My Bank Account and I Are No Longer on Speaking Terms

I’ve spent too much money at this school and now am perpetually scared to look at my bank account. However, most of these spendings are, to me, 100% necessary to enjoy my time here. Below are a few big spendings that I think are worth draining your wallet for:

(Un)necessary Room Decor

I live in Seattle, WA, and these past two years I’ve barely been home. Of course, this has made me incredibly homesick. Having room decor that reminds me of the West Coast (West Coast Best Coast) has helped remedy my homesickness. I won’t lie and say that I haven’t spent a bit of money on decorations. But nothing is more depressing than coming home after a long day to a blank box of a dorm room. These decorations can truly spice up your life:

Wall knick-knacks: posters, flags, etc.

People who don’t listen to music or watch movies scare me (I can’t imagine living without my headphones). Thus, I have a few posters to reflect those two big hobbies of mine. It’s super cheap to print out 16 in. by 16 in. posters through Carleton’s Print Services. Last year, I printed and hung up music albums that I enjoy. In addition, to represent another hobby of mine, I purchased a Tottenham Hotspur flag to wave around on game days. Up the Spurs!

Books

My room at home is consumed by books. It’s basically all bookshelves besides my bed. As a way to remind me of all those unread books rotting in my room, I’ve bought even more books at Carleton! Having a stack of books helps me sleep at night, and for me, is a worthwhile way to spend my money.

Stuffed Animals

In a similar vain, I have a ton of stuffed animals at home. I seriously cannot sleep without cuddling a fat teddy bear. Unfortunately, stuffed animals are hard to bring in a suitcase or on the plane. Thus, as soon as I got here, I made my way to IKEA to buy Djungelskog (Skog). Skog is my best friend. Money can really buy friends (and happiness).

Winter Drip

As the Winter term approaches, buying appropriate gear will literally keep you alive. Last year before coming to Minnesota, I splurged on an incredibly warm puffer jacket. This jacket saved my life multiple times. I unfortunately found out that every other piece of clothing I owned was inadequate for life here at Carleton. Minnesota’s weather is like a switch: one week it’ll be t-shirt sunny days, and the next your weather app will be all single-digit degrees. A big puffer, especially one that covers your butt, is an essential item to buy. I wore this jacket everyday in the winter, and the investment was 100% returned. On top of that, I recommend grabbing some thermals. Having one or two pairs of thermal long sleeves and pants really helps fends off the cold.

I also highly recommend buying a nice pair of wool gloves. Relying on thin gloves to stave off the Minnesota cold is definitely a bad choice! I rocked a pair of thinner running gloves before, and multiple times I caught my fingers turning blue. Do not be like me.

Having something to cover your face is again highly recommended by me. Whether it is a scarf, your puffer, or a gaiter, freezing cold winds will inevitably dry up your lips.

Food

You cannot live without eating food, and I eat a lot of it. Eating food is my passion, and sometimes this hobby is inadequately fulfilled at Carleton’s Dining Halls. Therefore, I’ve spent a copious amount of funds on food in and around Northfield. Here are some of my favorite spots:

Ole Store Restaurant

What? Recommending our rival college’s restaurant?

The Ole Store’s food is just too good, and is beloved by both Carleton and St. Olaf students. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their menu has a ton of Nordic/Scandinavian food, such as Swedish meatballs. My personal favorite will always be their Sven Burger. Be warned: the dinner menu can be pricey!

Reunion

The go-to fancy outing in Northfield, Reunion is a restaurant and bar, serving primarily American cuisine. Their burgers are my personal favorite. Reunion also has an event space upstairs, and sometimes bands come and play! Be sure to stop by with your parents if you’re looking for a send-off restaurant at the beginning of the year.

Nick (he/him/his) is a sophomore from Seattle, Washington, and serves as the blog’s editor. He plans to double major in English and Economics with a minor in Creative Writing and Chinese. A member of Carleton’s Varsity Soccer team, he also enjoys staying active at the Recreation Center and running through the fields of the Arboretum. When not working out, he can often be found reading by Lyman Lakes if the mosquitoes choose to leave him alone that day.

On campus, Nick works as a Writing Consultant in the Academic Support Center, where he enjoys helping classmates with their papers. He serves as a Program Director at Project Friendship, where he also interns and hopes to expand the program’s reach. Additionally, he’s part of the Manuscript Editorial Board and volunteers (naps) at the Record Library.