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UCSB MHP
  • Home
  • MHP Services
  • Navigating Teletherapy
  • Coping Tools: Stress reduction, sleep, relaxation and more!
    • Relaxation and Mindfulness updated
    • Reducing Stress >
      • Where is my stress coming from?
      • How do you know when you are stressed?
      • Coping with stress when it has already arrived
      • Reducing less healthy coping strategies
    • Sleep Hygiene
    • Getting Involved
    • Building Academic & Personal Resilience
    • Tackling financial challenges
    • Breakup Bootcamp
    • breakup bootcamp worksheet
    • Imposter Syndrome
    • Social Media and Mental Health
  • Building & Maintaining Close Relationships
    • Basic Psychological Needs in Relationships
    • Romantic Relationships
  • Mental Health Concerns
  • Suicidal Thoughts & Behaviors
  • Unique Challenges for Specific Student Groups
    • Freshman Transition
    • 1st Generation College Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Dream scholars, undocumented students & their families
    • LGBTQPIA+ Students
    • International Students
    • STEM Students >
      • Women in STEM
    • Greek Life
    • Athletes
  • Making Changes & Navigating Transitions
  • MHP events & CAPS wellness programs
  • Our team 2022-2023
  • Application to be a MHP
  • Counseling & Psychological Services
  • Contact
  • Wellness Apps & Books
UCSB MHP

If they only knew:
Social Consequences
of 1st Gen Pressures

Your friends invite you to grab a coffee, go to dinner, or see a concert on Friday night, but it all costs money. You want to join in the fun but also need to balance the need to limit costs and save money.

"I can't afford that."
"I don't have time to go...I need to study."
"I'm not hungry. You all go ahead and go."

Just having to explain to friends why you can't join in can feel exhausting and sometimes even embarrassing. Rather than engage in this conversation over and over again, some students become more socially isolated or withdrawn.

So how can you create a fun and engaged social life with friends while minding costs and the other responsibilities you have on your plate?


  • Have a direct discussion with select friends about these challenges. Other students may not understand just how taxing it is to say no to activities you just can't swing. Get a few allies on board by letting them know why this is stressful and ask if you all can work together to find creative ways to make fun time more affordable and doable within your schedule. 
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@UCSBMentalHealthPeers First Gen Experience: $5 has to stretch a lot further than a latte. #LatteOrLightBill #FriendsButNoFunds #1stGenExperience  #UCSB
  • Get creative with social activities. Designate a night in the week where you all get together regularly to watch a movie or binge on your favorite Netflix series. Perhaps cook together instead of going out. Or check out some of the free concerts and events that are happening all the time. Remember that most of the fun you have with others is because of the company you keep, not necessarily the thing you are doing.
  • Budget for special activities that you want to go to.  Check out some of the strategies for creating a better financial balance so that you can build in activities that you really are wanting to do.

  • FREE/affordable social events happening on campus. Check out the events below that happen around campus for students.
    • https://aspb.as.ucsb.edu/aspb-events/
      • ​concerts, movies, festivals
    • https://recreation.ucsb.edu/events​​​
      • sports tournaments, dance, yoga 
    • https://shoreline.ucsb.edu/events​
      • check out all events hosted by student orgs
    • https://www.ucsbgauchos.com/landing/index ​
      • soccer, basketball, tennis, and more ucsb games 
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