bubble for higher education in history) that debt may be my only viable option for succeeding in my major (compare UIC's lack of an Archaeo program to Oxford tons of onsite excavations and 6 world renowned museums) is near impossible.
For the average student, debt is horrendous. Humanities and Social Science majors on average do not make enough to cover for such costs, but ironically, theirs are the majors that are dependent on the school's resources the most. So when is it worth it? Pay the extra when you have a degree that pays off, but when you didn't really need to pay the extra? Working part time to pay off $130,000 (3 years at Oxford) doesn't frighten me as much as going to a school with a 54% graduation rate just to commit an act of "financial responsibility" does. Though the maxim "a good student does well anywhere" may be true, anyone who has seen a public high school juxtaposed against a magnet high school can attest that such "good students" are still limited by the opportunities within their environment, no matter how gifted they are.
Some of my thoughts.
--Many students don't end up doing anything directly related to their majors. Archeologists: jobs in academics, museums, what else? How do you KNOW this is what you want to do?
--Why UIC? Is that University of Illinois at Chicago? A while back, Stanley Fish was Dean there and did some pretty fancy hiring. In fact, I read that the quality of faculty far exceeded the quality of students! So it may not be such a bad option. I'm sure many students go to grad school in archeology with anthropology degrees.
--What about University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana? That's the flagship?
--Here is my favorite. As a frugal gal, I try to think of OTHER WAYS TO GET WHAT I WANT. So, why not go to a state school and DO AN EXCHANGE PROGRAM AT OXFORD or similar? It should be better known, but, in exchange programs, you often PAY THE FEES OF YOUR HOME INSTITUTION. My son spent a year in France. The Americans from private schools paid $30,000-$50,000; the Americans from state schools paid their in-state fees. FOR THE SAME PROGRAM. In fact, I would check on the exchanges available from state schools before making a decision.
--Summers. With the money you save by going to a state school, you can do summer archeology programs. My cousin leads such programs in Israel and Turkey from his state school in NJ. You could go to Greece too!
Any other thoughts, Dear Readers?
Though the debt is daunting, as a senior in high school hoping to major in Anthro and Archaeo with an acceptance into Oxford (which will only give me a scholarship if I'm from a third world country) tucked under my belt, it seems worth it. However, struck by the thought of so much debt (with the current $ to pound exchange rate the tuition + room + board + extra expenses is about $43,000 (25000 pounds)) my parents forced me to apply to UIC. UIC does NOT have an archaeology program, only an anthropology one. Trying to explain to my parents (who did not go to college during the worst bubble for higher education in history) that debt may be my only viable option for succeeding in my major (compare UIC's lack of an Archaeo program to Oxford tons of onsite excavations and 6 world renowned museums) is near impossible.
For the average student, debt is horrendous. Humanities and Social Science majors on average do not make enough to cover for such costs, but ironically, theirs are the majors that are dependent on the school's resources the most. So when is it worth it? Pay the extra when you have a degree that pays off, but when you didn't really need to pay the extra? Working part time to pay off $130,000 (3 years at Oxford) doesn't frighten me as much as going to a school with a 54% graduation rate just to commit an act of "financial responsibility" does. Though the maxim "a good student does well anywhere" may be true, anyone who has seen a public high school juxtaposed against a magnet high school can attest that such "good students" are still limited by the opportunities within their environment, no matter how gifted they are.
Some of my thoughts.
--Many students don't end up doing anything directly related to their majors. Archeologists: jobs in academics, museums, what else? How do you KNOW this is what you want to do?
--Why UIC? Is that University of Illinois at Chicago? A while back, Stanley Fish was Dean there and did some pretty fancy hiring. In fact, I read that the quality of faculty far exceeded the quality of students! So it may not be such a bad option. I'm sure many students go to grad school in archeology with anthropology degrees.
--What about University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana? That's the flagship?
--Here is my favorite. As a frugal gal, I try to think of OTHER WAYS TO GET WHAT I WANT. So, why not go to a state school and DO AN EXCHANGE PROGRAM AT OXFORD or similar? It should be better known, but, in exchange programs, you often PAY THE FEES OF YOUR HOME INSTITUTION. My son spent a year in France. The Americans from private schools paid $30,000-$50,000; the Americans from state schools paid their in-state fees. FOR THE SAME PROGRAM. In fact, I would check on the exchanges available from state schools before making a decision.
--Summers. With the money you save by going to a state school, you can do summer archeology programs. My cousin leads such programs in Israel and Turkey from his state school in NJ. You could go to Greece too!
Any other thoughts, Dear Readers?
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Frugal Fun in New Orleans
People--myself among them--are always moaning about how expensive it is to have fun. I just got a lengthy email from Frugal Son, detailing his weekend in New Orleans celebrating his friend Reggie's birthday.
He drove with his friend Harrison. They stopped at Central Grocery in the French Quarter for a famous muffuletta.
Last time I had one--or actually a third of one--I almost passed out from the ingestion of oil and salt. They are so good. Luckily, Frugal Son and his friend are young men with powerful metabolisms, so they could split one and continue on with their day. Cost $14.00 or $7.00/each.
Then, on to the party. The group gathered at the New Orleans Fairgrounds for some horse races. Entrance is free. Frugal Son noted that "men in suits and women in fancy hats" could pay $7.00 to watch from the grandstand. Frugal Son placed 3 bets and ended up losing $8.00.
Cost of day so far is $15.00.
Then a large group went to the Mona Lisa, an Italian restaurant which has been around for a long time (since 1987, so a bit older than the birthday girl). I don't know how much Frugal Son spent, but I guess that with dessert and (I hope) treating the birthday girl, the meal came to $25.00 or so.
Total of $40.00. Then the group continued with their festivities . . .
That's a lot of fun for $40.00.
Happy Birthday, Reggie, and congratulations on getting in to Boston University Law School.
He drove with his friend Harrison. They stopped at Central Grocery in the French Quarter for a famous muffuletta.
Last time I had one--or actually a third of one--I almost passed out from the ingestion of oil and salt. They are so good. Luckily, Frugal Son and his friend are young men with powerful metabolisms, so they could split one and continue on with their day. Cost $14.00 or $7.00/each.
Then, on to the party. The group gathered at the New Orleans Fairgrounds for some horse races. Entrance is free. Frugal Son noted that "men in suits and women in fancy hats" could pay $7.00 to watch from the grandstand. Frugal Son placed 3 bets and ended up losing $8.00.
Cost of day so far is $15.00.
Then a large group went to the Mona Lisa, an Italian restaurant which has been around for a long time (since 1987, so a bit older than the birthday girl). I don't know how much Frugal Son spent, but I guess that with dessert and (I hope) treating the birthday girl, the meal came to $25.00 or so.
Total of $40.00. Then the group continued with their festivities . . .
That's a lot of fun for $40.00.
Happy Birthday, Reggie, and congratulations on getting in to Boston University Law School.
Saturday, 22 January 2011
Free Lunches for College Students
By Frugal Son
It seems to be a requirement that at some point in life, in order to successfully complete the metamorphosis from adolescent to adult, one must go through a period of voracious appetite, limited income, and even more limited cooking skill / desire / capability. Instead of the more elegant process undertaken by caterpillars wishing to become butterflies, humans appear to require a steady diet of Twinkies, queso dip, and Chinese take-out to make the transition to adulthood. College is often looked back upon with nostalgia, though rarely for any lost gustatory pleasures. College, however, does not have to be a desert barren of delicious food, and especially now that more and more universities are improving their dining hall facilities. Unfortunately, as I have mentioned in previous posts, dining halls can be expensive, and even though I’m not the poor, starving college student of yore, I still enjoy seeking out alternative avenues of alimentation.
One of the avenues I have been taking advantage of this year is something that can probably be found on any campus: free church lunches. Though I have known about these lunches since my freshman year, either my schedule or my conscience has interfered. Not being a member of any Christian denomination, I always felt like a fraud when I went to the lunches. It would have been better if I could have a few friends to go with, a sort of group camouflage, but it was hard enough to find time in my schedule, let alone that of even one friend. So, I normally went alone, and anyone looking lost or friendless is immediately descended upon my hordes of (well-intentioned) people wishing to draw you into the fold. The prospect of this kind of attention kept me away on the few occasions my schedule would have allowed and during my year in France I mainly forgot about free lunches.
This year, however, the free food gods have smiled on me; not only does my schedule allow me to go to all three lunches offered per week, but at least two and sometimes even five friends, are able to go with me! So, since the beginning of this year, we have been faithfully going to three churches per week: the Baptists on Monday, Episcopalians on Wednesday, and Catholics on Thursday. The food is often quite good, although there have been a few dud lunches, filling but unexciting, where the church just ordered pizza or made pasta with sauce. This being Louisiana, however, I can count on having red beans and rice or jambalaya at least once per week, but other highlights have included gumbo, rice and gravy, meat pies, and fried chicken. Each church also has its own flavor. The Baptists always have great desserts (homemade brownies, cupcakes, cake, and cookies) but they often have small group discussions at the table, which can be rather intense and uncomfortable. The Episcopalian church has great desserts as well, but where they really shine is in their salads—whether they be fruit or vegetable they are always fresh and tasty—and in their generosity. They always offer seconds and on one occasion, the servers even came around to bring us seconds of meat pies! The Episcopalians also have a short talk during each meal, but, since the theme of the lunch is “Lunch with C.S. Lewis,” it is always a discussion of one of his books, which is often interesting. The Catholics have the most impersonal lunch (it’s also the largest; probably 500 meals per week versus about 200 for the other two): you just walk in, stand in the long, snaking line, get your food and eat wherever. Perhaps because of the size of the crowd, their food is often the least interesting, tending towards the types of meals that are easy to make in quantity and the desserts are cookies from a store. No complaints, however, because for the Catholic lunch we are free to eat outside on the grass.
There really aren’t many things better than stretching out on the grass with a plate of hot jambalaya and enjoying the company of friends, especially if, as luck would have it, it is one of the precious weeks of Louisiana’s fall when heat and humidity are replaced by crisp, cool air and beautiful blue skies. Moments like that, regardless of one’s faith, are something that I think everyone can agree to be thankful for.
It seems to be a requirement that at some point in life, in order to successfully complete the metamorphosis from adolescent to adult, one must go through a period of voracious appetite, limited income, and even more limited cooking skill / desire / capability. Instead of the more elegant process undertaken by caterpillars wishing to become butterflies, humans appear to require a steady diet of Twinkies, queso dip, and Chinese take-out to make the transition to adulthood. College is often looked back upon with nostalgia, though rarely for any lost gustatory pleasures. College, however, does not have to be a desert barren of delicious food, and especially now that more and more universities are improving their dining hall facilities. Unfortunately, as I have mentioned in previous posts, dining halls can be expensive, and even though I’m not the poor, starving college student of yore, I still enjoy seeking out alternative avenues of alimentation.
One of the avenues I have been taking advantage of this year is something that can probably be found on any campus: free church lunches. Though I have known about these lunches since my freshman year, either my schedule or my conscience has interfered. Not being a member of any Christian denomination, I always felt like a fraud when I went to the lunches. It would have been better if I could have a few friends to go with, a sort of group camouflage, but it was hard enough to find time in my schedule, let alone that of even one friend. So, I normally went alone, and anyone looking lost or friendless is immediately descended upon my hordes of (well-intentioned) people wishing to draw you into the fold. The prospect of this kind of attention kept me away on the few occasions my schedule would have allowed and during my year in France I mainly forgot about free lunches.
This year, however, the free food gods have smiled on me; not only does my schedule allow me to go to all three lunches offered per week, but at least two and sometimes even five friends, are able to go with me! So, since the beginning of this year, we have been faithfully going to three churches per week: the Baptists on Monday, Episcopalians on Wednesday, and Catholics on Thursday. The food is often quite good, although there have been a few dud lunches, filling but unexciting, where the church just ordered pizza or made pasta with sauce. This being Louisiana, however, I can count on having red beans and rice or jambalaya at least once per week, but other highlights have included gumbo, rice and gravy, meat pies, and fried chicken. Each church also has its own flavor. The Baptists always have great desserts (homemade brownies, cupcakes, cake, and cookies) but they often have small group discussions at the table, which can be rather intense and uncomfortable. The Episcopalian church has great desserts as well, but where they really shine is in their salads—whether they be fruit or vegetable they are always fresh and tasty—and in their generosity. They always offer seconds and on one occasion, the servers even came around to bring us seconds of meat pies! The Episcopalians also have a short talk during each meal, but, since the theme of the lunch is “Lunch with C.S. Lewis,” it is always a discussion of one of his books, which is often interesting. The Catholics have the most impersonal lunch (it’s also the largest; probably 500 meals per week versus about 200 for the other two): you just walk in, stand in the long, snaking line, get your food and eat wherever. Perhaps because of the size of the crowd, their food is often the least interesting, tending towards the types of meals that are easy to make in quantity and the desserts are cookies from a store. No complaints, however, because for the Catholic lunch we are free to eat outside on the grass.
There really aren’t many things better than stretching out on the grass with a plate of hot jambalaya and enjoying the company of friends, especially if, as luck would have it, it is one of the precious weeks of Louisiana’s fall when heat and humidity are replaced by crisp, cool air and beautiful blue skies. Moments like that, regardless of one’s faith, are something that I think everyone can agree to be thankful for.
Sunday, 26 September 2010
FS vs BFS: Plasma Donations
Oh, BFS aka Budgeting in the Fun Stuff threw down the gauntlet. She listed plasma donation for pay as one of the EWWWWWW YUK things that were too too frugal. Or, as she put it, "going too far to save money."
Actually, her post came in response to an article from Yahoo Finance. Reading BFS and looking at the original article showed me--yet once more--how value-laden many decisions are.
For instance, I have no opinion one way or the other about dumpster-diving at cemeteries to get flowers. I wouldn't do it, but I don't mind that someone does. I DO think it's awful to refill your condiment jars with the contents of the tiny packets that can be stolen from any fast-food place. Strangely, I'm not upset that the packets are stolen (or are they? how many packets per customer are OK?); I'm upset that the packaging is environmentally wasteful. In my value system, one should use as little of items in wasteful packaging as possible. Besides, I can get a container of ketchup for under $1.00. It would probably take hundreds of tiny packets to fill it up--a lot of wasted energy on the part of the environment and me.
Back to plasma. I must admit that Mr. FS donated plasma several times in grad school. Following the family tradition, Frugal Son found a donation place when he went to college. Two donations a week give him $70. That more than covers his need for spending money. The donations have become annoyingly slow this year, he says. Even so, he is being paid a decent hourly wage. The real EWWWW comes when you learn that the centers sell the plasma for many, many times what they give to the students and "real" poor folks who donate.
SO: BFS vs FS? What's your value system?
Actually, her post came in response to an article from Yahoo Finance. Reading BFS and looking at the original article showed me--yet once more--how value-laden many decisions are.
For instance, I have no opinion one way or the other about dumpster-diving at cemeteries to get flowers. I wouldn't do it, but I don't mind that someone does. I DO think it's awful to refill your condiment jars with the contents of the tiny packets that can be stolen from any fast-food place. Strangely, I'm not upset that the packets are stolen (or are they? how many packets per customer are OK?); I'm upset that the packaging is environmentally wasteful. In my value system, one should use as little of items in wasteful packaging as possible. Besides, I can get a container of ketchup for under $1.00. It would probably take hundreds of tiny packets to fill it up--a lot of wasted energy on the part of the environment and me.
Back to plasma. I must admit that Mr. FS donated plasma several times in grad school. Following the family tradition, Frugal Son found a donation place when he went to college. Two donations a week give him $70. That more than covers his need for spending money. The donations have become annoyingly slow this year, he says. Even so, he is being paid a decent hourly wage. The real EWWWW comes when you learn that the centers sell the plasma for many, many times what they give to the students and "real" poor folks who donate.
SO: BFS vs FS? What's your value system?
Sunday, 8 August 2010
College Textbook Prices and Big Pharma: International Editions
A while back, I was discussing the scary overpriced textbook trade and compared the industry to Big Pharma. An academic economist made the same point in the New York Times. I was so happy; I've never even taken Econ101.
Here is the comparison made yet again by an on-line seller of textbooks. Just as prescription drugs are cheaper out of the USA, so too college textbooks. You realize, of course, that these are the same books. Oh--the difference is that the International ones are marked International. Based on the comments, I would say that the textbook publishers tried to keep the international books from being sold in the US, just as Big Pharma lobbies to keep international prescription drugs out of the consumer's hands.
# Q: What's an International Edition Textbook?
A: An International Edition Textbook is simply the international counterpart to a US Edition. Most international editions have slightly different covers and many have different ISBNs on the outside covers (although some have the same ISBN as the US edition on the inside). These books were originally created to be sold in different regions, such as England. International edition textbooks have the same pagination and contents as the US Edition. All units and problem sets are guaranteed to be the same, or your money back!
# Q: Why are International Edition Textbooks so much cheaper?
A: Just like prescription medicine, textbooks are much cheaper overseas than in the US. TextbooksRus.com gets a hold of these books and passes the savings on to you!
# Q: Wait a minute, is it legal to buy International Edition Textbooks?
A: Yes! Textbook publishers would love to have people think otherwise, but courts have time and again asserted your right to purchase international editions. Still unsure? The United States Supreme Court recently ruled on this issue. You can find a New York Times article about their decision here
# Q: Why do you sell International Edition Textbooks?
A: Disgruntlement over textbook costs has been growing in the United States as prices have risen. As veterans of the textbook industry, we've seen a massive increase in demand for both used textbooks and especially international edition textbooks by students who are tired of paying $95.00 for an economics book or $140.00 for a chemistry book. They're happier buying the same book for $50.00 in an international edition.
# Q: Do you buyback International Edition Textbooks?
Yes! Just visit our buyback page at the end of your quarter or semester, type in the ISBN of your book and select the international edition copy. We buyback all types of books everyday, and we even pay for your shipping!
# Q: What about CD-ROM's and online access codes? Do International Editions come with these?
A: In most cases, yes. In rare cases, the CD may not be included. If the CD is not included with the book, this will be made clear on the product detail page. If you are sure you're going to need the CD-ROM to complete your class and want to make sure the book includes it, drop us an email at help@textbooksrus.com to make sure. Most professors do not require these materials, since many used books do not come with them.
# Q: This all sounds great, but I'm still not sure because I've never bought an International Edition Textbook before.
No problem, we've prepared some side by side comparisons of the US editions and International Editions. Check them out below!
Note that Amnazon and Half.com do not allow international editions to be sold on the sites. Based on the above info, I would guess that the online computer codes may be an issue if your scholar wants to buy an international edition.
I myself have no experience with these. Frugal Son only had to buy one textbook during his year in France. It cost around $14.00.
Here is the comparison made yet again by an on-line seller of textbooks. Just as prescription drugs are cheaper out of the USA, so too college textbooks. You realize, of course, that these are the same books. Oh--the difference is that the International ones are marked International. Based on the comments, I would say that the textbook publishers tried to keep the international books from being sold in the US, just as Big Pharma lobbies to keep international prescription drugs out of the consumer's hands.
# Q: What's an International Edition Textbook?
A: An International Edition Textbook is simply the international counterpart to a US Edition. Most international editions have slightly different covers and many have different ISBNs on the outside covers (although some have the same ISBN as the US edition on the inside). These books were originally created to be sold in different regions, such as England. International edition textbooks have the same pagination and contents as the US Edition. All units and problem sets are guaranteed to be the same, or your money back!
# Q: Why are International Edition Textbooks so much cheaper?
A: Just like prescription medicine, textbooks are much cheaper overseas than in the US. TextbooksRus.com gets a hold of these books and passes the savings on to you!
# Q: Wait a minute, is it legal to buy International Edition Textbooks?
A: Yes! Textbook publishers would love to have people think otherwise, but courts have time and again asserted your right to purchase international editions. Still unsure? The United States Supreme Court recently ruled on this issue. You can find a New York Times article about their decision here
# Q: Why do you sell International Edition Textbooks?
A: Disgruntlement over textbook costs has been growing in the United States as prices have risen. As veterans of the textbook industry, we've seen a massive increase in demand for both used textbooks and especially international edition textbooks by students who are tired of paying $95.00 for an economics book or $140.00 for a chemistry book. They're happier buying the same book for $50.00 in an international edition.
# Q: Do you buyback International Edition Textbooks?
Yes! Just visit our buyback page at the end of your quarter or semester, type in the ISBN of your book and select the international edition copy. We buyback all types of books everyday, and we even pay for your shipping!
# Q: What about CD-ROM's and online access codes? Do International Editions come with these?
A: In most cases, yes. In rare cases, the CD may not be included. If the CD is not included with the book, this will be made clear on the product detail page. If you are sure you're going to need the CD-ROM to complete your class and want to make sure the book includes it, drop us an email at help@textbooksrus.com to make sure. Most professors do not require these materials, since many used books do not come with them.
# Q: This all sounds great, but I'm still not sure because I've never bought an International Edition Textbook before.
No problem, we've prepared some side by side comparisons of the US editions and International Editions. Check them out below!
Note that Amnazon and Half.com do not allow international editions to be sold on the sites. Based on the above info, I would guess that the online computer codes may be an issue if your scholar wants to buy an international edition.
I myself have no experience with these. Frugal Son only had to buy one textbook during his year in France. It cost around $14.00.
Saturday, 31 July 2010
Frugality and Ambition: An Inverse Relation?
Sometimes I wonder. Mr. FS and I developed our frugal practices in graduate school, where we not only faced poverty but a very uncertain job market. Then, having gotten jobs, we still faced an uncertain future, so we continued frugal practices. Then, we were concerned about education costs and, not wanting our children to take on massive debt, we continued even more.
The best part of frugality is that it minimizes (though it does not eliminate) stress. I can't imagine facing unemployment without an emergency fund. I can't imagine facing an economic downturn with credit card debt. And I didn't want my children to go into adulthood bearing the burden of education debt.
However, since I can be a little--no, a lot--on the pathological side, I tell my kids to lighten up and have fun too. So far, they seem to be doing OK.
My daughter, of the untended blog Lucy Marmalade, just got back from a leadership conference for college students in DC, sponsored by a nice group of philanthropists in Alabama. After telling us of various sessions, she exclaimed "Everyone there was so rich!"
Rich as in iPhones, de rigueur designer bags, and so on. She said, "Everyone looked airbrushed." One participant displayed her "ghetto phone," explaining--with a laugh--that a more upscale replacement was imminent.
Lucy M, as often happens to ME, was a kind of impostor: she didn't LOOK that different from the other participants, but her clothing was thrifted and otherwise scrounged, her phone was not a prestige model, and so forth.
One thing Lucy noted was the sense of entitlement most of these people had. One participant said that her father had loaded up her debit card before her trip. Then she found out that he had only given her $150.00. Thanks Dad, she said, with sarcasm and heavy eye rolls, to a laughing crowd of girls during a side-trip to H&M.
While I'm glad that my children are more grateful than that person, I started to wonder...I presume that most of these people--mostly in private colleges, mostly in sororities and fraternities--will make sure, through career choice or marriage or both--that they can live the privileged lifestyle to which they are accustomed. That does breed a certain amount of ambition, doesn't it?
Sometimes I worry that the ambition may be bred out of people who know how to be frugal. Should I be worried? Do you think there is an inverse relation between frugality and ambition?
The best part of frugality is that it minimizes (though it does not eliminate) stress. I can't imagine facing unemployment without an emergency fund. I can't imagine facing an economic downturn with credit card debt. And I didn't want my children to go into adulthood bearing the burden of education debt.
However, since I can be a little--no, a lot--on the pathological side, I tell my kids to lighten up and have fun too. So far, they seem to be doing OK.
My daughter, of the untended blog Lucy Marmalade, just got back from a leadership conference for college students in DC, sponsored by a nice group of philanthropists in Alabama. After telling us of various sessions, she exclaimed "Everyone there was so rich!"
Rich as in iPhones, de rigueur designer bags, and so on. She said, "Everyone looked airbrushed." One participant displayed her "ghetto phone," explaining--with a laugh--that a more upscale replacement was imminent.
Lucy M, as often happens to ME, was a kind of impostor: she didn't LOOK that different from the other participants, but her clothing was thrifted and otherwise scrounged, her phone was not a prestige model, and so forth.
One thing Lucy noted was the sense of entitlement most of these people had. One participant said that her father had loaded up her debit card before her trip. Then she found out that he had only given her $150.00. Thanks Dad, she said, with sarcasm and heavy eye rolls, to a laughing crowd of girls during a side-trip to H&M.
While I'm glad that my children are more grateful than that person, I started to wonder...I presume that most of these people--mostly in private colleges, mostly in sororities and fraternities--will make sure, through career choice or marriage or both--that they can live the privileged lifestyle to which they are accustomed. That does breed a certain amount of ambition, doesn't it?
Sometimes I worry that the ambition may be bred out of people who know how to be frugal. Should I be worried? Do you think there is an inverse relation between frugality and ambition?
Wednesday, 28 July 2010
Textbook Computer Codes
I mentioned the other day that my daughter had to buy a $100.00 computer code for her French class to go with the $75.00 used book. The new book-natch-was $175.00. I didn't mention that her math teacher had the class purchase codes, but told them not to bother with the text. the text PLUS code was only a little more than the code alone.
Funny About Money plaintively inquired:
Computer access code!? Heaven help us.
That is inexcusable. Is there any reason classmates can't be put in groups or group themselves informally so they can all access the computer using one member's code? What if each kid in the group paid the person who sprung for the new textbook $10 or so? That would bring down her cost and let the students who can't afford to spring for $175 for a French text(!!!!!!!) save their money.
She probably wasn't plaintive, actually. It's a good question.
Not being in the textbook biz, this is what I think. Anyone who knows better/different, do not hesitate to set me right on this.
I think this is a way the publishers keep students from buying used or sharing. The codes provide access to all sorts of material for students--in that sense, offer extra value. BUT BUT BUT the codes have to be-I think-unique, because they are linked to quizzes.
The quizzes are--again, I think--composed, graded, and recorded BY THE TEXTBOOK PUBLISHER. This is a way that publishers market their books--"Look TEACHER, we can save you the dreary work of composing and grading quizzes."
Anyone care to correct me on this? Really, I'm just surmising. What do you think of the practice?
If I'm right, what is for sale is a unique code. The text itself is just gravy.
Funny About Money plaintively inquired:
Computer access code!? Heaven help us.
That is inexcusable. Is there any reason classmates can't be put in groups or group themselves informally so they can all access the computer using one member's code? What if each kid in the group paid the person who sprung for the new textbook $10 or so? That would bring down her cost and let the students who can't afford to spring for $175 for a French text(!!!!!!!) save their money.
She probably wasn't plaintive, actually. It's a good question.
Not being in the textbook biz, this is what I think. Anyone who knows better/different, do not hesitate to set me right on this.
I think this is a way the publishers keep students from buying used or sharing. The codes provide access to all sorts of material for students--in that sense, offer extra value. BUT BUT BUT the codes have to be-I think-unique, because they are linked to quizzes.
The quizzes are--again, I think--composed, graded, and recorded BY THE TEXTBOOK PUBLISHER. This is a way that publishers market their books--"Look TEACHER, we can save you the dreary work of composing and grading quizzes."
Anyone care to correct me on this? Really, I'm just surmising. What do you think of the practice?
If I'm right, what is for sale is a unique code. The text itself is just gravy.
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
My Karmic ROI: Relief
ROI=RETURN ON INVESTMENT
A few days ago, I wrote a tongue-in-cheek post about depositing $600.00 into my karmic savings account: that's how much a thrift store acquaintance said I'd saved her when I recommended thrifting a tux set for future proms. The tongue-in-cheek part came at the end, with the query: What should I spend my $600.00 on?
I hope that writing about my karmic moment--which just happened--will not bring bad luck. Knock on wood for me.
On the last day of our almost three weeks of visiting our relatives in Massachusetts and California came some disquieting financial news. Because of Frugal Son's--what shall we call it--flakiness, he did not have a dormitory assignment. (See last year's post on French visa for similar event.)
Now, students can always live off-campus. But Frugal Son has a ROOM AND BOARD SCHOLARSHIP, which does not transfer to off-campus housing. He called and discovered that he was number 10 zillion on the waiting list.
Anyway, through some parental ADVICE and PRESSURE, and the aid of an administrator in navigating the scary bureaucracy of a large school....he got a room! I guess a lot of people drop out at the end...and the administrator said they DO try to accommodate students with scholarships.
The savings: $6000.00, exactly 10 times my karmic investment.
Amazing.
A few days ago, I wrote a tongue-in-cheek post about depositing $600.00 into my karmic savings account: that's how much a thrift store acquaintance said I'd saved her when I recommended thrifting a tux set for future proms. The tongue-in-cheek part came at the end, with the query: What should I spend my $600.00 on?
I hope that writing about my karmic moment--which just happened--will not bring bad luck. Knock on wood for me.
On the last day of our almost three weeks of visiting our relatives in Massachusetts and California came some disquieting financial news. Because of Frugal Son's--what shall we call it--flakiness, he did not have a dormitory assignment. (See last year's post on French visa for similar event.)
Now, students can always live off-campus. But Frugal Son has a ROOM AND BOARD SCHOLARSHIP, which does not transfer to off-campus housing. He called and discovered that he was number 10 zillion on the waiting list.
Anyway, through some parental ADVICE and PRESSURE, and the aid of an administrator in navigating the scary bureaucracy of a large school....he got a room! I guess a lot of people drop out at the end...and the administrator said they DO try to accommodate students with scholarships.
The savings: $6000.00, exactly 10 times my karmic investment.
Amazing.
Sunday, 11 July 2010
College Debt and College Prestige: From a Student/Entrepeneur
Dear Readers: I have been on the road. For today's post, I am stealing a comment left by Logan Leger, a fellow I met (in real life) a while back. He wrote in response to one of my no doubt tiresome ruminations on college debt. Anyway, here is a rumination from an actual student. One not related to me.
I've been meaning to respond to this article for a while. I don't have any advice for the reader, but I would like to talk about my situation.
After high school, I had a lot of choices, including some big scholarships at some great schools. Unfortunately, my family also falls in that doughnut and couldn't afford to cover the remaining expenses. Moreover, my parents were adamant about not taking any loans and graduating debt free. This left me only one choice: state school, where nearly 100% of expenses were covered.
Now, I'm in the position of graduating in three years with an engineering degree from a school that has a national name, and debt free to boot. At first I was angry my parents wouldn't cosign a loan and felt trapped. Now, however, I realize how good of a decision it was. Not having any debt and having financial freedom really opens me up for a lot of opportunities.
This brings me to my final point. I was born an engineer, but I was born an entrepreneur first. Being at a state school opens my schedule up to pursue many ventures. Had I gone to a more prestigious school, I would never have had the time. And, after I graduate I won't have to work in the system because after three years of hard startup work, one of my startups will reach profitability, enough to sustain me because I have no debt.
I have a great degree I can use to make good money in my life. But because I ended up at the state school, I can pursue my dream.
July 5, 2010 3:58 PM
A very impressive fellow, don't you think?
I've been meaning to respond to this article for a while. I don't have any advice for the reader, but I would like to talk about my situation.
After high school, I had a lot of choices, including some big scholarships at some great schools. Unfortunately, my family also falls in that doughnut and couldn't afford to cover the remaining expenses. Moreover, my parents were adamant about not taking any loans and graduating debt free. This left me only one choice: state school, where nearly 100% of expenses were covered.
Now, I'm in the position of graduating in three years with an engineering degree from a school that has a national name, and debt free to boot. At first I was angry my parents wouldn't cosign a loan and felt trapped. Now, however, I realize how good of a decision it was. Not having any debt and having financial freedom really opens me up for a lot of opportunities.
This brings me to my final point. I was born an engineer, but I was born an entrepreneur first. Being at a state school opens my schedule up to pursue many ventures. Had I gone to a more prestigious school, I would never have had the time. And, after I graduate I won't have to work in the system because after three years of hard startup work, one of my startups will reach profitability, enough to sustain me because I have no debt.
I have a great degree I can use to make good money in my life. But because I ended up at the state school, I can pursue my dream.
July 5, 2010 3:58 PM
A very impressive fellow, don't you think?
Monday, 21 June 2010
College Debt: Is It Worth Taking on Debt for an Ivy Degree? Some Practical Advice
A while back, I wrote (yet once more) on the college debt situation, featuring the now-notorious NYU grad with $ 200,000 in debt. I received this response from a reader:
You know, I wish I was in the camp that looked at the financial situation before deciding on where to go to college. But what about those who realize they are getting themselves into an unreasonable amount of debt in the middle? There are perks in terms of facilities and recruiting (and internships which can lead to jobs). And is it worth transferring to a state (and I live in a state with a not so great school system) school after already going into so much debt?
I agree even after doing it that it is foolish to take out massive loans on the promise of a high paying job. But that promise does get more likely if you go to a school well known in its field.
So is it worth it to go $200,000 K into debt for a religious studies degree? Probably not. But if you want to go into say consulting or investment banking...
Oh, how horrible to feel the monkey of debt on your back. How horrible to be so conflicted about your choice WHILE you are in college.
Before I respond (not that I have the answers, needless to say), let's review the college scholarship reality. There are MERIT scholarships and NEED scholarships. Ivies don't give merit scholarships because they don't have to. My children got merit scholarships at schools that wanted them--where their SATs and National Merits were desirable.
Need is another matter. If you make under say, $80,000/yr--you can probably get a full need-based scholarship at any Ivy or other private school of prestige. If you are in the middle-class doughnut hole, between @100,000-180,000/yr--you will get nothing, even though an Ivy--or any private--education, may be more than 1/2 your take home pay.
My family is at the lower end of the doughnut. I realized that my kids would have received FULL SCHOLARSHIPS if one of us quit our job. Amazing! Some self-employed people of my acquaintance manipulated their income downward during the crucial pre-college and college years. While most of the kids receiving need-based scholarships ARE genuinely needy, there are ways--as a Wall Street Journal column recently put it--to "game" the financial aid system. The kid with the NEED scholarship may be the child of a cardiologist who has many business expenses--like a company car. Salaried people like us can't do that.
Anyway, the year before the big meltdown, the new prez of Harvard announced that families who made between $100,000 and $180,000 would only have to pay 10% of their income. I think Stanford may have followed suit. That would be quite a reasonable price for an Ivy education, one I could have easily fit within my frugal budget.
BUT not all kids--even the smartest and most accomplished--can get into an Ivy. I doubt my children would have gotten into Harvard, Yale, or Stanford, though they may have gotten into Penn or Cornell. Just don't know. Other private schools could not match the Harvard/Stanford plan, so those in the doughnut remained, facing a $50,000 bill.
Back to my questioner: what should a student do who has already completed one Ivy year and feels the hot breath of future debt on the back of the neck?
1. Transfer to a state school. This is not a great idea. Anyone who gets into an Ivy is wooed with goodies out the wazoo by state schools. These offers don't apply to transfers. So, you don't get the prestige of the Ivy, but you also don't get the goodies the state school would have heaped upon you as an incoming freshman.
2. People in business might disagree with the above. They would discuss the "sunk cost fallacy."
In economics and business decision-making, sunk costs are retrospective (past) costs that have already been incurred and cannot be recovered. Sunk costs are sometimes contrasted with prospective costs, which are future costs that may be incurred or changed if an action is taken. Both retrospective and prospective costs may be either fixed (that is, they are not dependent on the volume of economic activity, however measured) or variable (dependent on volume).
Behavioral economics recognizes that sunk costs often affect economic decisions due to loss aversion: the price paid becomes a benchmark for the value, whereas the price paid should be irrelevant. This is considered non-rational behavior (as rationality is defined by classical economics). Economic experiments have shown that the sunk cost fallacy and loss aversion are common; hence economic rationality — as assumed by much of economics — is limited. This has enormous implications for finance, economics, and securities markets in particular. Daniel Kahneman won the Nobel Prize in Economics in part for his extensive work in this area with his collaborator, Amos Tversky.
Still, an Ivy has some value, though what the value is, no one knows for sure.
3. Assuming the person wants to continue at Ivy U, what to do? Well, here are my frugal tips. Do not change your major! In fact, try to graduate in 3 years. It would be more cost-effective to take a few courses at Local State U than to work in the summer. You need to make sure your college will accept these credits BEFOREHAND. Colleges are often reluctant to accept transfer credits.
4. DO NOT do Study Abroad. With Study Abroad, you pay your school's tuition and fees. Hence, my son spent a year in France. He paid the state tuition, fees, room, and board. Guess what? These were covered by his scholarship! The other people in the program paid between $10,000 and $50,000 a year--for the same program. You can do your year abroad AFTER college, paying the program costs out of pocket. These are--based on my son's investigations in France--less than half the cost of private US college tuition. room, and board.
Can anyone think of anything else?
You know, I wish I was in the camp that looked at the financial situation before deciding on where to go to college. But what about those who realize they are getting themselves into an unreasonable amount of debt in the middle? There are perks in terms of facilities and recruiting (and internships which can lead to jobs). And is it worth transferring to a state (and I live in a state with a not so great school system) school after already going into so much debt?
I agree even after doing it that it is foolish to take out massive loans on the promise of a high paying job. But that promise does get more likely if you go to a school well known in its field.
So is it worth it to go $200,000 K into debt for a religious studies degree? Probably not. But if you want to go into say consulting or investment banking...
Oh, how horrible to feel the monkey of debt on your back. How horrible to be so conflicted about your choice WHILE you are in college.
Before I respond (not that I have the answers, needless to say), let's review the college scholarship reality. There are MERIT scholarships and NEED scholarships. Ivies don't give merit scholarships because they don't have to. My children got merit scholarships at schools that wanted them--where their SATs and National Merits were desirable.
Need is another matter. If you make under say, $80,000/yr--you can probably get a full need-based scholarship at any Ivy or other private school of prestige. If you are in the middle-class doughnut hole, between @100,000-180,000/yr--you will get nothing, even though an Ivy--or any private--education, may be more than 1/2 your take home pay.
My family is at the lower end of the doughnut. I realized that my kids would have received FULL SCHOLARSHIPS if one of us quit our job. Amazing! Some self-employed people of my acquaintance manipulated their income downward during the crucial pre-college and college years. While most of the kids receiving need-based scholarships ARE genuinely needy, there are ways--as a Wall Street Journal column recently put it--to "game" the financial aid system. The kid with the NEED scholarship may be the child of a cardiologist who has many business expenses--like a company car. Salaried people like us can't do that.
Anyway, the year before the big meltdown, the new prez of Harvard announced that families who made between $100,000 and $180,000 would only have to pay 10% of their income. I think Stanford may have followed suit. That would be quite a reasonable price for an Ivy education, one I could have easily fit within my frugal budget.
BUT not all kids--even the smartest and most accomplished--can get into an Ivy. I doubt my children would have gotten into Harvard, Yale, or Stanford, though they may have gotten into Penn or Cornell. Just don't know. Other private schools could not match the Harvard/Stanford plan, so those in the doughnut remained, facing a $50,000 bill.
Back to my questioner: what should a student do who has already completed one Ivy year and feels the hot breath of future debt on the back of the neck?
1. Transfer to a state school. This is not a great idea. Anyone who gets into an Ivy is wooed with goodies out the wazoo by state schools. These offers don't apply to transfers. So, you don't get the prestige of the Ivy, but you also don't get the goodies the state school would have heaped upon you as an incoming freshman.
2. People in business might disagree with the above. They would discuss the "sunk cost fallacy."
In economics and business decision-making, sunk costs are retrospective (past) costs that have already been incurred and cannot be recovered. Sunk costs are sometimes contrasted with prospective costs, which are future costs that may be incurred or changed if an action is taken. Both retrospective and prospective costs may be either fixed (that is, they are not dependent on the volume of economic activity, however measured) or variable (dependent on volume).
Behavioral economics recognizes that sunk costs often affect economic decisions due to loss aversion: the price paid becomes a benchmark for the value, whereas the price paid should be irrelevant. This is considered non-rational behavior (as rationality is defined by classical economics). Economic experiments have shown that the sunk cost fallacy and loss aversion are common; hence economic rationality — as assumed by much of economics — is limited. This has enormous implications for finance, economics, and securities markets in particular. Daniel Kahneman won the Nobel Prize in Economics in part for his extensive work in this area with his collaborator, Amos Tversky.
Still, an Ivy has some value, though what the value is, no one knows for sure.
3. Assuming the person wants to continue at Ivy U, what to do? Well, here are my frugal tips. Do not change your major! In fact, try to graduate in 3 years. It would be more cost-effective to take a few courses at Local State U than to work in the summer. You need to make sure your college will accept these credits BEFOREHAND. Colleges are often reluctant to accept transfer credits.
4. DO NOT do Study Abroad. With Study Abroad, you pay your school's tuition and fees. Hence, my son spent a year in France. He paid the state tuition, fees, room, and board. Guess what? These were covered by his scholarship! The other people in the program paid between $10,000 and $50,000 a year--for the same program. You can do your year abroad AFTER college, paying the program costs out of pocket. These are--based on my son's investigations in France--less than half the cost of private US college tuition. room, and board.
Can anyone think of anything else?
Saturday, 5 June 2010
Student Loans and Bankruptcy
This is an issue taken up in today's New York Times. Over the past few years, there have been scads of articles featuring hapless recent grads of expensive private colleges, shocked at their loan burden. Interestingly, several of these students are grads of NYU.
Of course, this is an issue close to my heart, as my children regretfully declined acceptances from private colleges--complete with merit aid--and chose state institutions.
So I was inspired to pen a comment, which I am copying below. I wrote this in the heat of emotion without re-reading, fyi. So no guarantee of completeness or coherence.
I'm of several minds about this. Both my children got into prestigious private colleges--small liberal arts colleges. My husband and I had always dreamed of sending them to Oberlin, Kenyon,Reed, and the like. Yet when it came down to it, each chose a no-cost state institution--even at full-cost the price would have been very low.
Yes, teenagers are naive about money and the burden of interest payments. Yes, parents are complicit in urging the teens to go to a "top college." Yes, colleges have raised tuition in part BECAUSE of the ready availability of loans. And, as we found out last year, some college financial aid officers were receiving kickbacks from "preferred" lenders.
But I believe the laws were changed, in part, because graduates of law schools and med schools were declaring bankruptcy UPON graduation!
So I would suggest that colleges/banks be required--as credit card companies now are--to show what the payments will be down the road. But I also believe that families and students should take more responsibility about their college choices, especially when considering a private college. Tuition at private colleges has gone up at twice the rate of inflation.
Perhaps the ability to discharge student loans in bankruptcy will make the banks wary about lending vast sums of money to naive teenagers.
I think we've all seen the need to teach basic math skills and consumer awareness. I have heard from my own students, "I thought that it was an OK amount of debt because the bank said I could borrow it." Shades of the housing bubble.
What think you, dear readers? I said to Mr. FS--somewhat facetiously--that if we had known the laws would change we could have saved less money for the kids AND encouraged them to go for the prestigious college.
Frugal Note: Since I have copied and pasted this from a comment that will--perhaps--appear on the NYT website, I have created a twofer situation: two comments for the labor of one. This is more commonly known--in extreme couponing circles (of which I am not a part)--as a BOGO: buy one, get one free.
Of course, this is an issue close to my heart, as my children regretfully declined acceptances from private colleges--complete with merit aid--and chose state institutions.
So I was inspired to pen a comment, which I am copying below. I wrote this in the heat of emotion without re-reading, fyi. So no guarantee of completeness or coherence.
I'm of several minds about this. Both my children got into prestigious private colleges--small liberal arts colleges. My husband and I had always dreamed of sending them to Oberlin, Kenyon,Reed, and the like. Yet when it came down to it, each chose a no-cost state institution--even at full-cost the price would have been very low.
Yes, teenagers are naive about money and the burden of interest payments. Yes, parents are complicit in urging the teens to go to a "top college." Yes, colleges have raised tuition in part BECAUSE of the ready availability of loans. And, as we found out last year, some college financial aid officers were receiving kickbacks from "preferred" lenders.
But I believe the laws were changed, in part, because graduates of law schools and med schools were declaring bankruptcy UPON graduation!
So I would suggest that colleges/banks be required--as credit card companies now are--to show what the payments will be down the road. But I also believe that families and students should take more responsibility about their college choices, especially when considering a private college. Tuition at private colleges has gone up at twice the rate of inflation.
Perhaps the ability to discharge student loans in bankruptcy will make the banks wary about lending vast sums of money to naive teenagers.
I think we've all seen the need to teach basic math skills and consumer awareness. I have heard from my own students, "I thought that it was an OK amount of debt because the bank said I could borrow it." Shades of the housing bubble.
What think you, dear readers? I said to Mr. FS--somewhat facetiously--that if we had known the laws would change we could have saved less money for the kids AND encouraged them to go for the prestigious college.
Frugal Note: Since I have copied and pasted this from a comment that will--perhaps--appear on the NYT website, I have created a twofer situation: two comments for the labor of one. This is more commonly known--in extreme couponing circles (of which I am not a part)--as a BOGO: buy one, get one free.
Sunday, 16 May 2010
My Newest Frugal Project: College Cooking
Every now and then, I check my stats and discover that people got to my blog via a search for "College Cooking." What they found, no doubt, were some of Frugal Son's gourmet cooking extravaganzas. This is not true College Cooking.
The various cookbooks that purport to be on College Cooking are not--from what I've seen so far--all that helpful to someone in a true College Cooking situation. The cookbooks are beginner cookbooks, for someone in a first apartment and hence don't differ markedly from plain old beginner cookbooks. Some of these present recipes so dependent on convenience foods that they make the famous "Mystery Meat" of my college days look like a dish by Escoffier.
So: what do I mean by College Cooking? Well, first of all, it is dorm cooking. Second, it is marked by a lack of appliances--such as a stove--and many of the utensils and gadgets we take for granted. Third, of course, it is marked by a cook with deficiencies in time, money, and know-how.
Here is why I am doing this. Lucy Marmalade, Dear Daughter of Mine, received, among other goodies, a ROOM SCHOLARSHIP. On top of this she gets $2000 in cash. Last year, we purchased the required freshman meal plan. This consisted of 160 meals per semester, plus $300 in Bamacash or something. Total--about $3200 for the year. Note that this doesn't even cover all meals. And it is only for around 8 months. Frugal Son--in horror (he has a board scholarship)--did the math: each meal costs around $8.00. Even if all you get is a bowl of cheerios. One of Lucy's friends had 60 meals left on her card! That is almost $500.00!
So for Lucy's sophomore year, we have a plan. We will buy her the smallest meal plan--50 meals per semester--so she can have lunch or dinner. Then, she will try to cook some other meals in her suite, which has a mini-kitchen sans stove. Any money she saves can go to restaurant meals or whatever the heck she wants, including, of course, meals purchased at the cafeteria.
I have been amassing supplies in Lucy's closet. More on that later.
And what is the secret to College Cooking if you don't have a stove? No--not a hotplate or similar: those are rightly forbidden as fire hazards. The key I realized is a safe way to cook your starch, which is a base for so many meals. What is safe, cheap, and starch-friendly? YES. A rice cooker.
As it happens, my blog-friend Chance wrote an ecstatic post on her thrift store purchase of the Mercedes of rice cookers. I'm not even jealous; I realize Chance needed that find more than I do.
No, Lucy will have to content herself with the cheapest of rice cookers, the Aroma. We got it from Amazon a while back: Aroma ARC-733G 3-Cup Pot-Style Rice Cooker and Food Steamer
">
Or you could get the fancy one lucky Chance got: Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 5-1/2-Cup Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer, Premium White
">
The various cookbooks that purport to be on College Cooking are not--from what I've seen so far--all that helpful to someone in a true College Cooking situation. The cookbooks are beginner cookbooks, for someone in a first apartment and hence don't differ markedly from plain old beginner cookbooks. Some of these present recipes so dependent on convenience foods that they make the famous "Mystery Meat" of my college days look like a dish by Escoffier.
So: what do I mean by College Cooking? Well, first of all, it is dorm cooking. Second, it is marked by a lack of appliances--such as a stove--and many of the utensils and gadgets we take for granted. Third, of course, it is marked by a cook with deficiencies in time, money, and know-how.
Here is why I am doing this. Lucy Marmalade, Dear Daughter of Mine, received, among other goodies, a ROOM SCHOLARSHIP. On top of this she gets $2000 in cash. Last year, we purchased the required freshman meal plan. This consisted of 160 meals per semester, plus $300 in Bamacash or something. Total--about $3200 for the year. Note that this doesn't even cover all meals. And it is only for around 8 months. Frugal Son--in horror (he has a board scholarship)--did the math: each meal costs around $8.00. Even if all you get is a bowl of cheerios. One of Lucy's friends had 60 meals left on her card! That is almost $500.00!
So for Lucy's sophomore year, we have a plan. We will buy her the smallest meal plan--50 meals per semester--so she can have lunch or dinner. Then, she will try to cook some other meals in her suite, which has a mini-kitchen sans stove. Any money she saves can go to restaurant meals or whatever the heck she wants, including, of course, meals purchased at the cafeteria.
I have been amassing supplies in Lucy's closet. More on that later.
And what is the secret to College Cooking if you don't have a stove? No--not a hotplate or similar: those are rightly forbidden as fire hazards. The key I realized is a safe way to cook your starch, which is a base for so many meals. What is safe, cheap, and starch-friendly? YES. A rice cooker.
As it happens, my blog-friend Chance wrote an ecstatic post on her thrift store purchase of the Mercedes of rice cookers. I'm not even jealous; I realize Chance needed that find more than I do.
No, Lucy will have to content herself with the cheapest of rice cookers, the Aroma. We got it from Amazon a while back: Aroma ARC-733G 3-Cup Pot-Style Rice Cooker and Food Steamer
">Or you could get the fancy one lucky Chance got: Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 5-1/2-Cup Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker and Warmer, Premium White
">
Monday, 19 April 2010
Using my Talents Part 2: Books for a Literacy Project
Yesterday, I wrote about using my somewhat embarrassing talent for frugality to start stocking up for Lucy M's dorm cooking next year. It just occurred to me that I have another, less embarrassing example.
Lucy M. is part of a student group that will be working in Marion, Alabama, an area with a high illiteracy rate. Lucy and her pals will be spending 3 weeks there this summer. They decided to partner with the local public library and develop a literacy project.
One idea involves a book give-away for kids who participate. The budget so far is $50.00. Gee, that will buy you about 10 books. Lucy volunteered me for the mission. She knows that nothing is more important to me than reading and she knows that I like nothing better than to scrounge for books in thrift stores.
So voila: within a few weeks of rather lackadaisical effort, I've amassed almost 100 books and I still have money in the budget. I've limited myself to books that look almost new. We're thinking of writing a short message in each book, along the lines of "I love this book and I hope you do too."
Can you think of any other good deeds one can do with the talent for frugality?
Lucy M. is part of a student group that will be working in Marion, Alabama, an area with a high illiteracy rate. Lucy and her pals will be spending 3 weeks there this summer. They decided to partner with the local public library and develop a literacy project.
One idea involves a book give-away for kids who participate. The budget so far is $50.00. Gee, that will buy you about 10 books. Lucy volunteered me for the mission. She knows that nothing is more important to me than reading and she knows that I like nothing better than to scrounge for books in thrift stores.
So voila: within a few weeks of rather lackadaisical effort, I've amassed almost 100 books and I still have money in the budget. I've limited myself to books that look almost new. We're thinking of writing a short message in each book, along the lines of "I love this book and I hope you do too."
Can you think of any other good deeds one can do with the talent for frugality?
Sunday, 18 April 2010
Using my Talents: Stocking the Pantry for Lucy Marmalade
Those of you with a bit of Biblical knowledge may recognize the allusion to the Parable of the Talents, which exhorts us to USE our talents, rather than burying them in the ground. Talent, incidentally, was a unit of currency in Biblical times, but the parable has been extended to mean that we should use our talents, in the sense of what our gifts are. Something of the double meaning emerges in Milton's poignant sonnet 19, where he meditates on his blindness:
WHEN I consider how my light is spent,
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker. . ..
Really, I wish my talent were for something a bit more--shall we say, elevated--but it seems that my talent is for frugality. Well, that brings up one of my favorite ideas from Emerson, which I've cited here earlier:
There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better for worse as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till.
So, to use my talent today, I acquired 10 cans of bargain-priced tuna, which are now residing in Lucy Marmalade's closet. She will be on a vastly reduced meal plan next year. We figured that each time she prepares her own meal, she will save around $8.00, which can go to a meal out or whatever the heck she wants.
The tuna is in a bag. Also in bags in the closet: 20 cans of beans, quantities of oatmeal, canned tomatoes.
Note that this saves her money and time. It also saves me money, and doesn't really cost me time, since I am out and about in any case.
Here then, dear readers, is the beginning of a food future stockpile. Next year, I'll send her recipes!
Have you been stockpiling the food futures discussed by Funny's guest=poster?
WHEN I consider how my light is spent,
Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker. . ..
Really, I wish my talent were for something a bit more--shall we say, elevated--but it seems that my talent is for frugality. Well, that brings up one of my favorite ideas from Emerson, which I've cited here earlier:
There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better for worse as his portion; that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till.
So, to use my talent today, I acquired 10 cans of bargain-priced tuna, which are now residing in Lucy Marmalade's closet. She will be on a vastly reduced meal plan next year. We figured that each time she prepares her own meal, she will save around $8.00, which can go to a meal out or whatever the heck she wants.
The tuna is in a bag. Also in bags in the closet: 20 cans of beans, quantities of oatmeal, canned tomatoes.
Note that this saves her money and time. It also saves me money, and doesn't really cost me time, since I am out and about in any case.
Here then, dear readers, is the beginning of a food future stockpile. Next year, I'll send her recipes!
Have you been stockpiling the food futures discussed by Funny's guest=poster?
Thursday, 25 March 2010
Is College Necessary? Two Cases
How could I even think such a thought? But many of my cherished and longstanding beliefs on education have undergone changes over the past few years. To wit: the virtue of private liberal arts colleges, a la Oberlin and the like. I was saving up for these, but when it came to the decision, we went for free public institutions over pricy (even with some merit aid) colleges. I think Mr. FS and I feel more agony over the decision than my children do. Had we only had one income, and our children thereby eligible for full need aid, then it would have perhaps been a different story. Likewise, if we had higher incomes or wealthy families backing us up.
Two cases I have heard of late are making me ask "Is college necessary?"
Case 1: Talented musician, mediocre student. Got into out-of-state college with good music department. Received instate tuition, but entered on academic probation. After 3 years of Ds in all subjects other than music performance, he is taking a year off and working in a restaurant. The manager loves him and suggested that he think of a career in restaurant management. The restaurant in question is part of the empire run by a superstar Louisiana chef. He has a significant amount of student debt. What would be the point of his getting a college degree?
Case 2: Heard this one yesterday. Academically talented student, only child, attended prestigious lefty New York college. Suffered a tragedy: her boyfriend died suddenly of a congenital condition. Took leave from college. Working as buyer in mother's uber-successful clothing boutique. She is brainy enough to learn on her own. Or she could avail herself of the many nearby colleges. What is the point of her getting a degree?
That I--a true believer in art for art's sake--even entertain such thoughts is a shocker.
What do you think?
Two cases I have heard of late are making me ask "Is college necessary?"
Case 1: Talented musician, mediocre student. Got into out-of-state college with good music department. Received instate tuition, but entered on academic probation. After 3 years of Ds in all subjects other than music performance, he is taking a year off and working in a restaurant. The manager loves him and suggested that he think of a career in restaurant management. The restaurant in question is part of the empire run by a superstar Louisiana chef. He has a significant amount of student debt. What would be the point of his getting a college degree?
Case 2: Heard this one yesterday. Academically talented student, only child, attended prestigious lefty New York college. Suffered a tragedy: her boyfriend died suddenly of a congenital condition. Took leave from college. Working as buyer in mother's uber-successful clothing boutique. She is brainy enough to learn on her own. Or she could avail herself of the many nearby colleges. What is the point of her getting a degree?
That I--a true believer in art for art's sake--even entertain such thoughts is a shocker.
What do you think?
Saturday, 13 March 2010
Cleaning Your Closet: Mommystyle
Lucy Marmalade (formerly known as Miss Em) arrived home on Thursday night for spring break. Mr. FS and I went to work as usual on Friday. When we got home, who should greet us with a great big smile but Lucy?
She looked nice: black knit top, belt, floral skirt. Then I noticed: MY black top, MY belt.
There are two kinds of mommies: the go ahead you can have it mommy and the it's mine mommy. My own mommy was of the former kind. Hence I feel it is my obligation to give it forward through the generations.
Lucy said, "I noticed a new green shirt on your bed (from Penney's--marked down to $2.00!), so I decided to see what else was in your closet." Okay. I used to do the same with my stylish and generous mommy.
Last time Lucy was home, I was reading in the living room. I could see Lucy going back and forth between my bedroom and her own. First trip: my new velvet hangers (Can I have these? Yes). Second trip: my green sweater. And so on.
It's a great way to declutter.
Do you have any similar family traditions?
She looked nice: black knit top, belt, floral skirt. Then I noticed: MY black top, MY belt.
There are two kinds of mommies: the go ahead you can have it mommy and the it's mine mommy. My own mommy was of the former kind. Hence I feel it is my obligation to give it forward through the generations.
Lucy said, "I noticed a new green shirt on your bed (from Penney's--marked down to $2.00!), so I decided to see what else was in your closet." Okay. I used to do the same with my stylish and generous mommy.
Last time Lucy was home, I was reading in the living room. I could see Lucy going back and forth between my bedroom and her own. First trip: my new velvet hangers (Can I have these? Yes). Second trip: my green sweater. And so on.
It's a great way to declutter.
Do you have any similar family traditions?
Saturday, 6 March 2010
Kicking It Down A Notch: Instant Coffee
Miss Em, oops I mean Lucy Marmalade, decided she was spending too much money at Starbucks, plus she wanted to have a way to get coffee late at night when she was studying. We decided that making coffee in a dorm room would be too troublesome and messy. Instant--which I haven't imbibed in over 30 years--would seem to be the answer.
Oh, how I love the internet. No sooner did I type "BEST INSTANT COFFEE" than I had the answer: Nescafe Clasico. It is made for the Hispanic market. Post-Katrina, my locale became something of a Hispanic market, as people from Central America came for work. So we found it at Target and elsewhere.
And I am here to say: it is quite good! Now I've bought some for me and Mr. FS.
For Lucy, it saves time and money. For us, it saves time. Frugal all around.
Back in grad school, when I bought my first Melitta drip pot, my friends would have gaped in shock at the thought of instant coffee (or bottled salad dressing or bouillon cubes or frozen broccoli or....lots of other things). What a relief to lower my standards a bit.
Have you lowered your standards in any food area?
Oh, how I love the internet. No sooner did I type "BEST INSTANT COFFEE" than I had the answer: Nescafe Clasico. It is made for the Hispanic market. Post-Katrina, my locale became something of a Hispanic market, as people from Central America came for work. So we found it at Target and elsewhere.
And I am here to say: it is quite good! Now I've bought some for me and Mr. FS.
For Lucy, it saves time and money. For us, it saves time. Frugal all around.
Back in grad school, when I bought my first Melitta drip pot, my friends would have gaped in shock at the thought of instant coffee (or bottled salad dressing or bouillon cubes or frozen broccoli or....lots of other things). What a relief to lower my standards a bit.
Have you lowered your standards in any food area?
Monday, 22 February 2010
New Blog to Check Out
Is it nepotism if I publicize a new blog--created by my dear daughter and two of her friends. They are trying to break into the overcrowded field of fashion/college/thrifting. So, dear readers, give them a hand and take a peek at their creation: Lucy Marmalade. The name comes from a story written by my dear daughter back in her younger days.
So check out Lucy Marmalade.
So check out Lucy Marmalade.
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