After squandering money on bars, fast food, clothes and road trips, students are often left penniless before midterms, begging and pleading with parents for more pocket change.

But even with clothing and housing aside, some students are faced with the additional cost of Greek life, which can raise college expenses an average of $300 per year.

The typical fraternity social bill is spent on intramural sports, decorations, socials and philanthropies. Some social bills include the price of alcohol and others have general or national dues, which can amount to about $15 to $30.

Although the price may seem high, some fraternity members believe Greek membership is an invaluable part of college life, and they don't mind working to pay for it. Fraternities often provide in-house employment that can cover the cost of dues.

Doug Knapp, a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, 220 N. Burrowes Road, works as the fraternity's assistant cook and believes his fraternity bill is definitely worth it.

"It's all relative -- you would spend the money on something else anyway and wouldn't have anything to show for it," said Knapp, who must also pay half of his college bills.

"I help serve the dinners, I'm in charge of the kitchen and I watch the budget," Knapp said. "I basically act as a liaison between the cook and the brothers."

But many fraternity members find kitchen work mundane and time consuming and prefer a simpler, though more painful, solution.

"We have some brothers that donate plasma at Sera-Tec," said Tom Butts, president of Pi Lambda Phi fraternity, 321 Fraternity Row.

Matt Homsher, president of Alpha Phi Delta fraternity, 402 S. Burrowes St., said plasma donations are also extremely popular among members of his fraternity.

In another attempt to make payment easier, most fraternities have payment plans. Payments can be spread out during five months, Homsher said, adding that the fraternity itemizes costs at the beginning of the semester, making it seem less expensive.

And some fraternities have proven that membership can be cheaper than living on campus. Homsher said his fraternity's house bill is actually $400 cheaper than living on campus.

"We use it as an incentive to get members to live in the house," Homsher said.

But the collection of fraternity dues isn't a prime concern for officers. There is a certain amount of tolerance when it comes to billing.

"We are definitely lenient," said Scott Sterner, social chairman of Beta Theta Pi. "We won't call the collection agency on one of our brothers."