Jen's spring break words of wisdom

Dear Jen,

The girls and I are headed to Cancun for spring break. How do I have a killer vacation without spending all my money?

-Cancun Cutie '05

Dear Miss Mexico,

Having a rockin' spring break without going broke is certainly going to be a challenge. You and the girls might have to skip out on Prime Time for the next few weeks in order to save up for your trip. I know that this prospect sounds frightening, but let's review all the expenditures this trip requires.

First of all, you're going to have to get a base tan going-assuming that you don't already have one, which you might. Try to stay in the tanning booth for the maximum allowed time right before you leave on your trip. Sure, this is terrible for you health and may cause skin cancer, but you gotta get the most for your money before break.

You're going to want to look tanned and fit, so get yourself to the gym. You can always hit up the treadmill in Peterson, so at least you won't have to blow bucks on a gym membership.

You will definitely need to cut back on the late night Golden Crust, too. This will not only save you money, but also get you ready for that too-cute bikini and matching sarong you bought at Pac Sun.

A bikini won't be the only new addition to your spring break suitcase, so be sure to scope out the sale racks at Forever 21 and Wet Seal for much needed clubbing apparel. There's no way you'll be caught dead wearing that tube top you wore to Clubbie's last week to a bar in Mexico, so plan on dropping some dough on something snazzy.

That pretty much covers pre-trip spending, but there will be plenty to buy in Mexico. You know there will probably be at least one very late night when you're going to end up buying a cheesy straw sombrero and one of those plastic glasses shaped like a three-foot long test tube.

Count on dropping a small fortune on beverages, cover charges, and the like. The nightlife will be mighty pricey, but consider skimping on day activities to make up for it. Parasailing is overrated, anyway.

And how could I forget to mention a tattoo or bellybutton ring com-memorating the best vacation you've ever had? While getting ink done in Mexico may be cheaper than it is Stateside, I don't know how eager I would be to get a tattoo at a random parlor in Cancun-but hey, whatever floats your boat.

Emergency funds will definitely be needed to cover souvenir piercings or ponchos, so don't forget to put away a little something extra. You wouldn't want to be the only one in your group without mariachi band apparel.

Well, as you can see, there aren't too many corners you can cut when it comes to spring break, but a self-imposed absence from the PC social scene may replenish your wallet just in time for your jaunt to our neighbors to the South. Your friends may not understand your need to stay in on a Saturday night, but it will all work out when you're able to afford another taco and they're splitting a fajita.

Be sure to have a spring break countdown going in your profile, so everyone will know just why you are skipping out on Brad's every week. The countdown will also serve to motivate the girls to save money every time they check your away message.

If you really can't pull yourself away for PC's exhilarating bar scene for a few weeks, then you can always go to good ol' Mom and Dad for money. You may even want to send out a few friendly e-mails or letters to long-lost relatives "just to say hello." You never know-they might be so pleased to hear from you, they'll send you a little something in response to your sweet correspondence.

That's all I can offer, so I hope you get that "killer" spring break you're hoping for. Remember your sunscreen and bottled water (it is Mexico, after all), take lots of pictures, and don't end up on Girls Gone Wild. Have a Corona for me while you're at it.

Your Talented Travel Agent, Jen

Do you have a burning desire to ask us something? Drop us a line at pcportfolio2003@yahoo.com and our team of experts (or just Jen) will get right to work on solving them.