One of the best FAU hacks I wish someone told me when I was a freshman: Never. Pay. For. Anything. Several FAU clubs and organizations offer free gear, free food and even free condoms on campus. Basically, you can knock all the freebies on this list off your dorm shopping list.

1. Free Food Fridays

When: Every Friday 12-2 p.m.
Where: The Student Union (on all campuses)

Courtesy of Student Union Productions, students have the option of picking up some free food at the union. Sometimes it’s ice cream, other times it’s nachos, but every time, it’s free.

All you have to do is like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter when you get there.
 
 

2. Free Scantrons

When: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Where: First floor of the library, Student Government office (SU 215)

Scantrons are twice as easy to get as free food. When test day rolls around, don’t waste any money in the bookstore buying Scantrons when you can pick up free ones in the library or SG’s office on the second floor of the Student Union. No strings attached.

3. Free Apparel

When: 24-hour tailgate, Sept. 13

Where: Rat’s Mouth (outside the FAU Football Stadium)

If you plan to show up for the big game any way, you can pick up some free t-shirts, towels and other FAU swag.

You’ll also find free gear on the Breezeway most weekdays when all the clubs and organizations set up tables and pass things out. Basically never buy FAU gear. By your first semester, you’ll have enough free stuff to last you the full four years.
 
 
 
 

4. Free Condoms

When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Office of Health and Wellness, all day in lobbies of dorms and apartments

Where: Office of Health and Wellness (SS8-Room 222, over the Breezeway cafeteria), lobby of all dorms and apartments on campus, traveling “Woody” cart

You can get free condoms in more places on campus than you can get free Scantrons. Stop by the Office of Health and Wellness on the second floor of the Breezeway to grab, no questions asked. If you’re living on campus, you can run down to the lobby (even during the oddest hours) and they should have a bowl of condoms.

At random times while you’re walking down the Breezeway on your way to class, you’ll find the “Woody” cart loaded with condoms galore. Go ahead and grab a few, no one will judge you.

5. Free HIV Testing

When: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., every other Tuesday while classes are in session

Where: Office of Health and Wellness (SS8-Room 222, over the Breezeway cafeteria)

If you didn’t pay attention to our last tip, you might find yourself in a situation where you need to get tested — just in case. Free rapid HIV testing is available to students in the Office of Health and Wellness two to three times a month. You get the results in less than 30 minutes and they have plenty of educational material for free to learn more about sexually transmitted diseases.