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