Even before students have to worry about finding full-time jobs after graduation, many are looking to make extra cash to counter rising prices of commodities ranging from sandwiches to gas.

Jessica Titlow recently began working at Otto's Café to counter rising campus living expenses. It's the first job she's had during school, she said.

"I was looking at my balances, and I thought, 'This is going to run faster than I thought,' and I don't want to be screwed," Titlow said.

Off-campus job schedules, however, can be hard to handle with school work, Monica Gonzalez (junior-communication sciences and disorders) said.

Gonzalez said that she used to work at Are U Hungry for extra cash, but left because the late-night shifts were "crazy."

Gonzalez said that when she stopped by Are U Hungry, 111 Sowers St., this fall, she noticed "the prices have increased and some of the combos are gone."

Alan Boujaoude, one of Are U Hungry's owners, confirmed prices have been affected.

"We could make things better at this store by buying new things, but we're not doing that," Boujaoude said. "We're working with what we have."

Katrena Keeler, a Union Street staff assistant, said that she believes the current economic crisis has made "retention somewhat better" among students jobs.

Keeler said her office receives five to 20 applicants a day, but that "it isn't really that much different" than other time periods.

Some students are trying to make better economical decisions with their money.

"I think before I go home for the weekend if it's really worth the money," Jessica Titlow (junior-elementary education) said.

Anne-Marie Moore (freshman-psychology) found a job at Sears in the Nittany Mall to help pay for the increasing costs of books, gas and tuition.

As far as business goes, Moore has noticed "more customers returning items," she said. "Saturdays used to be the busy days, but even before football started, I've noticed they've slowed down."

Some student employees, however, have not noticed the economy affecting their jobs.

Jason Johnson (senior-music performance and integrative arts) works for Educational Technology Services at Penn State.

He said he is "absolutely happy" with his wages and sees no economic affect on his work.