BY ERIN POWERS // FEB. 29, 2012 //

If you’re a college student and you’ve somehow figured out how to grow a money tree, or you’ve miraculously managed to save up thousands of dollars from that part-time job you had over the summer, kudos to you. I’m living off the $50 a week my parents so generously provide me as I finish my last semester of college.

Needless to say, you won’t find me sipping Goose on the rocks at the Top of the Hub anytime soon. However, I am a sucker for a good time and I seem to find myself a cold beer and a good atmosphere most weekends. Over the years, I’ve gathered up a list (in no particular order) of my favorite spots in Boston.

On the top of that list is Flann O’Brians, located next to the Museum of Fine Arts. If you’re looking for a cheap beer, this is your bar. With drafts for around $3 and low-priced pitchers, you’ll be sure to leave happy. It’s a mellow atmosphere, but a fine place to bring a rowdy group. If you’re feeling that unexpected urge to publicly humiliate yourself, then karaoke Saturdays here would be a good pick. They also have trivia on Tuesdays, and if you’re looking for a game of pool they have that, too.

If you’re looking for a more up-beat setting, but there’s only a lonely Andrew Jackson left in your pocket, the Hub Pub is a good spot for a drink. This two-floor bar is located downtown and offers ridiculously cheap pitchers and greasy finger foods to cure those “drunchies.” The upstairs lounge is a nice spot; it has a good view of the dance floor below and has an “I’m wealthy enough for V.I.P” feel to it. Plus, they play a good mix of rock and dance music, as well as throwbacks and top 40.

Bleacher Bar is one of my all-times favorites, in part because of its location. This one-of-kind-bar is found on Lansdowne Street in the actual bleachers of Fenway Park. The prime time to go is obviously during a Sox game, but the place is alive year-round. And it’s sure to be full of broke college students since the prices are extremely low. The atmosphere lacks nothing and should be experienced by everyone at least once—unless you’re from New York.

The Enormous Room on Mass Ave. in Cambridge is probably the most upscale place I visit. However, $3 Narragansetts work for anyone on a tight budget. A good pregame before you head to this spot couldn’t hurt. The atmosphere is classy, but the crowd isn’t snobby. There is always good music and the inside is cozy, great for a weekday cocktail or a weekend night out on the town.

Check back with this blog for other deals and discounts. When it comes to socializing in Boston on a college student’s budget, every penny counts. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t like having an extra $5 in their pocket for the McDonalds drive-thru in the wee hours of the morning?