Bear Bucks Diaries

Welcome to Bear Bucks Diaries, where we’re tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern Brown students: money. We’re asking undergrads how they spend their parents’ money during a one-day period – and we’re tracking every last dollar.

Today: a junior studying BEO who spends some of her money on bookstore coffee.

Monthly Expenses:

Rent: IDK, my parents pay for me to live on campus as part of my tuition. #blessed

Student Loan Payment: Not yet, bitches!

Utilities: Brown pays for these, I said I live on campus, pay attention.

HBOGo: Free through ResLife. ;)))

Netflix/Hulu/Spotify: I use my family’s accounts, obvi.

6:52 AM: I wake up with the lights on in my room, still wearing my clothes from yesterday. What the fuck? Then I remember I did my laundry late last night and tried to stay up to move it to the dryer, which I clearly #failed at. I drag myself downstairs to transfer my clothes to the dryer, and promptly fall back asleep. $1.50

10:10 AM: I wake up for the second time (so woke, amirite?) 20 minutes before my first class of the day. I scramble to change and brush my teeth, then sprint to Friedman. Of course, I have to make a pit stop at the Blue Room first, because there is noooo way I’m making it through this hour and a half class without coffee and a blueberry Chobani. Since I’m off meal plan, Bear Bucks it is. $5.75

11:55 AM: I head to the SciLi to study for a midterm tomorrow. I’ve been using a PDF of the textbook, but I want to print it out for easier highlighting, and so that I’m not staring at my screen for too long. We’ve covered 96 pages of material so far, which I print double-paged, double-sided. $2.40

1:34 PM: While I’m studying, I get a call from my mom, which I reject. I feel bad that I haven’t talked to her in a while, but I’ve genuinely been busy. The call breaks my focus and I realize I’ve started feeling snacky, so I go down to the SciLi cart and get an apple, a three bean salad, and a chocolate chip cookie. My lunch for today, I guess, since I don’t have time for a proper meal. Gotta keep hitting the books. $8.35

3:45 PM: I have a class in Smitty-B this semester, since the universe apparently hates me. At least it’s a seminar, so it’s only once a week. On the way there, I grab a coffee from the Blue State in the bookstore. Little known fact, they take Bear Bucks, and since my parents fill that account, I’d rather go there than Starbucks, where I’d have to use my own money. $2.75

6:30 PM: I take advantage of the fact that I’m on this side of campus to hit up Andrews for ~Pasta Night~. The line is long but it’s worth it, even though the creamy sauce and the oodles of noodles make me remember I haven’t worked out in about two weeks. Whatever. My body is a temple, and right now the gods want fettuccini alfredo as an offering. It’s not my fault. $7.50

7:41 PM: On the way back to my dorm to keep studying, I stop by Lil Jo’s for pink lemonade and Coke to use as mixers for a pregame tomorrow. I can’t wait til I no longer have this midterm hanging over my head anymore. I’m really gonna need to blow off steam tomorrow. $7.98

10:15 PM: I get a Snap from my friends, who are at the GCB. They want me to join them. I still have one more chapter left to review, but I just turned 21 last week. I got my membership and still have to go 6 more times for it pay off, so after a few minutes of deliberation I decide to fuck the last chapter and go join my friends. I studied most of the material, that should be good enough.

10:21 PM: I order a whiskey sour and pay $6, bemoaning the fact that the GCB doesn’t take Bear Bucks. It’s on campus, so what gives!!!

11:30 PM: The GCB was so much fun, and I stop by Jo’s on my way back up to my room for my favorite drunk food, mozz sticks. I’m not super drunk, but I’m drunk enough that it’s justified, y’know? I also pick up a box of curly fries for my roommate, cause I know she likes them, and I love being generous. $7

12:07 AM: Tomorrow’s a big day, so I have to rest up. Honestly, it’s been a long day and I am ex-haus-ted. I call it a night, proud of myself for going to bed so early. Good night!

DAILY TOTAL: $43.23

Image via Isa Lovelace.

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