April 08, 2015

Madipalooza Performers

April 08, 2015/ Alexis Haas

Carrying on with the theme of the week, Madipalooza, the line-up was just recently announced with Strongwater starting off the day, MisterWives (the headliner) going on next, Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown following the headliner, up and coming country artist Chris Lane going on fourth, and then Great Caesar, Can’t Stop Won’t Stop and Steal The Prize are the final three acts! Take a look at a brief profiling of each of these bands to make up your mind as to whom you want to see:

1. Strongwater – Harrisonburg native folksy band, Strong Water is a four-piece string band with fiddle, cello, banjo and guitar. They have a slight bluesy-esque feel with a female lead singer. In addition, they rightfully earned their spot at this Festival by winning UPB’s annual Rumble Down Under competition. These guys are a great opening act and surely not to be missed.

Popular songs: Awhile, Scary Man, The Lion Comes (https://soundcloud.com/strongwatermusic)

2. MisterWives – This indie pop dance group hailing from NYC is the headliner of Madipalooza. They have opened for some big name artists such as Twenty One Pilots, American Authors and The Bleachers. MisterWives is only three years young but has risen to fame very quickly. Their songs Vagabond, Our House and Reflections have been featured as the theme song for MTV’s Finding Carter and Budlight’s “Whatever USA” commercial. Much like Strongwater, MisterWives has a female lead singer but unlike Strongwater, MisterWives is more upbeat and fun!

Popular Songs: Reflections, Our House, Vagabond (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwQIPsdr-FATQqJkXgQGNKw)

3. Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown – This edgy Rock N’ Roll band from Nashville has killer guitar riffs and solid lyrics to boot. They are the closest thing to the more classic rock genre that Madipalooza offers this year and if the classics are your thing, then check them out! You will not be disappointed.

Popular Songs: Where I Want You, Say a Prayer, You Got Me Baby (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGRvnL_jzOI&list=PLXujnHinicQfbgJbVGXdBE0UvfJRM4v5x&index=2)

4. Chris Lane – An on the rise Country singer who will bring energy and a down south good time to the many fans of this genre at JMU. He has a more college vibe than the other two and of course talks about heartbreak and more importantly drinking! He has opened up for The Band Perry, Lee Brice, Eli Young Band and many more of these country royalty. He comes on fourth in the line-up so be sure to see him!

Popular Songs: Broken Windshield View, Starting Tonight, All I Ever Needed (https://www.youtube.com/user/ChrisLaneVEVO)

Check back with The Ramen Budget tomorrow to see the remaining three bands profiled!

Stay thrifty my friends

Love on a budget

Having a significant other in college can get very expensive; especially when it comes to movies, eating out, long nights at the bar, weekend trips and anything else that your lovey-dovey minds can come up with to make time for each other. If the relationship you are currently in is on the positive track, while your bank account is on the negative track, here are 10 cheap date ideas that will hopefully last you till it’s summertime and you are back to Facetime calls and endless emojis while doing the whole long distance thing:

1) Grab the sheet off your bed and pack up a delicious picnic in one of the many paper Chipotle bags that you have lying around and take your bae out to the closest park or your college’s quad

2) Go Hiking. Don’t think about it just go. And if you are in a city, then good on you because explore a new part and get lost together

3) Check out your college campus movie theater. Movie prices range from $0-$4 and concessions are even cheaper!

4) Look at the local bowling alleys, roller skating/ice skating rinks etc. and see if they have college night because more often than not they do

5) Check something off your bucket list and go to a shooting range

6) Try stargazing, you never know

7) Go apple picking or whatever fruit farm is around you because nothing tastes better than fresh picked fruit

8) Go to a local pet store or SPCA and play with cats, dogs or an animal of your choosing. Trust me Guys, just trust me on this one

9) Check out your college’s sports teams even if it is not basketball or football season because nothing beats watching sports live

10) When all else fails, go with a Redbox because nothing beats $1 for a movie

A Night at the “Movies” for Less

I know one of my favorite past times is the movies! But movie theater prices are on the rise to almost $12 a ticket without even including the overpriced food and drinks! I know there are few movies that come out that are worth almost what I make in two hours at my part time job. So what do I do for those movies on the fence where I would rather get the cinematic experience and not have to wait another 6 months to see it on DVD. Well here are some tips for you cinephiles out there:

1) Research your local movie theater(s). Many theaters like AMC and Regal have bonus cards and have student discount days to make your wallet feel better!

2) If you are an extreme moviegoer, there is a card called moviepass where you can pay $30 a month and have unlimited access to as many movies in the theaters as you would like. Make sure your local theater is a participating one though!

3) Make it a double feature! Pay for one ticket and after your first movie is over, make your way over to a second movie that you are dying to see! Be aware of movie times though to make sure you are not missing anything!

4) Popcorn Time is a piece of software that you can download and it offers some of the most recent movies that are even in theater for free to access whenever you want!

5) If you are in a big city, check out free movie screenings for movies that are not even out yet. I know I am from right outside of DC and I have seen dozens of movies for free before they were even released into the theaters. Gofobo.com is a huge supplier of free movie screening passes

6) When all else fails, there is always Netflix and Redbox

Stay thrifty my friends

Spring Break Forever

It is that time of the year again. In just a few weeks every college and university will shut down for a week, while their students turn up for a spring break that they will never forget. Whether it be the classic Panama City Beach trip, Punta Cana, Daytona Beach or Myrtle Beach, every college student should experience this week of debauchery at least once in their lives. As for myself, in just 10 days I will be leaving for Panama City and here are my tips on how to budget this adventure:

1. Plan it ahead of time because if you choose to fly (which I would suggest not) flights are always cheaper ahead of time. In addition, you will have your pick of the litter on rental housing or resort deals before everyone else gets their act together

2. Depending on where you are coming from and what kind of shape your car is in, just drive! I am taking a 2004 Mazda 6 and according to Gasbuddy.com, the round trip cost of gas when leaving from Virginia (15 hour drive) to Panama City Beach is $125 compared to a flight leaving from Baltimore-Washington Airport (known airport for cheap flights) is $350 (Expedia.com), which is almost half the price. In addition, a car can hold upwards of 5 people and $125 split between 5 people is only $25 a person. Driving is your cheapest means of travel to PCB

3. This goes without being said but go with a huge group of people (hopefully friends) ! The bigger the group the cheaper your rental condo, resort apartment, beach house will be!

4. Once at your spring break destination, don’t waste your money on never ending buffets that are overpriced and often leave you with heartburn and indigestion. Plan out a grocery list split between your whole group and focus on bulk products that you make group meals out of (pancake mix, burgers, sausages, cake mixes etc.)

5. Many of the desired more traditional spring break locations have deals on their beach clubs and bars where you can purchase a discounted card that gets you free access and free drinks in clubs. Take advantage of this! For example, in Panama City Beach, the tourism board offers a panamaniac card for $50 that gives you free access to popular bars and clubs, and for a couple hours out of the day, free drinks!

6. The final tip is purchase your alcohol before you leave in your college town and bring it with you wherever you are going. Touristy destinations overprice their liquor and beer because they know that college students are going to run out or not think ahead at all and have to buy their booze at the closest liquor store. Many liquor stores are independently owned in Florida and this means that the owner can price the store’s alcohol however they want.

I hope these tips will help you guys on wherever your spring break may take you. Stay safe and remember to always stay thrifty!

Check out these other websites about spring break trips on a budget:

http://www.ibtimes.com/spring-break-2015-cheap-ideas-discount-destinations-frugal-students-budget-1828176

http://travel.usnews.com/Rankings/Best_Cheap_Spring_Break_Destinations/

http://college.usatoday.com/2015/02/16/tips-to-make-you-travel-savvy-just-in-time-for-spring-break/

A Night of Comedy on a Budget

From Rooster in 22 Jump Street to a nationwide comedy tour is there anything Jimmy Tatro cannot do? Tatro is a comedian, filmmaker and YouTube personality. He has accumulated over 2.2 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, LIFE ACCORDING TO JIMMY and amassed more than 207 million views on YouTube with the number grows every day. Jimmy Tatro is beginning to embark on his Memoirs of a College dropout tour starting February 26 at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. He has many dates set including: The University of Nevada at Reno (3/10), James Madison University (3/26), Drexel University (4/03) and George Washington University (4/21). Tatro has really made a name for himself in the twittersphere, racking up 435,000 followers. I know that is where I first saw his name from one of my friends retweeting him. Tatro combines sketch comedy and taking his own shots at everyday observations. Tatro prides himself on making fun of awkward college-esque situations so he is perfect for a national college campus comedy tour. Ticket prices for this event vary school by school but after researching many of the college’s websites that are on this tour, the range is $5-$15 if you are a student. I know for my college, James Madison University, tickets are only $8 for students! This is a great chance to laugh the night away for a discounted price because tickets for Tatro’s other shows in major cities are upwards of $40!! Take advantage of this college comedy tour students because who wouldn’t want to see an on the rise actor and comedian that is claimed to be the next Marky Mark on your local college’s stage. Till next time college budgeters and remember to stay thrifty!

For more information on all the tour dates visit Jimmy Tatro’s Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/JimmyTatroFanPage

The Ramen Budget

The Ramen Budget

Entertainment

The Ramen Budget

Madipalooza Performers

Love on a budget

A Night at the “Movies” for Less

Spring Break Forever

A Night of Comedy on a Budget

The Ramen Budget

@theramenbudget

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