Our Opinion: Students should enjoy their time in an economically viable fashion.

Today marks the unofficial beginning of Spring Break for students and faculty.

After you complete your final classes, some of you will no doubt be driving to the airport to fly off to some exotic destination.

As tight as times are across the country, many students will be forced to alter their vacation destinations.

Instead of a traditional trip to Cancun or Panama Beach, perhaps students should consider other tourist locales such as Myrtle Beach or Boone.

There are many other great ways to be fiscally responsible during these difficult economic times and still have fun.

For students above the legal drinking age, buying alcohol at the grocery store and drinking at home with friends will save a lot of money compared to a night at a bar.

If you’re looking to save money on food over break, buy a venus fly trap and let it do all the work for you.

Not only are the insects it collects a great source of protein, but the mere thought of eating these vermin will take some of the bite off of that hangover.

When you and your vacation companions are in need of a place to sleep in your barren beach apartment. IKEA, the Swedish furniture superstore, will sell you a cheap bed made of fiberboard to rest upon.

Your bed will be far less expensive than any hostel and will also serve as a nice medium for a piece of graffito.

If worst comes to worst, and you find yourself penniless, lonely and stateside, there are always the Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek marathons on the Sci Fi channel.

And if you just want to stay close to home on the cheap, consider one of North Carolina’s many beaches.

But whatever you do over Spring Break, try and be responsible with your money. Remember that the nation is in a recession and thousands of people are not so fortunate during these trying times.

Also, relax, take a joke and have some fun.