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Ballin’ on a Budget

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Belmont chapter.

Sometimes when you have$7 left in your back account, you miss your mom, and you feel the world is against you, you feel it is best if you just shrivel up and hide from the world. Lucky for you, Nashville is one of the best places to be a broke college student. I know what you’re thinking…”I don’t know what you’re smoking, because a donut from Five Daughters costs more than Belmont’s tuition.” But while some of your friends are stuck in the middle of cornfields attending those big state schools, you are immersed in one of the fastest growing cities.

I know the feeling when you login into your online bank account and your GPA is higher than what you have in your savings.  Last year, I was determined to make the most of being a broke college kid. There came a moment when I decided to not call my mom to borrow twenty dollars, and to instead be resourceful on my own. Here is a list of a few free activities I did last year that made me realize how lucky I am to live in this city.

1. Open Mic Night at the Bluebird Café

Every Monday night, the iconic Bluebird Café hosts an open mic from 6-9pm. All you have to do is call in the morning of to try to snatch one of the 25 songwriter spots! All details are on their website. Even if you do not want to perform, it is still a great place to go and watch some of the most talented hidden gems Nashville has to offer.

2. Take a Walk in the Park

Are you tired of studying in your prison cell—I mean dorm room? Well instead of trapping yourself at your desk, take a nice walk to Sevier Park on 12 South. It’s an easy walk from campus, and life is less stressful when you lay under a tree for a couple of hours.

3. The Frist Center For The Visual Arts

Make your grandmother proud and go to an art museum. The Frist has some amazing exhibits, and it is free Thursday and Friday nights (with a school ID) from 5-9pm.

4. Love Circle

Go take your Bae to the cutest spot in Nashville. Love Circle is a hill that looks out at the city skyline. If you are single like a Pringle (me too, friend), NO WORRIES! Love Circle is a great spot to see with friends.

5. Percy Priest Lake

Before summer leaves us, go spend a day at Percy Priest Lake! It is a 20-minute drive from campus, and it is the perfect spot to go lay out or jump off cliffs. You probably shouldn’t tell your mom about the cliff jumping– mine wasn’t too happy with me last year—but either way, it is a great way to end the summer!

I am a freshman music business major, like the majority of Belmont, from the Chicago land area. Like most people, I fell in love with Nashville's music, coffee shops, and obviously all the wall murals. I am a firm believer that one day I will marry Jim Halpert, but until that day, I will wait patiently and keep re-watching The Office. I believe that in an another life time, Amy Poehler and I would be the best of friends. I would hold out hope for this life time, but I am just waiting for her to respond to my emails. Life is good--remember that.