Even on a college student's tight budget, getting what you want or need does not have to be a pain in the wallet.
One of the biggest expenses students face is furnishing their living space. Dressers, beds, tables, chairs and desks can be extremely expensive on a college budget.
However, having a place to sleep does not have to break the bank. Many students, such as Trey Swann, sophomore in computer science, have found creative ways to save a dollar.
"EBay and the flea market are great," Swann said. "You can find things you aren't worried about breaking or losing, and it only has to last you four years."
The do-it-yourself method is another favorite of Swann's.
"Build it yourself," he said. "Me and my dad built my bed out of two-by-fours and still had room to put things underneath."
For those without a knack for construction, though, there are many other budget-friendly options.
Ellie Wilson, senior in communication, prefers to buy her furniture at the Harvest Thrift Super Center on Opelika Road.
"I always come to look at furniture," Wilson said. "I'm getting a table. I really like to redo things and redecorate, and this is a great, cheap place to find stuff."
Greg Boyd, director of the Harvest Thrift Super Center, said the store gets quite a few student customers.
"We love Auburn," Boyd said. "When we came to this location, we started getting 100 more customers every day."
The store, which Boyd says is the largest of its kind in the nation at 100,000 square feet, caters heavily to students, offering anyone with a valid University student ID an additional 20 percent off, excluding only new furniture.
"We're cheaper than anyone in town," Boyd said. "It's not a threat--it's a promise. I've seen it."
Boyd also said the store sells new furniture tax free, and in addition to home furnishings, students flock to the store for vintage clothing and costumes for themed parties.
"Is it a department store or a thrift store?" Boyd said. "We have 40 different departments. There are 20,000 books in the back corner ... We work hard to make our store top-notch."
In addition to the money-saving aspect of the store, Boyd said it also supports a good cause.
"Your donation is another person's opportunity to hear the Gospel," Boyd said. "All the money we make here stays local."
Boyd said the store hosts a devotional, which features readings from both the Bible and the Torah, for the employees every morning before the store opens.
The thrift store is part of Harvest Ministries, which also runs a men's home in Lee County and a women's home in Chambers County.
For more information on the Harvest Thrift Super Center or the Harvest Evangelism ministry, or for instructions for making donations to either the thrift store or homes, visit Harvestthriftsupercenter.org or Harvestevangelism.org.
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