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Well, you can't pay for it with that, honey," says an obviously annoyed clerk as she eyes the morning tide of coffee drinkers swelling to a threatening size. Her impatient glare intimidates a flustered-looking college freshman, whose freckles stand out as her skin pales in horror. Kristine Bucklew is pawing helplessly through her wallet, but comes up with two dimes, a penny, and an ATM receipt from the day before.

"I just took out $20 yesterday," Kristine says desperately in a weak attempt to appease the looming crowd. No such luck. "I guess I'll run to the ATM and come back," she says, ducking sheepishly out of line.

Kristine is a senior now, and though the mortifying memory has become funny with time, it's not unique. Many college students find themselves constantly asking, "Where did all my money go?" Even as you get older, it's never easy to keep track of that elusive $20. But there is a trick: Keep track of the little things -- a CD here, a sandwich there, even a cup of coffee or a bottle of water. If you want to avoid letting your money slip through your fingers, students say, know your weaknesses and curb them.

Easier said than done? Not if you pay attention to these few easy ways to enjoy life's little luxuries without paying through the nose.

"Dear Mom, Please Send Shampoo!"
A study published in the Digest of Education averaged the cost of tuition, room, and board at an American university during the 1993-94 school year at $9,495. Just five years later, that cost had risen 26 percent to $12,017. With college costs continuing to increase, it's no wonder that less and less money winds up in students' pockets.

Emily Yoder, a high school junior from Monroe, CT, has been keeping track of her money since she was old enough to spend it. "My mom makes me write down every penny I spend," says Emily, producing records from a month ago detailing even her smallest purchases. Emily and her parents believe that these habits will serve her well in the future. The seemingly simple step of recording how money is spent is the first step to controlling it, she explains.

Of course, she spent $72.43 in a recent week on food, two CDs, and a book. This kind of recreational spending -- whether diligently recorded or not -- is a habit many freshmen find hard to kick. "When I lived at home my parents took care of all the necessities," says Indiana University junior Sarah Hamilton, "Now I'm rationing toothpaste. You don't realize how expensive stuff like that is. Even deodorant -- that's three bucks right there!" Responsibility for your own money (and your own personal hygiene) may come as a blow. Hopefully, the choice between fresh breath and a new CD will be a clear one. But just in case...

Does Water Make Up 75 Percent of Your Budget?
Yes, water is healthy, trendy, and it costs about $1.25 a bottle. "I'm pretty smart with my money," says Sarah, "but you gotta have water, right?" Guess what? It's free at the water fountain. For a while, Sarah tried buying one bottle of water at the beginning of the week, then refilling it every day following. Those little plastic bottles are cheap, therefore, unconsciously disposable, so Sarah would often forget she even had one with her. "I was constantly leaving those stupid things under my chair in class," she remembers. "I'd get halfway home and think, there goes another buck!" Then she discovered a better way. She bought a $6 water bottle.

Sarah went to an outdoor equipment store and bought a bottle she knew she wouldn't lose -- it's huge, and it straps onto her bag. In fact, they seem to be a craze. "I see them everywhere now," she laughs. "Maybe we've all figured out we were paying five or six bucks a week for something we could have for free."

This works with coffee, too. Indiana University senior, Jaime DeVault, spends $10 a week just to stay awake. She is preparing to head off to dental school in the fall, and she's coming down the home stretch. To keep her mind on her studies, she often heads to Espresso Royale, a local coffee shop, and curls into the corner of a thick green couch, surrounding herself with piles of homework. "I just can't study at home," she says, cautiously testing her coffee to see if it's still hot. "I come here and wind up dropping all this money on coffee. But at least I get the work done."

While coffee and couches may well be essential for Jaimes' academic success, they both do exist outside of overpriced coffee shops. "Forget that," says junior Michelle Griswold, a friend of Jaime's. "Buy a travel mug, make your own coffee, and go sit in the [student] union." Most common areas have lounges for studying and relaxing, and students who are addicted to that daily buzz will save about $10 a week (depending on how high-priced your coffee shop is).

Are You a CD Addict?
"They're my weakness," Michelle says sheepishly, biting her lip. CDs litter her bed, her desk, and the floor of her car. She takes them to work, to the computer lab, and on her nightly run. At any given moment, there are two or three peeking out the top of her oversized bookbag. "I can't make rent, but I really want the new Ani CD," she frowns, then kicks herself (literally!). Before you go bruising your shins, remember there are better ways to get your tune temptations fixed for free (or close to it!).

Besides the use of controversial Web downloads and CD burners, there are plenty of options for those of you with particularly active consciences. For starters, weed out the CDs you never listen to and sell them. Check your town for places that buy and sell used CDs; if you come up short, there's always the Internet and e-Bay.

Still Not Entertained?
Indiana University junior Julie Berg spent $500 on concerts this past semester. This is easily avoidable. At Indiana University, for example, students may volunteer for the school's concert committee and help with "security" -- which basically involves standing there in a special shirt, says Julie, and getting in for free. If you're into plays, many schools offer students the opportunity to usher and then hang around to check out the play.

Getting to Class
Concerts, CDs, and fancy coffee are one thing, but you've still got to get to class, right? "Sometimes," says Julie, "when I'm feeling especially lazy, I can't stand the thought of riding the bus." Even though the bus is free to students, Julie says that she drives to class at least once a week and parks in the lot at the student union -- which costs $1.50 per half hour. By the time Julie sits through one class, she's paid $4.50. "I really have to learn to ride the bus," she says, shaking her head.

Other Necessities
Even though Jaime is still trying to kick the coffee habit, she has learned a thing or two since her days of binge-spending as a freshman. "I avoid eating out whenever possible," she says. "I know this coffee thing is bad, but eating lunch on campus...?!" she trails off and rolls her eyes. "Just pack a lunch."

Imagine what would happen to your potential CD collection if you spent $5 a day on lunch. "I have better things to spend my money on," says Kristine. She brings lunch to campus with her every day. "Pack it the night before," she adds with a wise nod of her head. "No excuses."

While food may seem like an unavoidable expense, it can still be minimized. So can the cost of other necessities. "I spent seven bucks photocopying stuff for class last week, just because I didn't want to sit in the library and read it," says Julie. "So much of this just comes down to laziness." Look on the bright side: Even if you opt to join Julie sitting in a hard chair under florescent lights for an extra hour of the day, at least you won't have to figure out where to come up with $7 worth of dimes.

Identify your weaknesses, and cut some corners. "It's actually kind of fun after awhile," says Jaime. Now that her parents aren't giving her spending money each week, she has to make her summer earnings stretch over an entire school year. "I almost enjoy the challenge," she says. And don't worry too much -- there are always weekend visits to Mom and Dad.

"Sometimes," admits Sarah, ducking her head in embarrassment, "if I know I need shampoo or soap or something, I'll just wait 'til I go home and then toss it in the cart when Mom's grocery shopping." If you find yourself "borrowing" toiletries from your floor mates when they accidentally leave them in the bathroom -- it's probably time to head home!

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