Question from the Dean: You Spoke

Went to Crozet for frozen pot pies from the factory!
Marleen B. Hansen (Foreign Affairs ’71)

In college, we were not aware that we were poor. That’s a really nice thing about academic communities. We were rich in intellect, community and camaraderie. We had everything we needed. It’s also true that many of us didn’t realize that we were on a free ride, if only temporarily.

It would be amazing to have the same kind of community today. I think it’s possible, but not, perhaps, without an enormous revisiting of our culture and economic foundations.
Kimberly Kaiserman (English Language and Literature ’83)

I attended as a graduate student 1974–1976. My wife worked for a local company and we made friends with many of the local residents. They were very generous in sharing the food they grew or made. It really got us by.

So, my advice is to get out and get over the “town-versus-gown” hang-up and discover the people who know Charlottesville and Albemarle county as home.
Paul Reid (History ’76)

When my college income didn’t support my standard of living, I lowered my standard of living. I did not own a car, stereo or television until after graduation.
R/David Thurlow (History ’80)

Advice: Live like you’re poor, but eat like you’re rich! Do not skimp on food—you are what you eat! It’ll save health-care dollars for years to come if you eat healthy. At least take the multivitamins and fish oils to keep the brain going strong. I learned it the hard way. Best values are the free-range, organic, omega-3 eggs. Next, buy the highest-quality cooking oil you can afford—that is, the best butter and the best olive oil.
Carmen Hayden (Physics, Astronomy ’99)

I look for all the free food events during the week and try to go to as many of them as I can.
Ryan Vita (Spanish, Education ’10)

When we were poor we did the following:
 
1. Froze! My last year we rented a house by Foxfield and after getting the first oil bill, we never heated the house again. Buy an electric blanket!

2. Ate poorly! When we were flush, we ate box mac and cheese with tuna fish in it. When we weren’t flush, we just ate the mac and cheese. We washed it down with Cost-Cutter beer.

3. Shared books or bought them used.
 
Being poor is fun in college and generates some of the best memories and stories. Not so much fun in the post-college world, but I still love box mac and cheese and cheap beer!
Laura Eckerlin Inlow (English Language and Literature ’84, Law ’87)

While I was in Charlottesville, I found a job in Crozet and worked 3 p.m.–2 a.m. five days a week for the two years I was in graduate school. It put about $400 extra per week in my pocket. I would recommend students put down their books and extracurricular activities for 20–30 hours a week and find a part-time or full-time job near the University. I would also recommend interviewing with companies that are in recession-proof industries. While the consulting firms and investment banks are sexy, utilities providers, food/beverage companies and discount retailers are the segments of the economy which guarantee job security over the next few years. Most banks, investment banks and hedge funds will most likely be nationalized and provide no real upside for graduates who might choose to work there.

If President-elect Obama decides to raise corporate income taxes and outlaw secret union ballots (both of which he has stated he will do), I would strongly advise U.Va. students to look for jobs in overseas economies where corporate taxes are low and employers are not in fear of labor unions. Ireland, because of its low corporate taxes, has a negative unemployment rate right now. In other words, there are more open jobs than there are qualified people to fill them. Companies are relocating there in droves and cannot find enough educated employees to fill these newly created jobs. If corporate taxes are raised, the U.S. should expect to see unemployment rates of 15 to 20 percent within 18–24 months. The career center of each school should look at getting foreign employers to come interview on campus. Job growth over the next decade will not occur in the U.S. The current rise in unemployment is not solely due to a weak economy—rather, it reflects a growing fear by U.S. employers of keeping jobs here in light of the fears of higher taxes and unionized workforces.
Berk Jolly (MS Accounting ’98)

When I entered U.Va. in 1940, my spending allowance was $5 a week. I have always had a dread of being stranded without funds and to this day have never permitted myself to get in this position. I am 87 years of age and have been retired for 30 years. The name of the game is self discipline.
George R. Hemphill (Government ’47)

I believe the answers you will receive for this question will be illuminating; it’s unfortunate that the REALLY interesting ones most likely will not be submitted. For me, there was no question that I simply had to work to be able to afford to go to school. I consider myself fortunate that I was able to have a part-time job with Food Services. This brought about a few favorable but unintended consequences. The first was that my grades improved each semester I worked as I had to better budget my time. The second was that I actually lost a little weight as I simply could not eat much on the days I worked. To this day, some smells from the dish room still haunt me. The final thing was the friendships, some close, some fleeting, that resulted from working with other students. Of these, the friendships have been the most precious.

Of course, that heist of the bank on the corner for a million dollars helped a bit as well.
Mark Alan Hudson, FACHE (Interdisciplinary ’75)

As cliché as it sounds, ramen noodles and bagels were my staple. It really was amazing how much you could do with those noodles and their little seasoning packets. Cereal was also the best and cheapest food. I also started coupon-clipping in college, a habit that sticks with me to this day. My husband and I can’t go anywhere without me saying, “Hey, don’t we have a coupon for that?”
Carrie Long (Biology ’97)

Between 1961 and 1965, Bud’s Varsity House always had two or three 75-cent meals on the menu. With a little careful planning, I could eat for close to two bucks a day. When coach Lou Onesty told me I had a little “baby fat,” this only encouraged my frugality.
David Garth (College ’65)

I worked as a freshman dorm counselor in my senior year; as I recall, I got free room for that job. Got along fine without a car; there was a good deal of car sharing or pooling.
Trip Reid (English Language and Literature ’51)

Managing your finances and credit (regardless of how small) is very important while you’re in college, especially during this current economic crisis. When I was in school, I did not fall into the trap of signing up for every credit-card application for a free T-shirt or bag. It could be easy to fall into that pattern at this time because cash flow is likely minimal due to increased costs in groceries, public transportation, retail, gas, etc. I only got one major credit card with a minimal limit to begin establishing credit that was much needed when I got out of school and wanted to purchase my first home at 24 and get rid of my “college car.” Pay the card off monthly or quarterly, whichever works for your budget. Leveraging that practice while in college will help you to be more prepared when you enter the “working world.” While in school, I had a job at the Aquatic and Fitness Center and the U.Va. phone-athon to earn income to help with my monthly expenses of food, rent, gas, fun, books, etc. I recommend getting a part-time job to ensure any bills or expenses are paid in a timely manner. Set a budget and stick to it. Lastly, be creative with your fun time. My roommate and I used to invite friends over for a game night/potluck party and have each person bring a drink, food item or a game they may have at home. Use public transportation to run errands down 29 if you have to go a good distance. Hit your friends up for a little gas money if you’re driving and they are riding. Be young and enjoy college life, but be responsible ... it’s only going to hurt you later if you aren’t making good, smart choices now.
Erica Peck-Nickens (Government ’99)

When I was at the College the economy was great and the University was generous to me, given my financial need. It was such a privilege to be at the University. I spent within my means, worked, took limited amounts of loans and just about broke even. I had no car to worry about, bought student health insurance and a dining plan. Life was great when I think about it.
Saadia Chaudhry (History ’98)

Coping with difficult times financially:

Besides the summer and part-time jobs which I had while at the University, the most memorable, and probably unique, type of financial assistance in “difficult” times was the “honor loan.” I remember two: a cigar box at Mincer’s in which small amounts of cash were kept; if you needed $5 or $10, you took it from the box, leaving your IOU. When you returned the money, you took your IOU back. The other type of loan was from the University and was dispensed in the Rotunda several times a week. The “loan lady” would give you the $5 or $10 on the basis of your signature. In the 1960s that type of money could buy you a weekend of meals when the money from home ran out at the end of the month.
Henry Curry (College ’65)

Your query strikes a respondent chord in me.

My mother was the financial manager in our family—the scientist vs. the English lit instructor. She would review my college costs with me and help me to develop a budget. I used to eat on $2.50/day. Granted, that was in the earlier 1950s. My big meal was lunch at the old Buddy’s Restaurant at Routes 250 and 29. I think that I ate the same lunch daily for a year: two grilled hot dogs and a chef’s salad. I can’t recall what I did for my evening meal, but I probably had a doughnut and coffee for breakfast at the Castle in the then-new dorms. I don’t believe that I felt deprived. I finally began to learn how to study in my second year. I also had my first pizza!

My years at the University were mostly a special time. I only wish that I had employed a better balance between work and play.
Walt Gladding (College ’58)
 
The Brothers of St. Elmo Hall have a rich and colorful history of turning to drugs and prostitution during tough economic times. We all understood that a warm meal was only a street crime away. Just kidding. Unfortunately, the social life is the first thing to suffer in tough economic times. I can recall one month back in 1982 only getting down to The Virginian 16 times.
Michael Agesen (Religious Studies ’86)

Advice for today’s students: Buy uncooked “stove-top” (the microwave stuff contains cancer-causing crap) popcorn, “pop” it, and eat a lot of it. It’s cheap, filling, easy to prepare and a good excuse to have another beer!
Steve Wann (Latin American Studies ’75)

Don’t run up the credit cards on frivolous items (see below) or fall prey to credit schemes peddled by private lenders. The saying “no free lunch or money” holds true always. Look to cut back and not to borrow to keep up your lifestyle. Only after you have gone through this exercise can you make a decision that you really need to get financial help from others.

Having a cell phone or iPod is not a right. It is only a privilege of owning certain luxury items. Not having these things is neither the end of the world nor uncool.

Come to terms with the fact: I don’t have money and that’s all is to it.
Stephen Cheung (MA Physics ’78, PhD Physics ’82)

John Updike, who is of my generation, wrote somewhere of the 1950s (and I paraphrase) when I was on the Grounds and he was at college elsewhere: “We didn’t have much money during those years, but, then again, things weren’t all that expensive.” My ROTC stipend paid most of my casual expenses: an occasional tie or jacket, trousers from Collins (Yep, there were three well-stocked men’s clothing stores on the Corner then, and khakis were only about $5 a pair. ...); $25 monthly fraternity dues; and $5 more would buy a hamburger and a couple of beers at The Virginian and a movie ticket. And yet another $5 would buy an adequate bottle of bourbon. When I was living at TDX my third year, I took breakfast for $15 a month at one of the fraternity houses along the way on my walk to the Grounds. My good parents paid my tuition and room, and, I believe, gave me a small allowance as well. My advice to today’s students? Get rid of that damned, cluttering car and walk ...as we did.
Mr. Jan Bakker (College ’58, MA English Language and Literature ’61)

We did two things that wouldn’t really work today. First, at least one other grad student told me that if she didn’t have the money to pay a phone or power bill, she would “forget” to sign the check when she paid the bill.

By the time the company mailed the check back to her for a signature, she would have been paid and would have enough money in her checking account to cover the bill. I never did that, but I often joined my fellow grad students in vigorous support of happy hours that featured two drinks for the price of one (so we could share the drinks) and/or free food with a drink purchase. Most of the free food, happy-hour offerings in those days offered more than enough to constitute a meal.
Jean Lightner Norum (MA Psychology ’80, PhD Psychology ’82)

Well, in my senior year I was a married veteran living on Copley Hill, living on the G.I. Bill, and working nights at the hospital. My wife also had a job at the hospital.
We made out with what we had. It was great! I don’t recall missing anything important.
George Salley (College ’58)

Rule No. 1: Pay cash. If you have a credit card, don’t use it. If you use it, pay it off each time the bill comes. If you can’t pay it off each month, cut it up so you don’t use it. Debt will sneak up on you. Using a credit card does not give you a real sense of how much you are spending until after it’s too late.

Some students leave college with a larger credit-card debt for things like clothes and eating out and impressing that attractive student who dumped you anyway than they owe in student loans for their education. It’s senseless to build up that much debt. You can live as well with a loaf of bread and jars of peanut butter and jelly as you can eating all your meals at some student gathering place. Sure, go be part of the scene, but don’t get sucked into the same type of debt your friends are entering.

Rule No. 2: Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without. Maybe you want that latest new item on the market, but if you don’t need it (and that does not mean needing to impress others or make yourself feel good), don’t buy it. It’s called self control. Make the most of what you’ve got and be happy. And if you do need it, check alternate sources. Be happy about finding something really good at the Goodwill or Salvation Army thrift store. I’ve gotten things from thrift stores that are still in their original packaging. There is some good stuff there. If you have an eye for clothes, you can save a bucket of money. (And if you don’t have an eye for clothes, it isn’t going to matter where you get your clothes anyway.)

Rule No. 3: Go to scholarship search sites and hunt for money to pay for school. There are a lot of scholarship funds out there to which few, if any, people have bothered to apply. And even if the competition for the funds is increasing, your chance of getting any money if you DON’T apply will never be better than zero. If you apply to a lot of different funds and get only a few in the $500 to $1,000 range, that’s still a lot of money you don’t have to find elsewhere (or pay back in student loans).

In sum, if you want to survive tough economic times you have to discipline yourself to be wise and to do the things that others are too lazy or too proud to do. But the less debt you have when you get out of college, the more options you will have for designing your future.
Steve Troxel (PhD Audio Visual Curriculum and Instruction ’96)

I remember well my first year at Dobie Dorm, ordering a Domino’s pizza for the suite each night about 9 p.m., after the food we had eaten from the “O Swill” cafeteria had settled and we were hungry again (after all, there was the first-year 15 to put on). There was no, “I’ll get it this time, you get it next time.” Oh no. It was, “Pizza’s a dollar a slice.” We only would order if we had a “buyer” for each of the eight slices! I’m not sure that the poor sap who delivered ever got a tip!

We also shared a single telephone for the whole suite. Each month when the bill came, it would be posted in the suite and people had to use the honor system to circle and pay for the calls they made. Everything was calculated to the penny, tax and all!
Betsy Rogers Owens (Economics, English Language and Literature ’88)

These hard times are not necessarily indicative of gloom and doom. I see it as an opportunity to get healthy physically and mentally, and save money. Some of the ways I follow suit include taking public transportation and getting off a couple stops earlier, cooking my own meals more often (even better with friends and dates), cutting off the text-message/multimedia service on my phone and converse person-to-person, having clothing swaps with friends, and borrowing books and CDs and DVDs from the library and buying used on craigslist, instead of making new purchases. The best things in life are free ... or close to being free!
Tina Chi (English Language and Literature ’04)

As an undergrad in the 1970s I shared a basement room in a house on 14th Street for $30 a month, cooked all my own meals (frozen chicken pot pie was a staple), had only a bicycle for transportation, hitchhiked for all travel outside Charlottesville and worked part-time jobs. This was not “difficult times financially” but fairly typical of student life in the 1970s, and I did not consider it a hardship.
George Estes (German Language and Literature ’77)

As a student athlete, my bills were paid for college tuition, books, housing, meals, etc., but intangible items were a struggle. Student athletes and regular students worked together to make sure we all benefited from our college experience. If I knew of a fellow student and friend with money problems that needed a meal paid for, I would sneak food out of the dining halls to bring to that friend. We looked out for each other.
Stanley Leigh (Sociology ’94)

Advice for today’s students:
1. Reapply for financial aid every year. Circumstances change.
2. Work during the school year. I had five roommates and each of us had a job.
3. Work during the summers. Employer of choice was the theme parks.
Diane Rapp (Comparative Literature ’79)

I came to U.Va. from a comfortable home but not a wealthy one, so economizing as a student was easier for me than for some. Also, in the mid-to-late 1970s, we did not have computers, cell phone bills, etc., to soak up our financial resources. The best way I can think of to economize is to walk everywhere possible. Not only does it cut down on the gas expenses, but it’s great exercise, it affords a great opportunity to think and it gives you the chance to see so many details of the University and Charlottesville up close. On foot, one can detour through the gardens on a whim, stop and chat with friends encountered along the way and really take in the scenery, aromas and sounds of the place! I didn’t have a car in school, and I never really missed it. Looking back, some of my fondest memories are of long walks and things I saw in the journey.
Janis Hodges Akers (English Language and Literature ’78)

How did we cope with tight finances? We counted our pennies and lived within our means. A group of us would occasionally pool our resources to split a cheese pizza and a pitcher of cheap beer—that was our big treat, and that was the best pizza and beer I’ve ever had. We cooked our meals at home, purchasing the cheapest foods we could that would provide a balanced diet, always looking for sales and clipping coupons. We rarely bought new clothing unless it was required for a job interview, and then we got it on sale. Our cars were purchased for next to nothing and were usually found in a junkyard; we never drove when we could take public transportation and we shared rides when we did drive. We also worked while going to school and usually worked full-time during school breaks rather than going on vacation. It was fun to be inventive, to find ways to make do with what we had, to find entertainment that cost nothing, because we knew the situation would not last. We were getting a good education at U.Va., would get great jobs after we graduated and wanted to start our careers with as little debt as possible. It also lowered expectations, allowing us to be content with starting salaries and able to save money for our futures right from the beginning of our careers rather than feeling we had to have everything immediately. I have fond memories of my undergraduate and graduate years, the only time in my life I had to struggle financially. If I hadn’t had that experience, I might not have been as fiscally prudent during my career, which would have put me in disastrous circumstances now. Although it is a cliché, it is an absolute truth that once you have the basics covered, more expensive things and more things will not make you happier. Many people spend decades chasing money, sure that if they just get to the next level, that will do it, then they will be content, but the next level never delivers what they seek. Why not learn that now and save yourself a great deal of disappointment and stress? Stick with what you really NEED, as opposed to what you want, and be satisfied. After all, the worst that can happen is you will graduate with a better credit rating.
Lisa Dercks (Government ’77, Law ’80)

Unfortunately, I encountered an embarrassing situation at Newcomb Hall. When the cashier swiped my ID card, the machine beeped. She swiped it a second time and it beeped again. I was told that the message on the terminal read, “Financial Suspension.” My suitemate informed me about the work-study program so I went to the Financial Aid Office. I had the option to be a locksmith or to do office work in the Dean’s Office at the School of Engineering at Thornton Hall. I opted for the office position. Everything was going great until the following semester.

I distinctly remember the first week of classes that January, but when I received a letter in the mail instructing me not to go to classes, I knew that my days at U.Va. were numbered. I went to the Financial Aid Office and was informed that although I was a work-study student, I still had a balance on my account. My supervisor at Dean Kelly’s office noticed my dismay and when I told her about my situation, she told me to go to Alumni Hall and ask for help.

She told me exactly who to talk to but also informed me that she could not promise that they could help me. Well, when I arrived for my scheduled appointment at Alumni Hall, I was shocked to know that I qualified for a scholarship, the Dean’s Alumni Scholarship. I was able to remain at U.Va. for another semester. Praise God! I am grateful to Ms. Priscilla Mezick for helping me in my time of need. Consequently, I did not want to go through another round of financial suspensions and possibly having to drop out, so I doubled up on my coursework load and graduated a year early. So, I encourage students to ask for help, you never know what will happen.
Tonya N. Jefferson (Asian Studies, History ’93)

To cope with difficult financial times, I cut back on my food bill. I dined out once the entire year. I ate a diet of boxed macaroni and cheese and frozen broccoli every night for dinner. Or eggs. On Friday nights, dinner was 25-cent beer and free pretzels at Graduate Happy Hour. I did not own a car, so my bicycle and walking were my modes of transport. This made grocery shopping difficult, but it built some muscle. I spent as little time as possible in my apartment and as much time in public buildings so I could keep the heat off.
Diane McCafferty (Chemistry ’79)

I hesitate to suggest that my experience applies to anyone else’s, but here goes.

This is the fourth recession I’ve worked through, I think. It can be an ugly experience but also an extremely rewarding one. Friendships and work experience formed under this kind of duress can be powerful and long-lasting.

I always worked when I was in school—usually a couple of jobs for 20-plus hours a week. It taught me to always keep as many proverbial irons in the fire as possible, and also that there was no such thing as “unworthy” work. I washed dishes in the back sink of the Village Inn, was door check at Alderman Library (one of the most loathsome jobs ever—people were so hateful,) sold text books at Anderson Brothers, was a night watchman when 1800 J.P.A. was under construction, waitered at the former Dutch Pantry and was a dorm counselor/resident adviser. I also carried 18–21 hours a semester as I raced to finish before my G.I. Bill expired. I spent my last two years in Charlottesville exhausted and socially deprived but happy to be there.

Upon graduation, it took me a year to land what my mother would call a “real” job; in the meantime I drove a cab, worked moving furniture, ran a copy center at the World Bank, etc.

I’ve been fired and laid off, but I have never not been able to work. During one period of unemployment, 1988–1989, I actually made more money freelancing than I had employed but I was without benefits with a very young family so a “real” job, when it appeared, was very welcome.

When interviewing recent grads, I have never hired anyone who could not show me job experience from age 16 on—internships and overseas/adventure learning do not count. I always tell kids to show up before I do and to leave after I do. I also tell them to accept any and all responsibility that falls their way. Most of the kids I’ve hired are still in the industry and many have had brilliant careers.

A degree from Charlottesville is much more prestigious now than it was 40 years ago; it’s almost an automatic interview. My wife is a Yale alum and I can tell you what these schools mean in the workforce. But at the end of the conversation, all any interviewer really wants to know is, “Is this person going to be able to put their shoulder to the wheel?”
Christopher Kerr (Foreign Affairs, Government ’72)

Worked a part-time job in the Business and Credit offices of U.Va. Hospital each summer.

Have to admit, I had an inside track for a job because my mother worked in the Dietary Department (yes, I’m a townie) and she got me the jobs.

I also lived at home on 14th Street, which saved quite a bit.

I think tuition was something like $270 a semester, but even then I had to borrow around $700–$800 from the bank.

A chili-slaw dog at the White Spot was around 25 cents and a cup of coffee at Chancellor’s Drug Store was 5 cents.

A game of eight-ball or pinball was 5 cents at Mr. Van’s University Pool Hall.

Didn’t have a car, had a bike, but back in 1964 you could actually hitchhike and folks would pick you up.

Times have changed a lot in almost in almost half a century (My God, I’m getting old!).

Good luck to today’s students; I think the demands on them are much greater than they were for us.

We lived in innocent times compared to today, but I’m glad I grew up when I did.
Robert Lyons (College ’68)

One can take it on as a burden or a challenge. If it is handled as a burden, failure is usually the outcome. If taken on as a challenge, success can be yours. Dr. Frankl discovered this while a prisoner in a German concentration camp. As a psychiatrist he would pass his time trying to understand why some gave up and others survived (on the work crews). Those who took everything the Nazis could demand of them as a challenge generally survived and those that experienced it as a burden generally died. I have seen this played out in many scenarios during my own career as a psychiatrist. Maybe this could be of some help to fellow Wahoos during these trying times.
David Good, M.D. (Psychology ’76)

I was at U.Va. from 1977 to 1983. “Economic downturn” was not a term we used. Life was pretty good and nobody had or needed a lot of money.
 
“Downturn” is a state of mind that will eat you alive if you let it.
Nicholas Read (MA History ’79, Law ’82)

Two answers: Dating for dinner, and working two jobs to get through was about where I found myself during my time here in the early 1980s. Also, we started our own soda-selling businesses, raked leaves for fraternities that didn’t want to do it … whatever worked. We also had shared meals to cut down on eating out. Sort of like a potluck!
Letitia H. Green (Spanish ’84)
 
All four of my years at the College were financially difficult. I was the oldest of seven and my parents were divorced so there was certainly no extra money. Of course, tuition and books were quite a bit cheaper back in the mid to late 1970s, but still it was a financial burden. I was able to get a partial financial aid scholarship, but I also had to work at Food Services while I was in college. I probably only worked 16 hours a week, but it helped pay the bills. I would encourage students to get jobs because not only does it help them financially, it helps you learn to budget your time better and gives you a sense of ownership in your college degree. You can also meet a whole new set of friends that you may have never run into.
Kathleen Esposito (French Language and Literature ’80)

I remember being so poor, I had to eat boxed Kraft macaroni and cheese several times a week. (On sale, you could get three boxes for $1!) My roommates and I also wore our coats, scarves and gloves in the apartment all winter since we couldn’t afford to pay the heating bill. Believe it or not, these are fond memories!
Donna Laurent (Drama ’82)

I am a graduate of the College of Arts & Sciences from 1997. I graduated from the Medical College of Virginia in 2001, and soon after fell ill with depression so I have been coping with difficult financial times for some time now. During my time at the University, we would borrow money from friends and with no expectation of paying back. Instead of eating out at the fancy restaurants, we would go out for fast food a lot. We would also carpool instead of driving alone to save on gas and other car expenses. I would advise students now to do similar things. I continue to use similar cost-cutting measures to pay back my student loans (minus the borrowing money from friends). Good luck and keep going with the knowledge that things will get better.
Piyush R. Gupta (Interdisciplinary ’97)

I graduated from U.Va. in 1973. Gas was only 39 cents a gallon. My fiancée and I decided that job prospects were bleak due to a very bad recession, so we took off west for the summer. We wanted to visit many national parks we had heard about for years. I had a 1970 Ford Maverick. We had about $900, but we made it last for 10 weeks. We camped in national parks all across the Southwest, from Colorado to Utah and Arizona, conserving our provisions as we enjoyed the sights and sounds of the American West. We then drove up the coast from San Diego to Big Sur, San Francisco and Muir Woods. Once a week or so we would stay in a Motel 6 and get cleaned up. We even spent some time in Napa Valley wine country! Eventually, we ended up at Yosemite, and then Lake Tahoe. To abbreviate a long story, when we finally decided we had toured enough, we drove back to Virginia, got married in Charlottesville, spent a lovely off-season September week in a beachfront dive at Nags Head and then started our working life. We have never had the freedom we had that summer. I will always cherish the experiences we had. I think that I have always had a different perspective of our nation and of our lives since this experience was so eye-opening and fulfilling. My wife and I have now been married for 35 years and raised our two children. Our son recently spent a college semester abroad in New Zealand. When he offered to tour us around the South Island for a couple of weeks after the end of his semester, we jumped at the chance, even though we all usually had to share a single room. It was the most fun and freedom we had spent since 1973.

Sometimes it is important to recognize and utilize your opportunities when the timing works for you. Sometimes the economic times give you the freedom to go with a plan you might not want to do under other circumstances. Sometimes it will change your life or give you a respite until another opportunity presents itself to you. Your economic well-being is only a part of your overall well-being. Currently, in my business we are making salary sacrifices to keep things operating. In the past, better times have enabled us to earn more money, but to keep an emotional even keel, it is wise to not only live within your means, but to live well within your means in order to give you the flexibility to make choices in tough times and not get too emotionally wound up at living on the edge of your means.

When I was in college, we always had a budget—we didn't spend money if we didn’t have it, and we didn’t know a thing about credit-card debt. Especially when you are young, the best things in life are not based on money but experiences and relationships. You can always find good, inexpensive wine. We always planned our travels on finding free places to stay with friends and acquaintances.
Andy Wolff (English Language and Literature ’73)

Three words—Eljo’s Warehouse Sale! Plus, odd (and I DO mean ODD) jobs including delivering singing telegrams and teaching color guard skills and choreographing routines for a local high school marching band—definitely an odd job for a member of the Pep Band.
Chris Tickle (Drama ’84)

In the hardest times—after I was married in the summer of 1962 between the College and Law School—I looked for a job that paid more than the “student wage” that was legally below the minimum wage. I went out to the pie factory that was in Crozet and figured I needed to wear work clothes so as not to look like a U.Va. student since we wore coats and ties in those times. After I completed the application, the hiring person came in to interview me and as soon as he saw me, even though I was in work attire, he paused a few seconds and then said, “I think you are a University student, right?” The Honor System required an honest answer—and he let me know I was not eligible for hire by him. I came back to Charlottesville and applied at Mincer’s where I had worked for two years while I was in the College to supplement my DuPont Regional Scholarship the University provided. Mr. Robert Mincer hired me on the spot for the summer for 40 hours a week and I continued working there part time throughout my three years in law school. Mr. Mincer was very kind to me during all the years I worked for him while in the College and in law school. I am glad that Mincer’s appears still to be doing well and I am sure they still provide needed employment for students. I also worked as a waiter for University Catering during all my years in the College.

During my fourth year in the College and while a Lawn resident, I also earned needed cash by serving as a corporal in Charlottesville’s Marine Corps Reserve unit that was then the 7th Truck Company. I received a commission upon my graduation from A&S and continued in that Marine Reserve unit as a young lieutenant, providing part of the income I needed for law school. While in the U.Va. Law School, I also had a job as a debate team assistant coach that paid my entire law school tuition, which was then $450 per semester. In addition, I did investigations for property, life and auto insurance companies and I sold pots and pans for WearEver [a division of ALCOA]. I have always thought that what I learned from my investigation experience and selling pots and pans has been as valuable to my legal career as any course I took in law school.
James Webb Jones (Government ’62, Law ’65)

Back in the 1970s, we were lucky, in a way, to have less and therefore need less. Our students today are rewarded with instant gratification, from music downloads and Starbucks to global outreach and communication. Not always a bad thing, but with the economic downturn, the one good thing that might come out of this is that our kids may learn to plan ahead for bumps in the road and to appreciate what we have today. I remember when a great holiday gift was an album or CD, but no one seems to wait for anything; if the music is out there we can have it immediately. Having fewer outside influences helped my college friends to form strong bonds and take advantage of the many no-cost/low-cost activities on campus and in the community. We laughed a lot.

I hope that as our economy recovers, students appreciate what a huge effort it takes to get a job and to appreciate the opportunity and their educational experiences.
Holley S. Morse (2010 parent)

We had friends over, played Uno, and made Godiva hot chocolate.
Alicia Jackson (Economics, Psychology ’04)

Your solicitation of alumni opinion is an excellent idea. Your questions are very thoughtful. When I was a student from 1977 to 1981, the country went through the Carter recession and the economic promise of a new Reagan administration. My family was middle class then and I did not feel the effects of the recession at all. They might have, but I was insulated by college.

In fact, the best advice I have heard recently is to stay in college while this recession works itself out. Hopefully, when you get out of graduate school, the job market will have turned around. While in college, I think it is important to turn down credit cards (if they are even being offered still), save money if you have a job and prepare to save money and be frugal once you graduate. Some day you will want to purchase a home and you will want to put at least 20 percent down on a conventional mortgage instead of making the mistake so many have made with more highly leveraged loans. Don’t take on unrealistic risk and you will be happier in the long run.
George Snyder (Political & Social Thought ’91)

James Earl Carter was president for 75 percent of my time at Virginia.

When he campaigned for the presidency in 1976, he was very good at telling Americans how lousy the economy was under Gerald Ford. He got elected and proceeded to make things unbelievably worse. By May of 1980, which was the end of my fourth year at U.Va., inflation had grown to 11 percent and unemployment had grown to 9 percent. Meanwhile, the Prime rate went to 13 percent. The economy was pretty bleak. After I graduated, things got even worse. Inflation did not drop, unemployment did not drop and the prime rate rose to 20 percent by January 1981.

How did I get by? During my years at U.Va., I rode a bike everywhere to save gas money. I received a modest allowance from my father, but I was expected to earn most of my spending money, and so I did.

I worked as a gardener for Student Services whenever the seasonal demand existed for gardeners. Otherwise I was one of John Lafley’s Memorial Gymnasium gym rats. 

Every fall, I officiated intramural football. In the winters, I officiated intramural basketball. During the spring I officiated softball and lacrosse. By my fourth year, I was officiating junior high and high school basketball as well as high school and college lacrosse games.

Looking back, I am glad that I had to pay some of my way through U.Va. It helped me understand the value of a dollar and the value of being self-sufficient.
John C. Meredith (Rhetoric and Communication Studies ’80)

Be discerning!
David Sexton (History, Religious Studies ’08)

First things first, I had to deal with a budget. I earned my tuition during the summers, and my folks helped with the room and board.

In the 1970s, there was less paraphernalia to support and make allowance for, e.g., computers, cell phones, microwave ovens, in-room refrigerators.

When I took my son to college last year, I noticed the ancillary paraphernalia considered a necessity for college life today and could not help but conclude that this junk, needed or not, contributes to the cost of attending college. Why not take a page from the military, allow the students only what they can carry in a sea bag? That and a laptop computer.
Maybe the kids will learn about doing better with less?
David Gambill (College ’73)