Students find ways to meet financial demands in tough economy

COLUMBIA — College students are noticing a difference in their daily lives as the effects of the economy begin to filter down. Some students are making changes to cut costs such as cycling more and driving less and taking fewer trips home and more trips to the plasma bank.

On the winners' end of the savings trend, the size of the Add Sheet is increasing as are sales at Megabus and used clothing stores.

"I eat out less, rarely go to the movies and cut back on all the expenses that I can," said Kirsten Weaver, a junior at MU. Although she has always economized, she said that she's now making cuts in expenses that she has never had to make before. That includes keeping her car parked.

"I bike or walk to school every day in order to save gas," she said. Weaver commutes from her apartment at University Village.

With rising gas prices, many students who live in nearby cities — for whom going home on the weekend was once an option — are cutting back, or taking the bus.

"I don't have a car, so taking Megabus gives me the opportunity to go home that I wouldn't have otherwise," said Molly Moore, a student at MU who is from Chicago.

Megabus offers trips from Columbia to and from St. Louis, Kansas City and Chicago for fares that range from $1 to about $53.

"College students are one of our fastest-growing demographics," said Dale Moser, president of Chicago-based Megabus. With a daughter at MU, Moser is more apt to understand the economic struggles that come with student travel.

Moser said that over the past year, passenger volume has increased 219 percent on Megabus.

"As the economy has become more difficult, people that want to travel are looking for alternatives that can save them money," Moser said.

Rising gas prices have also been a factor in their increase in business, he said.

Gas prices have also sped sales of motorized scooters.

"When students find out that they can get 100 miles to the gallon on a scooter, it makes them really excited," said Cory Bohn, manager of Vespa of Columbia, which opened about a month ago on Broadway in the former Tucker Jewelry store. "It's the perfect solution for students who are looking to save money on gas."

Plasma Biological Service, which recently moved to 916 E. Walnut St., pays $30 for two plasma donations in a week, and Weaver says she has noticed more students have recently started taking advantage of the quick source of  income.

"I have definitely noticed an increase in people going to donate," said Weaver, who has been donating plasma for nearly four years. "Recently, I went in and had to leave because I didn't have time for the four-hour wait."

"From the money made by donating plasma, it helps some people just fill up their tank of gas for the week," she said.

No one at Plasma Service would answer questions for a news story.

The struggle to make do with strained resources also comes down to when and where students decide to eat. Some students have noticed an increase in food prices at on-campus food vendors, forcing them to choose between eating out and dining in.

And when they do go out to eat or shop for food, they're more likely to use coupons.

"The size of The Add Sheet has doubled in the last year," said Jake Sheafer, co-owner of The Add Sheet. "Advertisers have seen an increase in demand for our product."

While waiting in line at the grocery store the other day, Sheafer said he noticed that nearly every person ahead of him waiting to check out had Add Sheet coupons in hand.

The Add Sheet has also recently created an online version of the publication and has received lots of positive feedback, specifically from students. On-campus distribution has accounted for about 25 percent of the publication that is handed out each week.

Cheryl Guthrie, owner of New Beginnings Consignment Clothing downtown, has also seen an increase in business. The store has a broad clientele, but about one-third of her customers are students, she said.

"Sales in my business have definitely increased, but that could be a result of a few different factors," Guthrie said. "I definitely see effects of the economy, but other businesses similar to mine in the area have gone out of business."

Jennifer Johnson, owner of Absolute Vintage, another downtown vintage clothing store, said, "One thing that I notice is that we do not see the drop in business (as a result of the economy) that other businesses do."

Her store has been open for a year and a half, and the majority of her business comes from students.

"There is an increased awareness of the store and acceptance of the idea behind the thrifty shopper," Johnson said.

The importance of thrift may not diminish for a while, students say.

"I think there is this fear in the back of students' minds that it's not going to get better by the time we graduate," Moore said.