Neil Sidrane estimated he spent nearly $70 on gas alone for the 282-mile trip to move his daughter from Dix Hills, N.Y. to Penn State.

"That's almost twice the cost of last year," he said as he was moving daughter Arielle Sidrane (sophomore-division of undergraduate studies) into her Hiester Hall room.

With gas prices nearly double what they were a year ago and hotels taking advantage of high demand to increase rates, move-in day brings with it high costs.

"I really had no choice," Neil Sidrane said. "We had to get her here."

In an economic landscape increasingly focused on cost-cutting, move-in weekend throws thrifty consumers for a loop and local businesses into a period of jubilant returns.

"Between Wal-Mart and Giant and textbooks and buying stuff, it's around $600," Rodeina Fattah of Washington, D.C. said of move-in costs. "It's unavoidable."

Fattah factored the economy into her decision of which mode of transportation her family would use to move in her son, Aly Gamaleldin (sophomore-finance.)

"We were planning to send him on his own by plane, but with prices we decided to come together with the car," she said.

Though nightly rates have gone up slightly from last year, the Days Inn Penn State, 240 S. Pugh St., was fully booked for move-in weekend, front desk clerk Nacho Sofo (sophomore-philosophy and mathematics) said.

"[Higher rates don't] stop people from getting rooms here," Sofo said. "We're always sold out during this weekend."

Sofo said the hotel charged $149 per night for move-in weekend, while at other times of the year, the hotel usually charges $79 per night.

Liz Hartigan (sophomoreelementary education) said the economy would influence her spending habits.

"The best example is going to shop at Wal-Mart," Hartigan said. "You find stuff cheap there, and everything else is so expensive."

"You watch the prices," echoed her father Tom. "Don't overspend."

Woodbury, N.Y. resident Kristie Williams (freshman-animal science) spent more than $1,000 on textbooks for this fall.

"I assumed about $500. It was double that," her mother Melissa Williams said. "But it's been a long time since we were in college."

Melissa Williams said the economy would influence the financial advice she gives her daughter.

"You're not going to be as generous," she said. "You're going to be a little tougher."

Although the economy is straining on students' wallets, the weekend has been profitable for local businesses.

Jim French, the manager of McClanahan's Downtown Market, 116 S. Allen Street, said the influx of students is a "big lift" for business.

"People buy more of the basics right off the bat," French said, referring to items such as light bulbs, ketchup and cleaning products as big sellers. "We double our sales."

Fran Johnson, manager of CVS Pharmacy, 116 W. College Ave., said the period between move-in weekend and Halloween is the busiest period for business.

Johnson said the return of students causes revenue to double.

"We pretty much stock up on notebooks and cleaning supplies," Johnson said.

Curtis Letcavage (senior-journalism) headed to Wal-Mart, 1665 N. Atherton St., on Sunday to make sure he stocked up on supplies

"With these prices, you can't be wrong," he said.