Category: More Fun & Games
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Everyone knows college kids are broke. As we stroll to class, our “FML” tweets are replaced by “BEST DAY EVER!” when we find a dollar bill on the ground. Our rent is too damn high, gas prices make us resent our cars and our minimum wage jobs barely cover the cost of rent each month. Times are tough, and we're all trying to cut corners to afford basic necessities (And not-so-basic ones as well. Sorry, folks, but Netflix isn't needed for survival). Fortunately, there is free and super cheap stuff all around you – you just have to make the effort to look for it.
Where to Find Free Alcohol
-Art galleries
The Main gallery in the Art Building and the Downtown Gallery on East Main Street both offer free wine to those who attend opening receptions of each and every art show. Now, I'm not suggesting you stroll on by and down a bottle of wine then stumble home. Appreciate the art of your peers, and go ahead and sip on some Merlot in the process. If you find yourself in Akron (you can hop on a PARTA bus to get there for just $1), Square records in Highland Square even offers free beer at their art shows. Pizza too! The easiest way to keep track of these opening receptions is to like the venues on facebook or keep an eye out for posters.
-Wineries
Many wineries, including Wolf Creek on Cleveland Massillon Road, offer samples of wine for a suggested donation of 25 cents. The samples are the size of about a half a small wine glass. Drink a few of these and you'll be good to go.
-Parties
Hosting a party is a great way to end up with a ton of free alcohol. Make the shindig BYOB, and “accidentally” misplace a few bottles as the evening progresses. The next morning, you will be surprised with how much alcohol you have left over. And if anyone asks, just suggest that they must not have remembered drinking it all.
Where to Find Free Coffee
-Poetry Readings
The Wick Poetry Center holds various on-campus poetry readings throughout the semester. Refreshments, including coffee and sometimes cookies, are available for attendees. I would suggest staying to hear the poets instead of grabbing a cup o' Joe and running away. Be cool and courteous.
-Coffee Corner
Kent Student Center Programming holds Coffee Corner every Tuesday morning in the Cyber Cafe. Stop on by and grab a freshly brewed cup of java.
Where to Find Free Food
-Kent State Student Center During Finals week, the Student Center is full of free food and activities to get your brain juices flowing. Keep an eye out for free pizza, omelets and popcorn near the end of the semester.
-Students with Meal Plans
Once the end of the semester rolls around, many students who live on campus and have meal plans find themselves with hundreds of dollars left over. Now is the time to befriend these people. Because the meal plan money cannot be refunded or used for anything other than on-campus snacks and drinks, many students find themselves buying bottled water and granola bars in bulk just to use up the money. Ask an on-campus dweller if he or she will take your grocery shopping at one of the markets or out to dinner at Damon's. Unless he or she is a jerk, I'm sure this will help both of you out.
-Lunch With Leaders The Kent State Center for Student Involvement holds a free Lunch With Leaders event on various Wednesdays throughout the semester. Students who register get to dine on soup, salad and sandwiches at no cost while listening to local successful leaders share their stories. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more info.
Where to Find Free Internet
-Starbucks, Tree City Coffee or Scribbles Coffee Co. Coffee shops are notorious for the abundance of laptops and glowing screens sprinkled throughout the establishments, but be warned that most places require you to make a purchase before you sit down and start surfing Facebook. Scrape up $1.50 for a coffee or tea, and get to work.
Where to Find Free Music & Movies
-Kent Free Library The best way to legally grab some free music (without running the potential risk of your favorite file-sharing site shutting down) is to reserve some CDs at the library. You can find pretty much anything using the library's website. Once your CD arrives, upload it into your iTunes, and return the disk. It's that simple. To avoid potential late fees, bring your laptop to the library and do the uploading there. That way you don't even have to run the risk of losing a CD in the depths of your car or bedroom. As for movies, everyone knows about the Real Late Reels at the KIVA, but if rentals are more your thing, the library is definitely the way to go. Make sure you search the titles on the website, because browsing in the library takes time, and not every film you want will be in that specific location. Most public libraries allow you to rent up to 10 movies for one week for free. Not too shabby.
-Last Exit Books Last Exit often has $5 bag sales where you bring in any reasonably sized bag and fill it with as many materials as it will hold. The cost of all the bag's contents totals to only 5 bucks. There are often movies, CDs and records available to stuff in your bag in addition to hundreds of books to choose from. The next sale will be held in April.
Contact Brittany Nader at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
