The blogosphere can be an overwhelming place, and as a busy college student, you don’t have the time to constantly wade through the Web. Lucky for you, we did the navigating and found nine sites to check out before finally starting your econ homework.

So here are some of our favorite blogs to get you started in four extracurricular interests: fashion, food, finance and comedy.

Fashion

Ofakind.com
Fashionistas: Looking for funky, one-of-a-kind accessories, clothing or even household wares? Here’s your spot.

Tellusfashion.com
This site is actually a forum for fashion bloggers, independent and well known, inside the United States and out, with numerous fashion blog links to follow.

Food

Teenagetaste.com
Erika, a 15-year-old food fanatic, posts creative recipes for treats such as red-velvet pancakes, spiced carrot cake smoothies, caramelized onion mac and cheese and triple-chocolate Nutella cookies.

Grubgirl.com
Grubgirl, based in San Francisco, has bargain grocery-shopping advice, frugal cooking tips and tons of easy recipes.

Bakerella.com
Ever heard of cupcake pops? They’re a new bakery sensation, and were a Bakerella creation! This site is chock-full of fun, easy baking recipes as well as decorating tips.

Finance

brokeassstudent.com
A young student in New York fell into credit card debt, then used this blog to discuss how she got out of it. She also covers how she now manages her money, and how you can do it too!

studenomics.com
This site has been recognized by Fox Business News and The New York Times. The blog’s 20-something-years-old creator studied finance in school and has an ultimate goal to help young people make money and save properly. 

Comedy

Vodkavendettas.com
Satire. Not everyone enjoys it, but the ladies of this blog have a firm grasp of it. For female college students, the rants, sometimes-explicit language and outrageous descriptions of ridiculous college occurrences are relatable and hilarious.

Comedy.com
Comedy.com… real original, right? Despite this, the blog is bursting with comic relief, relating to college and sometimes just life in general.  There is something for everyone, so if you need a good chuckle, check it out.

Finances aren’t exactly infinite in college. In fact, after rent, groceries, books and eating out, there is hardly any money left to play with. This week, Cassidy offers some easy ways to save big when deciding where to eat.

The coupon books distributed in the beginning of the semester are packed with valuable savings. From Penn State clothing to eateries, there is a discount for many downtown businesses. The College Coupons booklet (found at McLanahan’s) has a delicious deal for D.P. Dough: 2 calzones for $9.99 — that’s a savings of $2! The Campus Special saver from the Penn State Bookstore also contains various specials such as a sweet-tooth bargain: Buy one, get one free at Campus Candy.

Many restaurants, especially chains, have rewards programs that can keep your spending to a minimum. Places like Chili’s and T.G.I. Friday’s have incentives that range from free chips and salsa to 20 percent off the bill, just by joining their rewards club. Rotelli sends a coupon for a free appetizer. Panera is also on the rewards bandwagon, giving away pastries or coffee when signing up.

The savings don’t end downtown. As the Super Bowl XLVI approaches, so do great delivery deals. Many tailgate snacks are ready for delivery, some even under $20. Zimmie’s offers a 222 deal: 2 large topping pizzas, 2 wings and 2 two-liter sodas for $19.99. Brother’s Pizza has a tasty combo too, offering 2 large cheese pizzas, 10 breadsticks, and sugar dough balls all for $18.

So whether ordering in or dining downtown, grab the rewards card or coupon booklet. If your wallet could talk, it would thank you.

Photo by Nina Abbott

The prospect of shopping for Christmas gifts can be dismaying when your wallet is thin from skipping work to study, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way to show friends you care! We delve into a world of cheap and holiday-sweet DIY gifts with little to no effort, but with 100 percent love and flair.

Personalized cookies
Supplies: Pillsbury Christmas cookies, cookie icing

Everyone loves a sweet snack during finals, and with Pillsbury cutout Christmas cookies, half the decorating is already done for you! These unbaked cookies cost under $5, and with a $3 icing kit, you have instant personalization. Spell out friends’ names or holiday phrases onto the cookies, and then place them in a baggie for a yummy present.

Personalized, DIY tree ornaments or stockings
Supplies: Christmas ball ornaments and/or stockings, puffy paint, markers

Penn State stockings and bulbs are for sale all over downtown, and with a little puffy paint, your friends can have a one-of-a-kind gift to hang in their dorms! You can also buy bulk holiday candy and fill the stockings with some delicious stuffers before gifting this holiday surprise!

Handmade, self-laminated snowflake cards
Supplies: Colorful paper, scissors, wax paper, iron, markers and card decorations

Christmas cards are cute, but why spend $3 on something when you can create a winter masterpiece from items you already own?

To start, fold your paper into an eight-fold snowflake pattern. Check out this slide show of how to do the easy fold.

Cut the snowflake into desired shape and open. Use the markers and decorations to adorn the paper portion of the snowflake. Make sure all decorations are flat on the snowflake — otherwise lamination will not be possible.

While decorations dry, heat the iron and tear off 2 sheets of wax paper — make each an inch larger than the snowflake on all sides. Lay the snowflake in the center of one wax sheet on a flat surface. Lay the second sheet of wax paper on top. Take a towel or piece of fabric and place it over the snowflake pile, careful not to move the wax paper. Then, lay the hot iron on the towel and iron gently, not pressing hard, for 5-10 minutes, being sure to get all corners and press out any air bubbles.

Remove towel and allow snowflake to cool. Once cool, cut off excess wax paper and voila! Laminated snowflake perfection.

Photos by Jennie Lichtenstein and Kaitlyn Knopp

Breakfast isn’t a common college-student habit, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s the most important meal of the day. Skimping on breakfast leads to cravings mid-morning, which can result in eating snacks that are equivalent to high-calorie air — quite unsatisfying. Making breakfast when those extra 10 minutes of snooze time are calling can be a challenge, but we’ve got some tips to ease into breakfast mode without Pop-Tarts.

Breakfast in a bowl is simple to hold while finishing your homework or whatever last minute morning activity you have. Try mixing steel-cut oatmeal with dried or fresh fruit, and add honey, maple syrup or brown sugar to it. A great oatmeal substitute is brown rice — it’s not just a dinner side! Add milk, almonds and raisins to flavor. Both of these breakfasts are fiber-filled to keep you full throughout morning classes.

Yogurt also makes a great breakfast. Yogurt cups are sold all over campus, but it’s incredibly easy to create your own parfait, and can be done the night before. Simply layer plain yogurt, granola, cereal, fruit, honey, nuts or whatever you would like.

If you’re an eggs-and-toast person, the quickest way to eat an egg is hard-boiled. This is convenient for dorm dwellers, thanks to microwave egg-cookers. You can boil a few eggs at a time and keep them in the refrigerator for about a week (no longer than that!). They make for a nutritious and protein-packed breakfast.

Another morning meal you can make in advance is breakfast loafs. These, if baked properly, can taste like cake, but are actually filling and healthy. Buy a banana, cinnamon or more seasonally appropriate pumpkin bread mix and replace the recommended butter with applesauce. Then, the key step is to add oat bran to the mix. You won’t be able to taste the difference, but it’ll make the bread more substantial.

Most importantly, get creative with breakfast! Nothing can create a funk like eating the same thing every morning. Introduce tortilla wraps to a traditional egg breakfast, or mix nuts and berries into your favorite dry cereal and put it in a bag on the go.

Photo by Ann Sciandra

Go ahead and break your allegiance to your regular coffee spot to try out these five big-chain alternatives, which serve up both great deals and local flair.

Best Hidden Treasure

The Cheese Shoppe, 234 E. Calder Way

Don’t let the Cheese Shoppe’s cave-like location deter you — this quirky cult favorite is a coffee lover’s paradise in the center of downtown. Newcomers may feel strange not running their purchases by a cashier, but it’s OK — for a medium coffee, just leave $1.50 on the counter, and make change if needed from the pile of cash already there. Then grab a cup, choose from the daily roasted brews and serve yourself. Ask one of the friendly employees for a recommendation. (And, yes, they also sell cheese.)

Best Leisurely Sipping Spot
Blue Chip Café, Business Building

If you’re not dashing between classes to snag your caffeine fix, try the Business Building’s Blue Chip Café. It opens out on the building’s stunning main lobby, which could make any Penn Stater wish she’d majored in finance.

And since this is the Business Building, it’s only appropriate the café offers up daily deals — for example, Thursday’s $1.50 Grande Starbucks Coffee. (Other daily promotions feature smoothies, Tazo teas and hot cocoa, according to the café’s website.) Then plop down on a sofa and enjoy the view.

Best Nighttime Caffeine Stop
Irving’s, 110 E. College Ave

‘Tis the season for some late nights, and Irving’s has you covered. While many local coffee shops close before nighttime, Irving’s stays open until midnight Monday through Thursday. That, along with its cozy, purple-walled interior, makes Irving’s a fantastic spot for homework. (Or just pretend to work as you people-watch College Avenue.)

Price-wise, Irving’s is only slightly cheaper than Starbucks. But its 90-cent bagels make it a huge draw, with over 10 varieties to choose from.

Best Campus Convenience
The Gallery Café, Zoller Building Breezeway on Curtin Road

Got a class in Forum? The Gallery Café is a neighboring coffee spot that often goes overlooked. Its soups and sandwiches set it apart from the average Starbucks-selling campus café. Check the blackboard inside for the soup and sandwich of the day.

Best Local Fix
Saint’s Café, 123 W. Beaver Ave

There’s a reason this place stays packed, and it’s not just because their specialty drinks are cheaper on average than Starbucks’. Rather than a grab-and-go joint, Saint’s is known for its serious coffee-shop vibe — book reading and long conversation included. Go guilt-free with organic options and locally made products.

Photo by Nina Abbott