The Recession Hits College Campuses. Hard.

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There is no doubt that in some way or another, every person out there has been affected by the economy. Between businesses getting shut down, people getting laid off, or the millions who are losing their homes, the list of disasters seems endless. But we, as college students, are not immune.

We all know that there have been some crazy budget cuts for colleges, but did you know what that means for you? Any idea what might be coming next for your school?

Just ask the cheerleading team at Florida International University. Oh wait, never mind. You can’t, because as of this week, they do not have one. That’s right. The nationally recognized cheerleading team, currently ranked fourth in the country, has been eliminated as part of an effort to cut 1 million dollars from FIU’s athletic budget for the coming school year. Read More »

Shop Cheap (and Cute) Online!

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Just because our economy is in the crapper doesn’t mean your style should be. In fact, one of the best things to come from our current economic….er….challenges is that great discount stores popping up all over the web. We’ve featured a few on CollegeCandy before, but we have a whole new batch of great online shops to pick up the hottest looks at some seriously discounted prices. We know, we know; you love us more than Easter Reese’s.

We get that a lot. Read More »

Night Styler: Put Some Heat Into Those Cold Winter Nights

gasl_prada_03.jpg[In early adulthood there is an activity that plays a large role in most of our lives; nights out on the town. And with those nights out always comes the question: “What am I gonna wear?!?”

Each week I’ll be putting together a cute and affordable “going out” ensemble guide (that you can tweak to your own personal style and body type, of course) so that maybe that age-old question can be answered a little quicker than usual. And your friends aren’t waiting - for hours - for you to emerge from your room. Just consider me your own (free) personal Rachel Zoe.]

So if you’re anything like me, you’re eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring and the re-emergence of color and pep to your wardrobe. But hey, since we’re getting so close to those lovely spring days, why not add a little spring to your winter ensemble by adding a little pop of spring’s hottest color: magenta.

And since those bleak winter days come with our bleak economy, everything in this look is from the always cheap-o, Forever 21. Pretty awesome, right? Read More »

Groceries on the Cheap

oh-hi-im-just-bagging-your-groceries3.jpgWhen budgeting, I have two primary concerns that I think many college students share:

1) Pay rent to keep a roof of some sort over my recently highlighted head.

2) Social spending, as in, how many nights a week do the remaining funds allow for.

Please note that these are not necessarily considered in that order, which can cause trouble.

Depending on whether your college town is ridiculously expensive (see: going to college in a major city) or suuuper cheap (see: anyplace where drinks are less than $4.00 each or has promotions like “dollar long island night”), your bank account is going to take a very different sort of beating by means of your social budget.

But food is an essential, and when takeout can cost more than your bar tab, grocery shopping to save some green is a great habit to have. Read More »

Makeup Drawer Makeover

mascara.gifLiving on a minimal college student’s budget for the past four years did not give me much excess cash to spend on new makeup. I’m pretty sure that I have been using the same mascara for over a year. Gross, I know. But seriously, who has the money and time to keep track of when you should get rid of a tube of mascara or lipstick?

Well, according to a new study done by the College of Optometrists, girls probably should make more of an effort to keep makeup updated because of the health risk it poses.

“Old lipsticks and mascara brushes are a breeding ground for bacteria and the study has discovered that many women are not aware of the risks and do not follow sell by date guidelines. As many as nine out of 10 women are putting their health at risk by using out of date make-up.” FemaleFirst. Guilty as charged.

Read More »

My Brand Lust: Vince

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Vince is hot. And no, I’m not talking about Adrian Grenier (although I wouldn’t mind that Vince next to my body all day long). This Vince, the Vince, in my mind, that everyone seems to be wearing, first hit the stores in 2003. But with prices just above the average shopper’s range, the luxurious tees and sweaters were mostly reserved for those with lots of cash.

But with the arrival of Vince in Bloomingdales this past fall, the clothing line slowly became somewhat affordable for us everyday girls. Yes, the prices are still a bit steep, but the fit and the fabric most certainly make up for the extra bit of cash you’ll have to save. Read More »