Bulk Items

Image Credit: Ryan Bovy © 2012

This is a very very large bag of rice. Now, although rice is requires a certain diet and palette, many college students buy in items in bulk similar to this.

Why bulk? It appears to save money is the simple answer. Buying in bulk, however,  requires a level of consistency that is sometimes bothersome (e.g. eating rice for every meal).

Some items make sense to buy in bulk because, no matter what, they will always be needed. Toilet paper is one of things. Purchasing toilet paper by the thousand makes sense; it will not go bad and you will always need it. On the other hand, buying items that have an expiration date require a different mindset when it comes to bulk. Do you really need four gallons of BBQ sauce? And can you finish it all in two months? Maybe, I don't know.

The new trend in bulk for college students is to purchase the enormous amounts of perishable foods for lower cost and then divide it into reasonable portions for several individuals. After all, it isn't saving money if you buy your four gallons of BBQ sauce at a discounted price , but have to throw out three gallons. It is necessary to be careful of what is bought in bulk, and not fall victim to the "I can buy everything because everything is so cheap" attitude if you want to save money.

It is easy to save a ton of money if you buy the correct things in bulk!

Souvenirs

Image Credit: Ryan Bovy © 2012

College kids love to travel and see the world.  When they do, it is common to spend on souvenirs. These souvenirs could be anything really, but it generally must say the name of the destination on it somewhere. I have a collection of scarves from my travels through Europe. I'm ashamed to say how much I spent on each scarf, as these types of things are marketed specifically for tourists it was certainly too much.

Regardless, at the time, I thought the scarves were worth the cost since you never know when you will end up in a place again.

Souvenirs hold a great amount of sentimental value. For example, I could tell you the story about each of these and where I got it, as well as the stories that it reminds me of from its respective country.

If a consumer realizes the intangible value that items can hold, they will be willing to pay absurd prices. Of course, there must be a balance of value still. No matter how fantastic the memories, I would not have been willing to pay over a certain threshold per scarf; but I can say that now because my threshold was never crossed. I say it is because I'm an informed and conscientious consumer, but we all no that doesn't exist.

Bikes

Image Credit: Ryan Bovy © 2012

This is my roommate with one of his most prized possessions, his bike. He owns three bikes; this, his favorite, is a Raleigh road bike. He could tell you all the awesome features it has, I cannot. To me, a bike is useful for transportation, and maybe some exercise. I have found recently that this is not everybody's opinion.

Many, like my roommate, take great pride in their bicycles. It an underground culture that is catching on. It is difficult for me, an outsider, to put a finger on exactly what motivates someone to spend hundreds of dollars on bike. I can only suspect that it is "cool." People who love their bikes love to talk about their bikes, kind of like bragging parents. In a certain sense, it is quite cute.

Perhaps a great bike can also allow for great adventures. Maybe the motivation for one to spend absurd amounts of money on a bike is to stay connected to (or in hope of) some sort of free-wheeling dream, outside of a corporate lifestyle. As college students, we maintain certain values that are particular to our age category, such as this need to not get incorporated.

In any case, the cycling culture on our campus is hard to miss, and difficult not to ponder about why it is here.

PBR

Image Credit: Ryan Bovy © 2012

The only reason to buy PBR is not because it is cheap, or because it was voted America's Best Beer in 1893 (yes, the blue ribbon is that old). No, the reason that most journey to the gas station to pick up a few cans of the red, white and blue is the identity they step into when holding that can.

PBR is the official drink of hipsters everywhere. Why? No one knows. As is common knowledge, hipsters do and know everything before it gets cool. Perhaps Pabst Blue Ribbon will explode in popularity in the near future, and then hipsters will stop drinking it.

For now, showing up to a party or drinking a can or two alone means that you identify with the most awesome trends of the time. When people see someone drinking from a can with that unmistakable blue ribbon, the hipster tag is immediately thrust upon them. And although a true hipster would never tell you they are a hipster, everyone knows that it is indeed hip to be a hipster. 

So, pick up a six-pack of PBR and drink it in front of everyone you know, and then you too can be a hipster. (Being from Minneapolis, I was born into hipsterism.)