Each Quest group decides how they would like to fundraise, but it’s worth thinking about how you can save a little money to make your Quest more affordable. A few quick tips (this is not rocket science):

1. Save a little at a time. If your Quest is 3 months away, setting aside $10 a week will leave you with $120 for your trip. $25 a week of saving means $300 toward your trip.

2. Don’t eat out (all the time). How the heck can I save $25 a week!? Well, if you bring your lunch (PB&J and an apple, maybe?) to campus, you can save $5 a day that could have been spent on State Street getting take-out. Homecooked dinners are not only good for your budget, but good for your soul, and they give you a good chance to avoid high-salt, high-calorie processed foods that are bad for your bod. You want to be in good shape for your Quest, don't you?

3. Receive the gift of Quest. If a holiday or your birthday is approaching, ask relatives and friends to become shareholders in your Quest as a gift.

4. Don’t drink empty calories. (Or at least drink them at home, in moderation) Nothing is more overpriced and undernourishing than commercial drinks. Can the soda, etc. Water is the elixir of life.

5. Sell something that you really don’t need. Simplicity is golden. Ask yourself, “Do I need it, or just want it?”

6. Shop thrifty. When you get the shopping bug, head to a thrift store.

7. Make your own coffee. Fair trade, hopefully.

8. Create a cheap date. Romance can be found around a campfire at Picnic Point, strolling in the Arboretum, or bike riding in the Wisconsin countryside.

9. Enjoy what you already have. Play a board game. Spend time with a friend. Watch an old video. Use those rollerblades you bought in high school.

10. Park the car. The less you drive, the more you save.

It’s really up to you to figure out how to make your Quest a financial reality, but it’s worth remembering Ben Franklin's wisdom: "A penny saved is a penny earned."