A University Can Help You Get Back to the Land
If you're looking for a pleasant way to pile up money for that big move to the country, you might try heading for a university and just live there. Kate Carleton tells us how to save money and get paid by being head resident in a dorm.
By KATE CARLETON
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If you're looking for a pleasant way to pile up money for
that big move to the country, you might try heading for a
university. Seriously. Don't enroll, don't join the staff .
. . just live there. My husband and I are doing exactly
that right now and saving more money than seems possible.
The trick is simple . . . we're head residents in a dorm.
Don't shudder. The old lady housemother who locks doors and
plays parent is fast disappearing. At today's up-to-date
schools, head residents are generally young people in their
twenties, either married or single. Some are otherwise
unconnected with the university, some work there, some are
former students back to complete their undergraduate work
and some are graduate students.
Jon and I are in our late twenties and our only connection
with the university where we live is our position there as
head residents. During the nine-month school year, our
responsibilities are relatively few and we have plenty of
time to hold down other jobs. The rest of the
time—summer and shorter vacations—we're free to
stay in university housing or to take off . . . as we
choose.
We live in a fully furnished modern apartment with an
entrance hall, dining room-living room, kitchenette,
hallway, large bedroom, full bath and plenty of closet
space. Our windows look out on a large tree-shaded yard,
and we have a beautiful view down the back to the river. In
the suburbs, this apartment would probably rent for at
least $110 a month and—in the city—it would
easily go (with the parking space) for $150. Instead of
paying any rent, however, we are BEING PAID $400 a year by
the university to live here. Nor do we pay for any
utilities except our private phone (which is a luxury since
we already have a free college phone in the apartment).
Throughout the school year, we also get food in the dining
commons and once-aweek maid service . . . all free, of
course!
Last year—our first—we figured we saved at
least $1500 on rent, $400 on heat and utilities and over
$700 on food. So, by living here on campus for two years,
we'll save an easy $5000 on living expenses . . . and that
$5000 will go directly into our back-to-the-land bank
account over and above what we regularly save from our
salaries.
In many other ways, living on campus costs less, too.
Students periodically have their own sales—especially
at the end of the term or school year—where clothes,
records, used books, bikes and furniture can all be bought
cheaply.
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