U. Village not for students

I am a coupon clipper.

There's a stereotype that most college students aren't sitting on a lot of spare cash. Now that I am a college student, I can safely say that this is a generally true reality.

I am reminded of this when my roommate and I clean out the couches to so we can do laundry every two weeks or so. Going to school full time (not to mention paying to be here) hasn't exactly left me with a fat wallet.

Granted, I can't remember ever going hungry or a time when I had to honestly deny myself a cup of coffee because I was out of funds, yet I attest there's still not a lot of room for impulse buying at this point in life.

Despite those 25 pennies I get to save on my Kraft Easy Mac by clipping coupons Sunday afternoons, it's inevitable that my shopping outside the grocery store won't have coupon support. It is then my duty to shop where prices are realistic and the necessary items are affordable.

Unfortunately for me, the shopping center that happens to be only one block away has conformed itself to appeal to a much higher-income crowd than can be found residing near campus.

Let's be realistic: The new stores that moved into the University Village Shopping Centre this summer are far from affordable for the average student.

What about us tightwads who walk past your stores every day? It seems the smarter idea to cater to the needs of the audience in highest quantity.

J. Crew is offering a 10 percent "student discount" for Huskies. Great, now that $70 sweater is $63.

Don't even get me started on its new neighbor boutique, Mercer. Initially, in my ignorance, I saw it as an excellent Forever-21-looking, lower-end-yet-still-trendy shop available for those of us limiting our outflow while still monitoring fashion.

Forget it.

Upon walking in, the wall covered in an assortment of amazing jeans had me feeling like the store was tailored for only me. Upon looking at the price tag, though, I had to make a quick beeline for the door before my coveting eyes could look farther.

Shopping there regularly would require an individual to be a little less concerned with paying rent than I am.

Getting back to more necessary items, there's the U. Village staple: QFC.

Really, I love shopping there; it's a beautiful atmosphere with great variety and nice visuals. But man, those price tags reveal just why it's all so nice to look at.

In comparison to markets like Safeway or Albertson's (where 10 for $10 Bonus Buys save my diet from Top Ramen overload), QFC doesn't offer college-friendly food prices, save a weekly special or two.

Stores intending to support the budget of typical college students seem to get shafted when it comes to U. Village space.

Either way, U. Village obviously has enough appeal to draw the revenue needed to encourage other companies and businesses to open up shop in this high-dollar haven. But wouldn't it be smarter to draw in the business of those so closely invested in the area?

I'll keep watching the newspaper, and maybe one of these days I'll come across a coupon for my blue jeans at Mercer.