Tired of drinking on home turf? Looking for a last blow-out with your college buddies before you all go off your separate ways? Plan a road trip! There is nothing like being piled into a car rubbing elbows synching bathroom breaks and sharing moon pies to form familial bonds. You’ll thank me later when you’ve got a full mailbox at Christmastime. In this blog post I’ll talk about the major source of your budget drain, gas, how to make sure you’re still friends at the end (hint, it’s odor-related), and do a quick highlight of a trip planner I found helpful to plan my last epic cross-country trip.
Nothing digital going on here, folks. 250,000 miles and still going strong!
Gas
If your car isn’t digital…
You can be allergic to math and figure out your gas mileage with this link. http://www.milesgallon.com/. Google Maps will tell you your miles, highball the average gas prices, and you will have a gas budget and a cushion.
If you have a smart phone, and you’re not already using the www.gasbuddy.com app, do it. GasBuddy relies on its user hive to report gas prices to help you find the cheapest spot to fill up. It’s a pain-free way to save money on gas. I use it all the time and it’s saved me up to 25¢ a gallon.
To save even more money on gas, there’s a methodology to up your gas mileage called “hypermiling,” the efficacy of which you will only know if you know your gas mileage, which handily, you have already calculated. Some of the concepts are basic, like accelerating slowly after stops, one will make you look silly–turning your car off at red lights. Overinflating tires, another concept of hypermiling, is probably dangerous. I don’t recommend it. Using cruise control to accelerate and decelerate was the most helpful tip I gleaned from my research. The precise and slow incremental changes will increase your gas mileage, and it’s not a pain in the ass on the highway. Hypermiling’s not for everyone but if you’re on a budget, have a full car and a lot of luggage dragging your car down, it might be worth looking into.
Febreeze
You will not be showering regularly, full car, hot summer, you do the math.
Trip Planners:
Though not without their faults, enumerated here: http://www.roadtripamerica.com/travelplanning/userguidefree.htm, these planners have their place. They definitely help with the planning phase and any spontaneous stops that might happen on the way. I mapped my route on TripTik and it looks like this:
This particular route starts in NYC, loops to Las Vegas for the epic Electric Daisy Festival (300 electronica acts and a carnival in one? Yes, please!), swings back through my hometown and drops off friends in Kentucky to ultimately culminate back in NY. This part of the planner isn’t particularly impressive since Google Maps can do the same thing, but the next tab over, Places, I did find impressive. AAA has a huge database of restaurants, hotels, gas stations, campgrounds, events, bars, playhouses, art galleries, etc., and they give away their program for free.
What I love the most about this is it’s like getting the town guides you see in hotels, all in one place with no pamphlets, and you’re never surprised by prices in restaurants. Free Wi-fi is everywhere now (McDonald’s, Starbucks, hotel lobbies) so this ends up being decently mobile even if you’re camping out.
I hope this helps! Be safe, and take lots of pictures!
WonderBread
I’m reading Abnormal Psychology
Moving back in with your parents sucks. After moving into my freshman dorm and gaining a new found sense of freedom, I took a blood oath to never move back home. I did well in school so I’d be able to get a good paying job right out of college. I did so well in fact that I graduated a semester earlier than most of my friends. When I moved back home to start my job search, my best friends still had leases throughout the summer; meaning that I would be forced to live with my parents for two months.
Isn't it ironic...don't ya think?
If you find yourself in a similar situation this summer or next semester, here are a few tips in order to peacefully coexist with your parental unit:
1. Volunteer for household chores and yard work
The best thing you can do to keep your parents off your back is to volunteer for the stuff they don’t want to do. If your dad is bitching about the yard needing to be mowed, go ahead and cut it for him while he’s at work. If your mom says that the kitchen floor is filthy, mop it for her. These small acts of kindness go a long way; you’re parents will definitely paint you in a better light. Instead of calling you a lazy bum, they might help you pay the deposit on a new place of your own!
2. Do your own laundry
You don’t necessarily have to paint the entire house or build a new deck to show your parents you can pull your own weight. The easiest way to avoid domestic conflict is to do your own laundry. Your mother wiped your ass as an infant and cleaned the grass stains out of your jeans as a toddler, cleaning up after you has definitely lost its luster. If you really want to impress the folks, do their laundry while your at it.
3. Buy your own groceries
I’m not saying that you should purchase ALL of your own groceries. Free food is probably one of the ONLY perks to living with your parents. I do recommend that you buy all of your own booze. Mom might buy your favorite frozen pizza, but she won’t buy your favorite brand of tequila.
4. Eat at the dinner table
We never ate at the dinner table growing up; I always ate in front of the TV in the living room. If you really want to thank your parents for a home cooked meal, propose that you all sit at the dinner table. You can play video games and ignore your parents all day long if you have a healthy conversation at supper.
5. If you’re looking for a job, keep your parents updated with your progress
Most people are forced to move back home for financial reasons. If you are in between jobs or just starting to look, keep your folks in the loop with your progress. I know job hunting is very frustrating, but try to apply for new positions every week. Your parents will inevitably ask you about it, so you might as well be proactive and be one step ahead of them.
Fox
I’m reading Business Law Today
Summer is quickly approaching. What is better than heading home and finding a summer fling? We have listed the top 5 places for ladies and men to find a summer fling.
Find the ladies:
1. The Mall- Most ladies love to shop, so the chances of you finding a female at the mall are very, VERY likely.
2. By the Pool/Ocean/Lake- Women love to get their tan on and run around in their bikinis, I know you wouldn’t mind watching!
3. Concert- If you both are at the same concert you are likely to share the same interest in music, an obvious connection!
4. The Park- Easily approach a chick that loves being outside enjoying the nature and the fresh air!
5. Nightclub/Restaurant- Who doesn’t love to have a good time?
Find the men:
1. The Park- Men love being outside just hanging out and enjoying the natural gifts of the outdoors!
2. The Gym- Find the perfect juicehead lifting weights getting his fitness on. Maybe he will be able to bench press you?
3. Concert- Music+fun+relaxation= chemistry, and I’m not talking about carbon and oxygen bonds!
4. Sporting Events- Throw on your favorite jersey and cheer your heart out! Guys think its soooo hot!
5. The Bar- Like I said, who doesn’t like to have a good time?
Hopefully these are some helpful hints to help you find the perfect summer fling! We want to know what places you think are good to find the perfect guy/girl! Leave us a comment!
With love,
Kat VonD
I’m reading Little, Brown Handbook
Summer is a time for freedom and fun! Sometimes it can be hard to maintain a romantic relationship with your other half! So you’re thinking, a break for the summer is the best idea. But how do you break it off? How do you cope? I’m no relationship specialist but I have some helpful tips you might like to try!
How to break it off- some conversations starters to try
-Express your concern about the summer, and time apart you might be spending.
-Let them know you are going to be a free spirit this summer, and you wouldn’t want to do anything that is hurtful to your partner
-Say you don’t belong in a relationship, especially in the summertime
-A little bit of a break might be beneficial to both of you and if the relationship is right and meant to be, you will end up back together at the end of the summer
-Make it known that your summer schedule will be busy and hectic and you might not be able to give your partner all of the attention he or she is wanting
-If it isn’t working, it isn’t working.. Some things cannot be forced
-You want to know what else is out there
Sometimes that hardest part about a breakup is trying to get over your lover. It can be hard to cope with the separation, lack of conversation and attention, and the feeling of loneliness. Try these tips to help you get through it!
Getting over the breakup and moving on
-YOUR FRIENDS ARE YOUR SAVIORS! Be with them as much as possible!
-Avoid being bored and alone, it just gives you time to think!
-Remove their phone numbers from your cell, but write it down and put it in a safe spot so it’s not gone forever.
-If staying in contact is something that is unavoidable, keep it friendly and emotionless!
-When you say it is done, really make it done. Allowing for the person to come in and out of your life like a revolving door will never help you get over the pain.
-Fill your schedule with work, or whatever keeps you busy!
-Know that when one door closes, another door opens.
-If you are meant to be, it will find a way. Trust that.
-Avoid talking about the breakup or the other person in general, there is plenty of other things to talk about!
-Don’t be afraid to move on, especially if your ex has!
-Keep it classy, no matter how bad the breakup, badmouthing your ex won’t get you ahead in the end.
-Know that every day there is a reason to smile! (:
-Every day is a fresh start, do with it what you will, but make the best of it.
We all have had to deal with a break up! Do you have any other tips or advice to give to other bloggers? Your suggestions, comments, and feedback would be awesome!
With love,
Kat VonD
I’m reading Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior
If you ask me it’s about time for a ladies touch on this blog. That’s why your favorite Ecampus girls are going to start giving their two cents. Since summer is finally kicking into high gear (and high temps), it seems fitting to give everyone a little trend advice on the fashion front for the next couple of months.
5 Summer Staples
Floral Prints – From sweet little dresses to bags to tops, these feminine prints have made a huge comeback this year! Floral prints can be found on everything these days and you can rock the trend by wearing a flowery dress or adding a lightweight printed scarf to your everyday look.
Loose Vintage T shirt – The fit is the key. Designers have begun to feature a looser fitting silhouette which translated into slouchy oversized tees. Vintage inspired ones are the most popular but don’t get down if you’re favorite Salvation Army doesn’t have a large ninja turtles tee; a lot of new stores are hopping on the bandwagon too.
Cross body – these bags are Chic! Chic! Chic! We recommend using a brightly colored bag to breathe life into a dull outfit. And just think about all the things you can do now that you are not holding a bag under your arm!
Chunky necklaces – These fun necklaces can instantly transform any outfit! Pair yours with a white t-shirt for a carefree look or with a little black dress for a night on the town.
Sunglasses – Functional? Yes. Stylish? Yes. Summer Staple? Definitely. The hottest trends for this year include prints, colors, and throwback style frames (take hints from your favorite 80s movies).
And if you need some extra cash for all these new items, check out the eCampusEntourage.com
Nikki the Intern
I am reading Microbiology
