A new UCLA survey noted that 49 percent of students planned to get a job to meet the expenses of a college education, the highest figure since the question was first posed 32 years ago. There is no denying that the current economic crisis has taken its toll on the wallets as well as the patience of many Americans. College students across the nation have especially felt the increasing burden of this reality.

The price of attending college has continued to rise, adding further stress to those who are already struggling to pay for the absurdly high costs of tuition, books, food, and gas prices.

In fact, according to a recent article from msn.careerbuilders.com, there are only five-that’s right, five-secure career options befitting the chaotic state of our economy. Therefore, unless your prospective career is a web designer, nurse, accountant, adult educator, or a health services administrator, you’re out of luck.

Whatever ridiculous and exaggerated sentiments are presented in this article, it does display how the economy has taken a turn for the worst.

So, what can college students like us do to stay afloat? Well, according to Guilford students, quite a bit.

“I try to avoid any kind of shopping. Even grocery shopping can be tempting,” said sophomore Ivy Lamb. “I am very tight with spending in general; I’m always looking for free ways to have fun with my friends,” said Lamb.

Personally, I feel that doing a lot of small, seemingly insignificant things can really cut costs.

For instance, walking instead of driving to Harris Teeter, buying a reusable water bottle, or even something as simple as scanning and comparing prices at Target are easy ways to reduce spending.

Sophomore Riley Ramage mentioned a few of her own tactics to cut expenses.

“I try to only go shopping once or twice for the whole semester, which means buying everything I know I’m going to want in bulk,” said Ramage.

Also, once you get into a routine of cutting out a Jimmy Johns sandwich here and there, or making one less Starbucks adventure, you can become a spendthrift in no time.

In all honesty, after a week of intense classes and pilgrimages to the library, students should have the spare change to enjoy themselves, and remember that life does not completely revolve around school. Not to mention, money is necessary for those much-needed downtown excursions to Inferno, midnight runs to Best Diner, and, of course, the ever-popular Taco Tuesdays at La Azteca.

Making an honest effort to cut back in small ways could prove immensely beneficial to us college students and put a little more cash back into our light wallets as well.