STRATEGI MAHASISWA DALAM MENGHADAPI KENAIKAN HARGA KOS DAN MAKANAN DI SEKITAR KAMPUS

Abstract

The increasing cost of student housing and daily meals around university campuses has become a serious financial burden for many Indonesian students, especially those living independently. While previous research has explored the effects of economic constraints on student life, most studies have examined coping efforts separately and have not demonstrated how multiple strategies can operate together as an integrated form of economic adaptation. This study seeks to fill that gap by analyzing how students at Universitas Islam Negeri Kiai Haji Achmad Siddiq Jember respond to rising living expenses through a combination of coordinated efforts. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used, supported by semi-structured interviews, field observations, and document analysis. Data were processed using the Miles and Huberman interactive model, consisting of continuous reduction, presentation, and verification. The findings indicate that students adopt three interrelated strategies: minimizing daily spending through home cooking, relocating to more affordable boarding houses with adequate facilities, and generating extra income through part-time work or small business activities. These results show that students act as capable economic decision-makers who make use of personal resources and peer support networks to maintain financial stability. The study concludes that student financial resilience is a multidimensional outcome driven by practical financial management, social collaboration, and proactive economic action.