| Entertainment- Music, Movies, Arts and | | | | |
| Culture | | | | CNET’s Download |
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| You’d think you would have plenty to | | | | MySpace |
| keep you busy what with studies and all. How | | | | |
| to entertain oneself, on the cheap, is one of | | | | Buy used CDs at the local music shop. Turn in |
| the major concerns for college students. Our | | | | your old CDs for credit and you may never |
| best advice is to be creative. | | | | have to exchange real money! |
| | | | |
| Forget about the T.V. You can watch cable | | | | Start a book club. Read for entertainment, |
| television through your computer. Make sure | | | | then get a group together to discuss it and |
| your desktop or laptop has a DVD/CD player | | | | enjoy each other’s company. Any |
| and you can also watch your favorite movies. | | | | interest would work for group involvement: |
| Your laptop has graphics equal to most HDTVs, | | | | stamp collecting, scrap-booking, weight |
| so enjoy. | | | | training, running, cooking, and chess. My |
| | | | favorite book is A Thousand Years of |
| Nearly as essential as the T.V. is the | | | | Nonlinear History. It rocks. |
| stereo. Today’s computer speaker sets | | | | |
| have clear high and midrange sounds with | | | | Study groups help keep you focused on the |
| clean bass. You should be more than satisfied | | | | primary reason you’re in college- to |
| using your computer as the stereo. If you | | | | get an education. The more time you spend |
| have your music library all set up in iTunes | | | | being focused and involved, the less time you |
| all you have left is to outfit yourself with | | | | have to spend money on frivolous things. |
| a decent set of speakers and you still have | | | | |
| saved money. Websites like Pandora create | | | | Offer your services as a tutor. Anytime you |
| custom music channels based on a song or | | | | have the opportunity to help others is less |
| artist of your choice. | | | | time you have worrying about what you |
| | | | don’t have or think you need. The |
| Trying to save money on going out to the | | | | sooner you find out that you can survive |
| movies? Hit the matinee showings. Look for | | | | nicely on very little, the better off you |
| free movies on campus; chances are you will | | | | will be; or should we say, the richer |
| find classics, independents, student films, | | | | you’ll be. |
| noir and experimental. | | | | |
| | | | Avoid spending money this weekend. Be |
| Rent DVDs as a group. Pass the disk along | | | | creative in what you choose to do, even if it |
| before its due date. Everyone watches for a | | | | includes a picnic, a long walk, flying a |
| fraction of the cost to rent. Only share with | | | | kite, a pick up game of soccer or football, |
| responsible friends. | | | | an impromptu poker game (not played for |
| | | | money), or reading a good book. |
| Subscribe to DVD rental service like NetFlix. | | | | |
| | | | Volunteer in a soup kitchen or help build |
| Have a stock of your own personal DVDs you | | | | homes with Habitat for Humanity. Community |
| don’t want anymore? Turn them in for | | | | service activities like this will not only |
| credit at most of your brand name video | | | | help you fill free time wisely, but |
| stores. | | | | you’ll come away with a real |
| | | | appreciation for those who have no money. |
| Make your own movies. Talk about hours of | | | | |
| entertainment. Stage your own music videos or | | | | Pick up a local newspaper and check upcoming |
| film a short. Screen for friends, share a | | | | events for freebies: concerts, arts and |
| beer and laugh your a------s off. | | | | crafts fairs, theater, festivals, art |
| | | | galleries, and museums. |
| Saving money on music opens a virtual | | | | |
| Pandora’s box of methodology. If you | | | | Opt instead one Saturday evening a month to |
| decide to use a file sharing network program, | | | | stay in and do something alone and for |
| make sure you do your research on the | | | | yourself. Enjoy a bath and a good book. Like |
| software program to make sure it doesn't | | | | Kung Fu movies? Drag out the microwave |
| contain any spyware or other inconvenient | | | | popcorn and go to town. Those DVDs |
| additions. You know, most of the mainstream | | | | can’t cost much to rent and maybe |
| pay-per-song sites cost just as much as if | | | | someone else will chip in on it with you. |
| you went and bought a whole CD. You can still | | | | |
| save money by just buying your favorite | | | | Play on the web! The web is a virtually |
| singles, and there are, however, many places | | | | limitless land which will allow you to deeply |
| that allow you (legally) to download music | | | | explore any topic of interest, and |
| that is free- copyright-free, that is. Most | | | | participate in communities discussing those |
| of what you will get is the work of new and | | | | topics. You can also play games like Zuma or |
| upcoming artists, but if you are the | | | | visit true time waster sites like |
| experimental type, you can find yourself a | | | | HotorNot.com. Searching around online |
| whole library of music. This is precisely how | | | | auctions like eBay may help you find deals |
| many future music stars are found: | | | | while also being entertained by the prospects |
| | | | of bidding and winning. |
| Amazon free music downloads | | | | |