Staying Woke Without Going Broke:
A College Student’s Guide to Enjoying Tuscaloosa on a Budget
Yet again it’s been another long, challenging week and you absolutely cannot wait for the weekend to get here. There’s just one problem, it’s only Monday. Sound familiar?
As college students, we’ve all been there and know better than most that it’s all too easy to catch a bad case of the Mondays. Don’t worry though, we have a couple of perfect cures.
1. Cobb Theatres Hollywood 16 & IMAX
At the Cobb Theatre, Tuscaloosa residents can go see movies at highly discounted prices thanks to the theater’s Terrific Tuesday deal. Located on Old Greensboro Road, the Cobb shows the latest and greatest movies and provides college students on a budget with an affordable way to relax during the week. With the Cobb’s Terrific Tuesday deal, there’s no planning required, just pick a showtime for that new movie you’ve been wanting to see, grab a friend or two, and head over to the Cobb Hollywood 16 &; IMAX Theatre. On any Tuesday, you can buy a ticket for any movie, at any time of the day, sit in any seat, and pay just $5 per ticket, it’s that simple!
Concession Stand in the Cobb Theatre in Tuscaloosa
If $5 movies aren’t enough to pique your interest, you can also join the Cobb’s Moviegoer Rewards Program where you earn points with each ticket you buy! As your points start to accumulate, you can redeem them in exchange for free movies, free popcorn, and free sodas. You’ll even get a free small popcorn just for registering! All you have to do is drop by the box office the next time you’re at the movies, ask for a membership card, and take a minute to register it online while you’re waiting for your movie to start. Next step, earn big rewards! You’ll earn two points per movie ticket and you can redeem rewards starting at 10 points. So if you’re looking for something fun and affordable to do with your friends on a weekday, the Cobb’s Terrific Tuesday deal and rewards program make it the perfect place to go!
For a list of exceptions regarding Terrific Tuesday tickets visit:
https://www.cobbtheatres.com/hollywood16.aspx
For more information on the Cobb Moviegoer Rewards Program, including how to register your membership card, point values, and a list of rewards, visit:
https://www.cobbtheatres.com/rewards.asp
2. The Snow Hinton Park’s Space Net Slide
Located next to the Bowlero bowling alley, the Space Net Slide in Snow Hinton Park has become a popular attraction among Tuscaloosa residents of all ages. While at first a slide may sound like something that belongs on a children’s playground and not on a list of hotspots for college kids, the Space Net Slide is anything but your average kid’s slide. As soon as you enter the park, your eye is immediately drawn to the Space Net Slide’s futuristic design and impressive height. Standing at a somewhat intimidating 38 ft. tall, this metallic silver slide gives off quite a striking silhouette with its elaborate entryway and spiraled shape. Those brave enough to take the 38 ft. plunge must first climb up a bright red spiderweb-shaped net, cross a suspension bridge, and then brace themselves as they prepare to slide back down to Earth.
Snow Hinton Park Space Net Slide
For those looking for something a little less intimidating, Snow Hinton Park has plenty of other ways for people wanting to take advantage of the nice weather to enjoy themselves. If you’re looking for a good place to work out, the park has a well-lit, paved, 1-mile long outdoor walking trail that’s perfect for runners or for anyone who just wants to enjoy a nice stroll outside. There are also multiple groups of shaded, well-lit picnic tables that have an ample amount of easily accessible power outlets and are perfect for doing homework or enjoying a nice meal outside. Surrounding the picnic tables, the vast majority of the park is taken up by a large field that’s covered in lush, green grass. This area is perfect for anyone who wants to get a group of friends together to play soccer, football, ultimate frisbee, etc. It’s also a great place for dog owners to spend some quality playtime with their pups. No matter whether you’re looking for a little excitement, or just want to spend a nice, quiet day outside, Snow Hinton Park is a wonderful place to visit!
For more information on the park’s location and various amenities visit:
https://www.tcpara.org/parks/view/snow-hinton-park
3. Tuscaloosa Public Library
While visiting the library may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about staying woke, remember the old saying “don’t judge a book by its cover”. The Tuscaloosa Public Library (TPL) is by far one of the most underutilized sources of free entertainment among college students. Here are just a few of the many ways having a membership card for the Tuscaloosa Public Library can protect your wallet and save your sanity:
- Love music? Listen to over 15 million songs and get access to hundreds of playlists ad-free at no charge using the library’s Freegal Music program.
- Want to learn a new language? Your library card gives you free access to Rocket Languages’ online courses.
- Looking for a good audiobook to listen to but too broke for an Audible subscription? Use the TPL’s Libby app on your smartphone and get instant access to thousands of free eBooks and audiobooks, including every single one of the Harry Potter books.
- Feel like watching a movie but don’t want to pay for Redbox? Swing by the public library and choose from a selection of over 10,000 movies. Check out a few DVDs using your library card, invite some friends over to your dorm or apartment, pop some popcorn, and let the movie marathon begin.
- Have you ever wanted to learn how to use Photoshop, improve your career skills, or learn how to write a best-selling song? Using the library’s Lynda program, you can get free access to the 15,000+ courses and tutorials on LinkedIn Learning which cover a wide variety of topics regarding technology use, creativity, social skills, career improvement, business knowledge, etc.
Tuscaloosa Public Library
In addition to these services, the Tuscaloosa Public Library also holds a wide variety of events each month, all of which are completely free to attend. Movie lovers should check out the library’s Classic Film Club which has previously shown popular movies such as Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo and Marvel’s Black Panther. The library also offers a variety of interesting and useful computer classes including classes that teach you how to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on a basic, intermediate, or advanced level. There are also classes for those interested in digital photography and other forms of art and design. No matter what you’re interested in, the Tuscaloosa Public Library has something for you!
For more information on the library’s location and hours of operation visit:
https://www.tuscaloosa-library.org/locations-hours/
For more information on how to get your free library card visit:
https://www.tuscaloosa-library.org/departments/circulation/get-a-library-card/
