Spring break is usually one of the most anticipated weeks on the academic calendar. But because of the country’s ongoing financial crisis, Loyola students are approaching the break with newfound stress.

Instead of rummaging through the sales rack for a trendy swimsuit or stocking up on sunscreen, students are worrying about how to spend less, work more and save money during spring break 2009.

One group of students dining in the Orleans Room said they were still figuring out how to finance a road trip covering Tennessee, Florida and Texas.

“We still have to find money for gas and money to go on the trip,” said Amanda Oldani, marketing freshman.  “We are trying to find spring break houses because we’re not going to be staying at a hotel and we have to worry about gas, even though it’s not expensive.”

Christie Hill, communication sophomore, is trying to find money to fund her Florida trip, after recently losing her job.

“I don’t have money like I did last year because I lost my job,” Hill said. ” I don’t have extra money to be spending because I have to pay for bills and gas, but I plan on asking my parents for help, instead of relying on my own money.” 

“I won’t be able to go out and have as much fun as I could have if I had more money,” she said.

Like Hill, history senior Lloyd Greenfield will be spending less on his trip.

“I do not want to sound like a consumer, but things are going to be more expensive, which means I may not by as much on this year’s trip,” Greenfield said.

While many are spending spring break hanging with friends, others plan to visit families.

“It’s going to be shopping time, but this year I’m going to be watching my money more, said psychology freshman Sarah Tregre, who will be visiting family in Austin.

In order to save money, Tregre will be driving instead of flying.

Other students are only slightly affected by the economy. 

“While it won’t really affect our trip, it’s going to be more expensive in terms of food,” Chris Alcazar, visual arts junior, said.

“Our trip is going to be at least fifty dollars more expensive,” he said.

Others are planning to help the economy through their spring break trip.

“I drink a lot and it will affect the economy because I am going to buy a whole lot of beer and a whole lot of vodka,” said Chad Simms, accounting freshman.  ‘Therefore, am going to help out all the alcohol companies.”

Students attending the Student Government Association and Loyola University Community Action Program volunteering trip during spring break hope to help others affected by the economy.

“Personally, the economy isn’t really going to effect my trip, but there are going to be more people that we’re helping because of the economy,” said Courtney Mattison, communication freshman.

“We’re going to be helping out at a soup kitchen one of those days to help many people who may have been affected by the economy,” she said.

“We got quite a bit of school funding (for this trip),” she said.

Many students are skipping spring break altogether. “I’m not going to spring break because I have to work and I don’t have the money,” said Madeline Rice, psychology sophomore.

According to communication sophomore Mai Bader, she can’t visit her cousins in Washington this year, as she does every year, because her job isn’t paying her enough.

“There’s no money so I really can’t (go on the trip) and I can’t work as much because business is really slow and not enough hours,” Bader said.

While many may have been affected by the economy, many students’ travel plans are unaffected.

“People worry about the economy affecting their trip. But, it really hasn’t,” said Alex Fournet, religious studies and international business sophomore. 

“We bought our plan tickets ahead of time, before the market collapsed,” he said.

As for tips on how to save money during the trip, Hill suggests a simple tactic.

“Students can save money by getting more people to go on the trip,” she said.

“Having a big group and putting money together is better than just having a small group because everyone can share the expenses, which would be better for everyone,” she said.

Kieu Tran can be reached at [email protected].

(PHOTOS COURTESY OF ABLE STOCK.COM)

(PHOTOS COURTESY OF ABLE STOCK.COM)

(PHOTOS COURTESY OF ABLE STOCK.COM)