How to Stay Cool on a College Budget by @QuincyTutoring

How to Stay Cool on a College Budget

heat miser! (Photo credit: picturemommy)

Unless you live in Alaska, summer is getting to be a little hot this time of the year. Heat waves are striking all over the country, and if you don’t have the appropriate know-how and equipment, you might not make it to see another summer.

That’s why we’ve put together a list of ideas on how to keep cool over the summer. No, this won’t teach you how to be the Fonz, but it will give you a fighting chance in avoiding the costly new-fangled device called the “air conditioner” that all these youngins seem to sport.
Before we go any further, you should know that there are going to be at least a few puns on the word “cool.” You’ve been warned.

Rely on Cooler Friends

You might not want to be the person to buy an air conditioner, but that doesn’t mean that all of your friends want to live in that condition. Your friends might have AC, especially if they live in dorms, and it doesn’t hurt to ask around.
On the days that you really need the AC, buy them a meal or at least give them a high five, and you might earn yourself cool air privileges. Make sure you don’t overstep that kindness, though, or you’ll be out of the fryer and into the frying pan.

Embrace the Heat

Just because your apartment might appear to be a sweat lodge doesn’t meant that you need to stay there. It’s summer! It’s a perfect time to find activities that force you to live with the heat instead of fighting the eternal struggle.

Large bodies of water are perfect for this. Even if you aren’t close to a lake or an ocean, seek out your local pool and stay submerged as long as possible. You might have to face a crowd of people or two, but it’s better than creating your own pool of sweat at your apartment.

You can also do low-stress outdoors activities, such as go for a walk that ends in ice cream. It’s a perfect reward for facing the near-death that is the heat.

Camp Out at AC-Equipped Buildings

Most establishments include air conditioning in their environment, which is perfect for the mooching college student that you are. Businesses such as Starbucks or Panera are ideal for this route – you buy a coffee or bagel, and you are set for hours of air-conditioned bliss.
Libraries offer another cool alternative at no cost to you. You might find yourself hanging out at your school’s library more than you ever did during the school year, which certainly isn’t a bad thing.

Invest in Fans

Out of the others on this list, this one might be the highest cost to you, but it’s still well-under the cost of an AC and much better than crossing your fingers for a nuclear winter.

In my personal experience, a well-placed fan can save lives. When I was younger, my parents used to tell me that having a fan shooting directly at me all night would eventually get me sick. Did I listen? Of course not. I was hot, and my fan was the best way to combat this.
Even if you have an AC and don’t want to face the heavy cost of use, fans can cut down on your energy bill considerably. As long as it isn’t too hot, fans can cut down your energy bill by 40%.

So take your pick. Although all of these can help you stay cool and save money, you’ll have to face it that it’s still summer, and you can only do so much. Or you could move to Alaska. Either/or.

Article source: http://quincytutoring.com/2012/06/how-to-stay-cool-on-a-college-budget/