As we all know, it is super easy to put on pounds in college. With no parent to keep an eye on you or your eating habits, things could get out of control. As an adult, you have complete control over your own diet. Budgeting goes hand-in-hand with this. The “eat whatever you want whenever you want” mantra tends to put a dent in your spending money. Put that money to better use, like clothes!
Here are three tips that will stave off the Freshmen 15 and save you money.
1. Don’t buy too many snacks
The easiest way to keep from overeating is to make it harder to eat. The best way to do this is by not having a lot of snacks around your dorm in the first place. If you do want to snck while binge watchining, go for healthier items. Only buy what you know you will eat. Snacks are not an item to splurge on, so be smart.
Chipotle is a staple of college life, but eating there everyday will tear your budget apart. If you have an apartment, try cooking at home. It is a lot cheaper in the long run. If not, check #3.
3. Use your meal plan
Using your meal plan is as close as “free” as you are going to get. Your parents already paid for it. And the food isn’t always bad! And even if it is, it’s still “free”.
4. Go to the gym
A lot of schools have gym memberships included with tuition. If so, hit it up! If not, look into the local gyms for student discounts. Going to the gym is terrible. We all know it. But having a gym buddy is a great way to motivate yourself and have fun while losing weight.
These tips do not cover the wide range of events and occurences that can happen in a year. But they’re pretty solid tips for most things. The most important thing to remember is to do what makes you happy!