Affordable living in Seattle

Cheap eats:

• Gordito’s Healthy Mexican Food.: With heaping portions and rock-bottom prices, this health-conscious restaurant will serve you a lot of food for just a little cash.
• Mr. Gyro’s: With a dinner plate under seven bucks and some of the friendliest worker you’ll ever meet, you can’t go wrong with these over-stuffed sandwiches with all the fixings at cool prices.
• Continental Pastry Shop: This family-run business prides itself on fresh ingredients, low prices and excellent service. Whether you order breakfast, lunch or dinner, you’ve got to save room for some baklava and Greek coffee.

Hoppin’ happy hours:

• Del Rey: With a happy hour from 4-7 and again from 11-1 a.m., this double drink discount brings double the fun. In addition, there’s a $4 menu during these hours so you can munch and sip the night away.
• The Apartment Bistro: This chic lounge offers half-off all wine on Tuesdays and $5 martinis every day from 4-7 p.m. On Monday nights, all guests can enjoy a free movie and popcorn.
• East Lake Bar and Grill: Another double happy hour from 3-6 and 10-close every single day. The whole menu, including food, wine, well drinks and drafts, is well under 5 Washingtons.
  

Shop till you drop:

• Seattle Premium Outlets: Shop Ralph Lauren, J.Crew, Tommy Hilfiger and more, you’ll find savings on some of the most popular brands at this outlet just north of Seattle.
• Fury Consignment: This wildly popular second-hand shop carries women’s designer brands for less. A sale at this store reminds us of a New Kids on the Block concert in ‘91—frantic females pushing and clawing their way to the best finds.
• Le Frock: This French-inspired boutique sells both contemporary and vintage men’s and women’s wear, and allows you the option of ordering online. Do your Seattle shopping here if brands like Prada, Marc Jacobs and Chanel tickle your fancy.

Affordable housing:

• Stay out of the city. First and foremost, if you’re on a budget, look outside of the city for a place to live. Keep an eye out for student housing advertisements as the rent tends to be cheaper in those complexes.
• Location, location, location. The northern and east ends of Seattle tend to be pricier, so look for something on the south end. The U-district is where most students call home, so give that area a gander as well.
• Go green and save green. Seattle is a great place for jobs, but living in the city can be costly. That’s why a large percentage of residents use the transit system to save money on gas and expensive parking for their commutes to work (like bus rides for under $2). It’s also a great way to help the environment by getting more cars off the roads.