Grocery shopping on a college budget can be stressful. It’s so easy just to step into the grocery store and buy everything you want. Before you know it, you’ve dropped $100 on this week’s groceries. I’m not saying that you should stick to Easy Mac and Ramen Noodles every night, but if you have a kitchen to cook in, take advantage of it! It seems like trying to establish a healthy diet on a small budget can be near impossible. Here are some tips to help you save money on your next grocery trip:
Shop local. One of the advantages of living in Boone is being super close to local produce grown right here in our back yard. Veggies, Fruit, and More, located on King Street, is a great place to get all of your favorite seasonal foods cheap! Veggies, Fruit, and More provides a wide selection of fruits that you cannot find at the grocery store. Shopping local helps local businesses and you can also ask questions about where the produce is coming from and establish a relationship with local producers. To learn more about Veggies, Fruit, and More, check out their Facebook page here.
DO NOT go into the grocery store hungry. It is as easy and simple as that. If you go into the grocery store hungry, chances are your grocery bill is going to double because you are basically going to crave everything in the store. This can be the easiest way to help cut down on your grocery bill.
Stay frozen. The best way to make sure that food does not get spoiled is by keeping it refrigerated or frozen. The best things to keep frozen are the things that will go bad first. Consider buying frozen berries and vegetables that you only take out only when you are going to use . This way, you do not have to throw away a bunch of spoiled food at the end of the week. Frozen bags of fruits and vegetables are also cheaper than fresh ones. This will help save on your grocery bill in the long run.
Remember your kitchen space. Chances are, you are sharing a kitchen with some others. While grocery shopping, think about if you actually have room to store food that you do not necessarily need. Yes, I am talking about the extra bag of Oreos. Take into consideration what you already have in your pantry and what you can actually fit. If you think you can’t fit it, don’t buy it.
Be smart. Whenever you are grocery shopping, sales and deals are something that attracts your attention the most. Especially deals such as “Get 4 for $6!”. Chances are, you do not need four of the same thing. Many grocery stores still offer the promotional price even if you stick to buying one. Be honest with yourself, one is all you need.
Become a member. Most grocery stores in the Boone community offer membership deals to their store. For example, Harris Teeter VIC Card offers 10% off your entire grocery bill for students during certain months. Ingles also offer a membership card to receive lower prices throughout the store. Yes, it can be annoying to keep a small plastic tab on your keys, but at the end of the day it will save you money. Also, don’t forget your coupons!
Get the essentials: Keeping the essentials in your kitchen will help you be prepared when you have one of those nights “you have nothing to cook.” Essentials also are pretty cheap in the store. Here are some items to keep around at all times:
· Rice
· Granola
· Potatoes
· Canned/Frozen Fruit
· Pasta
· Peanut Butter
· Canned/Frozen Vegetables
· Cereal
· Oats
· Popcorn
· Tortillas
Next time you go to the grocery store, remember these tips to help you get everything you need on your college budget!