As a student, you have a lot on your mind during college. It may be your first time away from home, and even if it’s not, you're juggling new responsibilities. Focusing on your work and developing your career should be your main priority, but life does have a way of causing issues. Coping with the high cost of, well, everything is just the latest challenge.
The Centennial College Student Association Incorporated (CCSAI) is run by students for students, and aims to make life easier by offering free and discounted services to help reduce any financial and time-based barriers you may run into at college. Here are a few things you, as a Centennial student, can grab for inexpensive or even free, when you return to campus this fall.
1. Used textbooks
Textbooks can be a big expense right at the start of a college program. Centennial College offers market prices at our campus bookstores, but there’s also a more affordable way to get the books you need. Centennial has its own internal used textbook board where students and the public can offer their books for sale. Before purchasing any books, take some time to scan those listings and see if there’s anything there you need. And if you’re a returning student, you can sell your old textbooks there for some quick cash!
2. inexpensive, healthy food
As a busy student, you may be strapped for time and money, so you need food inexpensive and fast – but you also need to eat healthy. It's hard to be both frugal and healthy in college, but a solution does exist. Called the Good Food Box, the joint CCSAI/Food Share project aims to deliver healthy foods at a reasonable cost. Good Food Boxes contain fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods that provide a student with a week's worth of supplies. The boxes even include organic options. Currently, they’re being offered through Food Share, and the CCSAI is gearing up to bring the service back to Progress Campus by mid- to late September.
3. Medical prescriptions
Healthcare may be free in Canada, but drug prescriptions aren't. The last thing you need while attending classes and trying to get your career going is to have an illness bring you down, especially these days. Fortunately, Centennial tries to address student needs and make this easier in the most direct way possible: By helping pay for your medical needs. The student health plan is automatic for every domestic student, and covers 90 per cent of your prescription costs. And it doesn't just have to cover yourself. It's possible to register dependents, including family members, to receive the same benefits. There are some restrictions and conditions, so you'll want to read the fine print on the CCSAI's website.
4. Legal advice
As a student, understanding your financial and legal rights can be complicated. There's student loans (OSAP), apartment leases, affidavits and other things to figure out. Sometimes you just need someone to explain it all to you. Fortunately, the CCSAI can give you access to those experts. Every Tuesday at the Progress and Ashtonbee campuses, students who make an appointment at the CCSAI offices can meet with legal professionals, who can give you free advice and tips to address legal matters, or just explain a document to you. It’s surprising how helpful this service can be.
There's a wealth of resources on campus to make your college journey easier, and for those services to be used, you need to know about them. Visit the CCSAI’s homepage to learn more about what's out there to make your journey through college a little smoother.
For more information on how to Stretch Your Dollar, click here.
Written By: Anthony Geremia