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More than 70 percent of graduates are planning on moving to a new city once they say goodbye to their college campus and hello to corporate America.
Nearly half of all students are most concerned about finding an apartment in the “right” neighborhood after graduation.
Click on the infographic for more interesting insights into what post-grads want most in their next place.
Being flexible with your travel dates can help save money on spring break.
But if you think that being on a budget will put a damper on your travel plans, not to worry. Get out of your apartment and away from the books for spring break by following these easy tips to let loose on the cheap.
Start your apartment search today!
Visit a big city
There are plenty of cities with tons to offer that aren’t popular spring break hangouts. For the budget-conscious, that means great rates on hotel rooms and less crowds. Check out sites like Priceline for cheap hotel rates, and find out about city passes that let you pay one low price for several attractions.
Check resorts for special offers
If you start early and look for bargains on resort special offer pages, you can get a great spring break deal at popular destinations like Orlando and Disney World.
Track your airfare online
Once you have your flight booked, that’s no reason to not be on the lookout for a cheaper rate. You might be in for a better deal if the price drops. Use an online tracking system like Yapta to keep track of your flight for you. If the rate drops, Yapta helps you get a refund for the difference, meaning you may be able to lock in the better deal before you fly.
Become a voluntourist
Voluntourism is a new trend increasing in popularity, where people — usually civic-minded college students — combine their vacation with helping others in need. One popular voluntourist destination is New Orleans, where you can soak up the ambiance of this popular destination while helping those still affected by storm damage. Doing an Internet search on the word voluntourism will pull up tons of opportunities from all over the world, and in many locations grateful locals are happy to offer discounts on accommodations.
Visit a national park
National parks in the U.S. and Canada fill up in summer, making campsites hard to come by and costly, but during spring break they are less crowded and not as expensive. Take a canoe trip through the longest mangrove forest on Florida’s East coast at Biscayne National Park, or compete in a scavenger hunt at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And, best of all, if you visit during National Park Week, which runs from April 22 – 26, 2013, you can experience the beauty of a national park without paying an entrance fee.
Take a trip to Europe
Like national parks, Europe doesn’t hit its peak tourist season until summer, which makes spring break a great time to go for a visit. It might mean starting your spring break a little early or ending it a little late, but the lower cost and sheer cultural value more than makes up for it.
Be flexible about when you go
If you aren’t in college, have young kids and hate noise and crowds, define your own spring break. Arriving three or four days before spring break typically starts, or one or two days after it ends, can mean big savings on rooms and attractions, not to mention less noise and crowding at your favorite tourist spots. Spring break dates usually vary anyway depending on the college, so check with lodgings at your destination to find out when that area’s local schools let the kids out to party.
Photo credit: iStockphoto/PeskyMonkey
What’s even better than Thanksgiving dinner? The Thanksgiving leftovers. But if you’re worried you’ll get bored eating the same meal for a week straight, mix things up with these unique recipes. (And no turkey tetrazzini is involved!)
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Getting your finances in order is a tough feat and can be intimidating. Use these resources to get it under control.
Graduating college and entering the so-called “real world” is an intimidating feat. You’re picking out retirement plans, selecting an insurance plan and making a down payment on your very own apartment. But when a large portion of your income goes toward all these things, will you still have enough to support your social life? The answer is yes, as long as you know how to budget your money and make smart decisions. If you’re already overwhelmed by trying to figure this entire thing out, check out these top resources to help you manage your budget without pulling out all your hair.
Budgeting
How much money do you spend on dining out with friends? What about groceries? You may be surprised to see exactly how much you spend on specific items when you have it organized, categorized and laid out in front of you. Click over to these resources to see how you can best manage your budget.
Retirement Planning
Why would you use up the little income that you have for something you won’t be able to touch until your 50s or 60s? It seems a little odd to already start planning for retirement, especially in your 20s, but it’s never too early to start. According to MSN, if you put $4,000 a year into retirement accounts starting at the age of 22, you can have close to $1 million by age 62. Starting 10 years later means having to put almost twice as much into your account annually. Talk to your employer, as well as a financial institution, and ask for retirement planning literature. To learn more about budgeting for retirement planning, check out Investopedia.
Photo Credit: iStockphoto/MikeCherim
Whether you fancy yourself a beer connoisseur or you’re just an occasional beer drinker, Sacramento has several breweries in town to test out new beers. These breweries typically include a well-planned menu and a staff that can explain beer pairings. And the beers are carefully and expertly brewed to be the best around. So, treat yourself and head out to one of these Sacramento breweries for a great meal and a smooth ale.
Track 7 Brewing Co.
Named for its proximity to the old Western Pacific railroad tracks, Track 7 was created as a creative outlet for unique and artisanal beers. The brewers experiment with all varieties of beer, and it extends further than just American beers to Belgian, English and German inspiration. If you’re looking for something different to do on the weekend, visit the tap room with your friends and overlook the Track 7 brewery. For an added bonus, the tap room is dog friendly. Sit down, relax and try an Alkali Wit, a Belgian-style wit bier, or a Big 4 Strong Ale, an American strong ale.
Where: 3747 W. Pacific Ave., Sacramento, CA 95820
Hoppy Brewing Company
Head to this neighborhood brewpub for unique ales and food that goes above and beyond traditional bar fare. For the food, try the Hoppy Chop Salad with basil vinaigrette or the Fish and Chips. If you’re headed there with a group, share an order of the house made kettle chips or the Hoppy Fries, which are tossed in garlic and Parmesan cheese – need we say more? Head to Hoppy for happy hour, and you’ll hit great specials, like $12 pitchers and $3.50 pints. Wash down the Hoppy Fries with a cold, fresh-brewed Total Eclipse, a porter-like brew that features chocolate and black malts. If you’re looking for a lighter beer, try the Liquid Sunshine Blonde Ale, which has a grapefruit-like flavor and aroma.
Where: 6300 Folsom Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95819
Rubicon Brewing
Not only do they have great beer and good food, but the service and overall ambiance of Rubicon Brewing is enough of an excuse to skip out of work a little early and meet up with friends for a relaxing night. This is Midtown’s original restaurant brewery, and since the late ‘80s, it has yet to disappoint the residents of this neighborhood. Check their website for their daily specials, which include $2.50 pints, all-you-can-eat fish and chips and $2 tacos. And for the beer, Rubicon has something for everyone. If you’re looking for a cider, try the Blood Orange cider, if available. For pale ale drinkers, order the Monkey Knife Fight, known for its perfect balance of hops.
Where: 2004 Capitol Ave., Sacramento, CA 95811
River City Brewing Company
Whether it’s been a rough week in the office or you’re just looking for a relaxing place to hang out with friends, the fun atmosphere at River City Brewing is your answer. Located in the heart of downtown Sacramento, River City Brewing Company offers up a spacious venue with extraordinary food and great craft beers. Share the Crispy Eggplant Napoleon appetizer, which is eggplant served with goat cheese, basil pesto and sun dried tomato tapenade. But what goes better with beer than pizza? River City offers up several wood-fired pizza options, including BBQ chicken, a Brewmaster’s specialty and rosemary-garlic marinated portobello mushroom. And for the beer, River City brews up 22 different beers throughout the year. Some of the favorites include K Street Kolsch, IPA and Woodenhead Ale.
Where: 545 Downtown Plaza, Suite 1115, Sacramento, CA 9
Photo Credit: iStockphoto/Gizmo
Can’t make it to the big game? Host a tailgate party in your apartment.
Labor Day marks the beginning of football season, an exciting part of fall. That means Saturdays spent cheering on your favorite college team and Sundays sporting the colors of your favorite professional team. If you’re lucky enough, you can spend those days tailgating hours before the big game and then heading into the stadium with 70,000 of your closest friends. But what if your team is across the country or you just simply can’t make it out to the game? Host a tailgate and viewing party in your apartment using these tips and pointers.
Guest List and Invitations
Decide who you plan to invite to your tailgate party. If your team is playing against a good friend’s team, consider inviting that friend for a friendly matchup. Keep in mind how much space you have in your home to keep guests comfortable. Also factor in seating. Do you have enough chairs for everyone? Once your guest list has been set, choose invitations. For a quick invite, use online invitations, such as Evite or throw together a tailgate-themed invitation via email. Include the date, time and whether the party is BYOB. Encourage guests to wear their best spirit wear.
Tailgate Décor and Supplies
It’s your party, and you should decorate it the way you want to. Use your favorite team’s colors as décor inspiration around your apartment. Cover tables in inexpensive tablecloths in your team’s colors. Check out your local party supply store for cheap items, like tablecloths made to resemble a football field, football-shaped balloons and cheerleading shakers. Another way to incorporate the theme is to purchase paper plates with a football print. Purchase utensils, cups and napkins in your team’s colors.
Food and Beverages
Let’s be honest; the best part of the tailgate is the food – and maybe the beverages. Decide on how much stress you want to put on yourself. Should you provide all of the food? If you have too much on your plate, consider providing the main course. Possible options are burgers, hot dogs, low country boil or smoked brisket. If your team’s opponent lends itself to a possible theme, work off that. For example, if your team is playing Maryland, you could make crabcakes. Pick a main course and ask your guests to bring their favorite side dishes or dips that go well with what you’re making. In addition to the main course, have extras for during the game, including pizza, chicken wings and nachos. Don’t forget the sweets! Keep candy in dishes. You can also bake a simple sheet cake and decorate it to resemble a football field or add your favorite decorations to it. For the beverages, provide water, soft drinks, juices and ice and have the party be BYOB. Have plenty of coolers so your guests can keep their beverages cold during the party.
Television and Entertainment
Though you may be interested in one game, consider having televisions on around your apartment, or have more than one TV in the main viewing area. This way, you can keep coverage on of other games for your guests. A fun way to keep your guests engaged in the games is to record your guests’ predictions of the games on a poster board for bragging rights later. Have prizes for the guest that correctly predicts the most amount of winners. Another way to keep your guests entertained is to play traditional tailgate games. Use your apartment’s entry way for a modified game of beanbag toss or ladder golf.
Photo Credit: iStockphoto/asiseeit
Although your appliances are turned off, they can still draw power and raise your energy bill. Leave sticky notes to remind yourself to turn off appliances and you can use the money you save toward groceries, a plane ticket or a new smartphone.
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If you’re living on a college budget in Seattle, use this guide to find the best places to live, as well as things to do without breaking the bank.
Whether you’re cheering on the Huskies at the University of Washington, studying art at Seattle University or attending one of the other 25 colleges in the Seattle area, it is important to find the right place to live and participate in activities that won’t put a hole in your wallet. To get you started, here are a few neighborhoods to check out and a few activities to consider while living on a college budget in Seattle.
Neighborhoods to Call Home
With a metropolitan area defined as Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Seattle expands for nearly 5,900 square miles. Finding an apartment in the right neighborhood for college might seem difficult, but with a little research and knowledge, you’ll be able to find a place to call home soon. Here are a few neighborhoods to consider.
Things to Do in Seattle
If you think living on a college budget in Seattle limits your activities, think again. Seattle has been called an outdoor mecca because it’s surrounded by mountains, waterways and remote wilderness. It is also home to lots of great attractions, which are enjoyable whether you’re a Seattle native or a transplant. And with a little research and knowledge, you can check out Seattle without breaking the bank.
Photo Credit: iStockphoto/ElementalImaging
Want to reach students looking for apartment rentals? Moving “outside of the box” with your marketing efforts could help you tap into the high demand for college apartments.
Online search is key
Generation Y renters – most of today’s college students — seek out infrastructure to support their tech-obsessed habits. Knowing that technology plays a huge part in their lives, it’s not hard to see how going online with your marketing might be the best way to reach student renters.
Many rental property marketers have seen success using the following online marketing tools to reach students:
• Social networks like Facebook
• Facebook ads targeted to local students
• Craigslist
• Online classifieds in the college newspaper
• General searches on search engines
According to Catalyst, a Texas-based marketing firm that specializes in student apartments, general apartment searches conducted through Google were the single most popular method for student searches. This research indicates that amping up your web presence and paying attention to the SEO value of your online platforms is essential to reaching a young, targeted renting audience.
Thinking outside the box
But don’t hang your hat entirely on technology as the only way to market student apartment rentals. As the saying goes, everything old has a way of becoming new again, and these traditional marketing methods can also prove effective in garnering student apartment referrals:
• Setting up a kiosk at the student center of a nearby university
• Placing ads in the college paper
• Word of mouth from student to student
Word of mouth in particular is an extremely effective way to market student housing. To help encourage word-of-mouth referrals, you may want to reach out to the student housing office at the local college. This office may provide students with a listing of nearby off-campus housing, and that’s a list you definitely want to be on.
Don’t forget about the parents
When you’re talking about marketing college apartments, it’s important not to forget that mom and dad are often key decision makers in a student’s apartment search. In many cases, the student may do the legwork involved in the apartment search, but it’s the parent who really pulls the trigger — and pays the bills.
So don’t count out parental influence and bias as you market student rentals. As Forbes Magazine points out, parents are playing a large role in the student housing boom. Concerned moms and dads want to know that their young students — particularly their daughters — are living in private, secure spaces. And the wealthiest of these parents are willing to pay high rents to ensure their children are safe and sound in off-campus housing. If you’re marketing to college students, it may be advantageous to consider which brand differentiators and marketing vehicles could best convince their parents to sign on the dotted line.
When thinking about an average college student and his or her college lifestyle, the stereotype that comes to mind is late nights of partying or last-minute changes to a term paper, followed by early mornings with lots of coffee. Other stereotypes of college students include convenience and cheap eats. However, the modern college student and college budget has come a long way since mac ‘n’ cheese from the blue box; the student budget has changed. College kids today are spending most of their money on food, technology and appearance. Here’s the breakdown on what students are spending their money on and tips on how to save money.
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