DECEMBER 5, 2025 | FEATURES | By Grace Bean
College students manage a demanding combination of academic pressure, job applications, extracurricular responsibilities and social commitments, but financial anxiety remains one of the most persistent and universal stressors.
For students navigating Colorado College’s Block Plan and the steep coffee prices on campus, this pressure often intensifies.
Every three and a half weeks, students face a full course’s worth of material, a final exam and the accelerated fatigue that accompanies the system.
This often means students are juggling grocery bills, meal planning, and budgeting decisions at the exact same time they are studying for a midterm every week, writing a final paper, or preparing for a presentation. Daunting, depressing and stressful financial worries do not wait for the semester’s end, they appear every block.
While the Block Plan compresses academic rigor, it also offers an unexpected financial advantage. Instead of waiting ten or fifteen weeks into a semester to realize spending habits have spiraled, students receive a natural reset every block. The rhythm of three weeks of work followed by five days off necessitates a clearer, shorter time horizon for financial planning.
Setting goals for three and a half weeks is more manageable than trying to stay disciplined for an entire semester, and it reduces the likelihood of burnout-driven impulsive spending. With frequent academic breaks built in, students can utilize this schedule to evaluate where their money went, what patterns need adjusting, and how to approach the next block with greater awareness.
However, Block Breaks can also be one of the largest financial pitfalls. Travel, activities, Airbnb rentals, dining out and spontaneous trips with friends when you initially made the decision to stay on campus can add up quickly.
Breaking the bank on a block break trip and immediately pivoting into a new academic sprint is a recipe for financial stress. This debilitating feeling is familiar to anyone wanting to take advantage of their time off while also needing to preserve money for the rest of the month.
Financial stability for college students begins with recognizing where money typically disappears. Unplanned spending, especially food-related convenience purchases, is one of the primary culprits.
Research from the University of Minnesota shows that students underestimate discretionary spending by significant margins, which contributes to chronic financial uncertainty.
Cooking at home is consistently less expensive than takeout, and studies from North Carolina State University confirm that home-prepared meals improve both nutritional quality and overall cost efficiency for young adults.
For students on a tight budget, preparing simple, affordable meals during the block can reduce both financial and academic stress. It eliminates last-minute food decisions during high workload weeks and ensures consistent nourishment during long study days.
Take advantage of the opportunities on campus to save money each week, which will snowball over time. There is complimentary, freshly brewed coffee in the political science department in Palmer Hall and a cornucopia of snacks, coffee, teas and small microwaveable breakfast items in the Office of Student Life in Armstrong Hall every day.
You can even request your favorite snacks if you promise to return to eat them. Ask friends to check their gold card balances and get swiped into Rastalls, or grab a few items from the C Store.
Social spending is another major area where costs accumulate, particularly in the days leading up to and during Block Break.
Establishing a dedicated social fund that includes estimated Block Break expenses can help students enjoy their time off without compromising financial stability for the rest of the month.
Behavioral economics research demonstrates that pre-committing money to leisure spending reduces stress and increases satisfaction because individuals feel in control of their choices. Students can apply this by setting aside a specific portion of their monthly budget for outings, trips, or experiences rather than allowing these expenses to occur without boundaries.
Transportation is another area for savings. Rideshare costs increase rapidly, especially during late hours or trips off campus and to the airport. Substituting expensive activities with low-cost or free options can also extend limited budgets. Campus events, outdoor activities and shared meals with friends are meaningful alternatives that do not compromise social experience.
One of the simplest and most effective strategies for managing money on the Block Plan is tracking spending for a single block. Since each block is short and structured, patterns emerge quickly. Students can identify impulsive behaviors, note where money is leaking and adjust before the cycle repeats.
Financial psychology consistently shows that awareness alone leads to reduced overspending. Tracking does not require complex spreadsheets or apps; even a brief list of daily expenses can transform financial habits.
Saving money in college is not about restricting joy or eliminating all social experiences. It is about creating a system that supports both well-being and financial stability.
For students on the Block Plan, the short academic cycle is an opportunity to reassess spending patterns frequently, set realistic goals, and avoid the burnout that often drives impulsive or stress-induced purchases.
With intentional habits, small structural changes and simple budgeting tools, students can reduce financial anxiety, protect their academic focus and still engage fully in the social and experiential aspects of college life.