Ballin’ on a College Student Budget in Tampa Bay
- annieleone
- Oct 13, 2020
- 3 min read
Textbooks, groceries, student loans, etc. Being a college student nowadays isn't cheap. Going to college near or in a city can get expensive but not if you take advantage of these tips and tools I can offer.
College is all about making it the best four years of your life. Why miss out on memories just because of that dreadful phrase “I can't, too expensive.” Hopefully, after reading you won't need to worry about that much longer.
College in Tampa Bay offers a plethora of restaurants, nightclubs, bars, etc but can get pricey at times, but not if you know how to finesse it. I spoke to a senior at the University of Tampa and her years of experience have led her to some pretty amazing finds.
“MacDintons in Soho has $1 beers on Thursdays, it has become my go-to spot,” she said when asked about the best happy hour deals around. She also mentioned Davis Island Dog Beach is a great free spot to watch the sunset with friends.
Another great recommendation she gave was Cask Social in Soho. On Thursdays, they offer a “Ladies Night Special.” The special includes $5 mixed drinks and half-off appetizers. She said her bill at the end of the night is usually around $20.
In Tampa Bay, it is easy to get lost in all the local establishments but underneath all that, there is beautiful scenery with tons of free nature-loving spots to enjoy.
Society19 back in 2017 released an article highlighting the top free things the University of Tampa students can do. Many on that list are still applicable today. Below I have included examples of some of the things stated.
Bike/walk/skate along Bayshore Boulevard. Bayshore offers beautiful palm tree views and runs alongside the Hillsborough Bay. It's a super peaceful environment and a local favorite for catching the sunrise or sunset.
Enjoying the night lights at the Tampa Riverwalk. At 2.6 miles long, the riverwalk is full of lights, talented artists, and overall a great place to walk with friends while enjoying the beautiful views of downtown Tampa. It's even walking distance from UT!
These are just two of the many great places Society19 suggested.
One of my favorite free things offered at the University of Tampa's campus is hammocking in Plant Park. Plant park is located directly outside of the Southard Family Building, facing the Hillsborough River.
Hammocks on amazon range anywhere from $10 and more. Plant Park has tons of palm trees to tie up your hammock to. It can be a great spot for napping, doing school work, going on a date, and relaxing. Pretty much anything you think of Plant Park can be the spot to go.
It can get overwhelming at times all Tampa has to offer. I've been there and I'm sure you have to. A big positive of living in a place like Tampa is the wide variety of things available. To make your life easier. I have provided a link below that offers great budget-friendly options.
This link will take you to the Krazy Coupon Lady article in 2019 “18 Free and Cheap Things to Do in Tampa Bay, Florida.” There are great suggestions for the nature-loving kind as well as those who like to drink, party, and eat well!
Lastly, I think it is important to touch on transportation options. Uber's and Lyft's all the time can get very expensive (trust me). If you are someone that doesn't have a car on/off-campus listen up! A great alternative for Uber and Lyft is the scooters available. You can locate them pretty much anywhere around Tampa.
JUMP and Lime are very popular. Simply download the app, connect your debit/credit card and you're good to go! The scooters are typically about $0.25/per mile. If you're going anywhere close to campus these are the cheapest options. To give a quick example, I lived a mile off-campus in my sophomore year and a scooter ride to campus would typically cost me around $2.50.
Another great alternative is the Downtowner. It is a free ride service allowing students to get a ride through the app. The only downside is the trips must start and end within the downtown area. It is available in the app store titled “Downtowner.”
Hopefully, these tips and tools gave you the information needed to successfully ball on a budget in Tampa Bay. When you and your friends are tight on money or just need a free getaway use this guide as your savior!
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