By Rebekah Kunz
BYU students turn apartments into homes with closets full of 'gently used' clothes, $1 dishes from one of Provo''s many dollar stores and not-so-gently used furniture from local thrift stores.
'Going to school''s an adventure. We''re glad to be here to help them and give them what they need at a good price,' said Carla Snow, the manager of a local Dollar Tree.
Snow also said students like her store because anything they could need is there and all costs $1.
Students often come in at the beginning of the semester and you can tell the freshmen apart because they buy things for one person, said Snow.
Dollar stores are not the only stores that are good for making an apartment a home. Thrift and discount stores are also popular among students.
Cory Webster, a 22-year-old psychology major, made a good find in Deseret Industries. Webster went to DI in search of cheap, disposable shoes for work and found some nice ones for $8.
However, when he got them, he decided since they were so nice and in such good condition, he didn''t want to mess them up at work.
Emily Burnworth, 20, also prides herself in finding good deals at DI and other stores. The acting major walked away from her shopping with five high-end, brand name purses for $4.50 from DI.
Amy Nelson, a 20-year-old open major, enjoys going to DI to find trinkets to re-vamp and use as craft projects. Among her favorite trinkets to search for is jewelry. Nelson likes looking for and getting eclectic rings.
Students even pinch pennies in the food department. Starving student cards are sold every year and Ramen noodles can be bought a case at a time. Five-dollar pizza makes a killing on weekends and over finals, when even cooking Ramen seems to be too much.
Yet this year, gas is another thing BYU students are penny-pinching. Richard and Jenny Leake, a BYU couple and natives of Utah, are being careful about where they get their gas. Jenny Leake said they generally only get gas with the coupons they get from their favorite grocery store.
Provo also provides entertainment for students on a tight budget with offers on the starving student card as well as movie theaters where everyday showings are $1, or sometimes less.
So for students with a budget, have no fear: Provo is the place to be.