Each year, Penn students shell out tens of thousands in tuition money and remain shackled to the ever–treacherous two–year on–campus living and dining scheme. But that’s not all we spend our money on. Street knows well that the bleak reality of a Penn student can only be soothed by the sweet embrace of a $7–15 daily treat—or two. Feel no shame, take no blame—we too, have had our wallets run dry at the Walnut Street CVS, Lyn’s food cart, and Saxby’s $6 cold brews. In honor of this month’s money issue, one of Street’s writers chronicled their daily purchases in a tell–all money diary.
Day One: Girl Math Monday
9:00 a.m. — Wait in line at Stommons to get an iced caramel macchiato and a plain bagel with cream cheese. In my mind, it is free because it’s dining dollars. Girl math.
9:20 a.m. — Change of mind, going to Saxby’s; the line at Stommons is too big.
9:30 a.m. —Just paid 15 dollars for a bagel and a macchiato. My mind immediately converts this to my country’s currency. Ouch, that was expensive.
12:00 p.m. — Really wanted to eat off–campus at places like DIG or Honeygrow. Thought twice about spending more than 20 dollars on a meal. Okay, let’s go to KCECH.
The only thing good about KCHECH food is the pizza. The. Only. Thing. Oh, and for the omelets you have to wait 10 minutes in line for.
1:00 p.m. — Craving some dessert after lunch (also I'm on my period). Went to CVS, and craved every bit of Reese’s peanut butter cups (the thin ones) and the chocolate raspberry TruFru. Or should I get sea salt caramel instead?
Decided to get TruFru. It is an obsession by this point.
3:00 p.m. — Ordered a book at Amazon for a class. Modern and Contemporary Irish Drama would not be my first choice for spending 33 dollars.
Day Two: Terakawa Tuesday
9:00 a.m. — Usual coffee of the day, this time at Stommons.
7:00 p.m. — Incredibly cold day. The type of cold that makes you NEED a Ramen desperately. I decided to go to Terakawa Ramen, which never disappoints. 19 dollars for the best ramen I have ever had.
Day Three: Workout Wifey Wednesday
8:00 a.m. — Hit the snooze button a few too many times and miss breakfast at home. Grab a quick bite at Saxyby’s again—another bagel and macchiato combo sets me back 15 dollars. Starting to wonder if this habit is sustainable.
12:30 p.m. — Lunchtime rolls around, and I'm craving something different. Decided to treat myself to sushi from Mako—a salmon avocado roll for 8 dollars. Not that bad. It's a good change from McClelland sushi.
3:00 p.m. — Feeling sluggish after lunch, so I swing by the campus gym to check out their classes. Sign up for a trial session of yoga—it's free, so why not?
Day Four: Tightening the Belt Thursday
9:00 a.m. — Feeling ambitious; I decided to kickstart my day with a morning run. Realize I don't have running shoes, so I splurge on a new pair from Adidas (on sale for 54 dollars). It's an investment, right?
12:00 p.m. — Opt for a homemade lunch today to save some cash. Whip up a simple salad with ingredients from the fridge—it's not the most exciting meal, but it gets the job done.
5:00 p.m. — It's been a long day, so I treat myself to boba tea from Gong Cha on my way home. Indulge in a passion fruit yogurt with tapioca pearls for eight dollars—the perfect pick–me–up (kinda expensive though).
Day Five: Filly Cheesesteak Friday
10:00 a.m. — Needed to get an extra large Dunkin' coffee before my art history recitation. Here’s to an excruciating one hour.
2:00 p.m. — Spend the afternoon catching up on readings and chores around the house. It's not the most exciting way to spend a Friday, but it's satisfying to check things off my to–do list.
6:00 p.m. — Dinner tonight is a Philly cheesesteak at Greek Lady. It’s huge, so the 14–dollar price makes sense. If you’re not that hungry, the halal cart in front of Gregory College House is the best.
Day Six: Splurging Saturday
12:00 p.m. — Sleep in and skip breakfast in favor of a late brunch at a trendy café downtown. Treat myself to avocado toast and a fancy latte for 20 dollars—it's the perfect start to the weekend.
3:00 p.m. — Spend the afternoon exploring the city with friends, stopping at various shops and attractions along the way. Splurge on a few new items of clothing, but it's worth it for the fun memories.
7:00 p.m. — Dinner tonight is a homemade affair—whip up a batch of pasta with pesto and tomato sauce from ACME. It's simple but satisfying, and it saves me from spending money on takeout.
Day Seven: Shit Broke Sunday
10:00 a.m. — Spring break is coming. Me and my boyfriend have zero plans. Had a psychotic crisis and decided to go to the most expensive place on earth. Yes, you got it right if you said Disneyland. Splurge on park tickets, car rental, Airbnb, and airfare tickets. Disney adults, here I come.
I am broke now.
