So you’re away at school, living off-campus, and now you’re starting to get a taste of life on your own. Yes, you may be working to pay for your tuition; you’ve got rent to pay, cable, electric and gas bills to cover, maybe even water bills. Somehow, you find yourself not always having money for food, or spending too much money on food and not having enough cash to spread around for your other priorities. If you’re struggling with feeding yourself and budgeting your money, this is for you.
When you move to college and have to grocery shop on your own without Mom and Dad’s Costco or BJ’s club card, you feel kind of lost. Well, where should I shop for certain things? How much should I plan on spending every time, and what do I essentially need at all times? I’m here to tell you that you do need a budget, and you can have some of the pleasurable items that you don’t necessarily need. Like many parents preach, “There’s a difference between what you want and what you need.”
I’ve caught on to a few things here and there, and I am willing to share, because no one likes to feel hungry or stressed out because they don’t have food or money to eat. First things first, make a short list of essential foods that are nutritious and filling.
For example:
- Milk
- Eggs
- Bread
- Cheese
- Peanut butter
- Jelly
- Tuna
- Vegetables (broccoli, carrots, spinach, etc.)
So once you have this basic list down, make sure it sticks in your head as your staples to always have on hand. These are the things that you will need to survive while getting almost every nutrient that you will need. Then you can add on things like:
- Ground turkey
- Chicken breasts
- Pastas
- Pasta sauce
- Frozen foods (things that are pre-made and only require throwing in the oven/microwave)
- Yogurt, pudding, ice cream
- Potatoes
- Bags of salad, etc
Now, some of these things may switch from the staple list or not depending on your specific body and what you need. You want to make sure you have the things that you absolutely need to maintain your health on your staples list.
Now that you have that down pat, you’ve got to figure out where to shop. Your local grocery store would always be the first thing to pop in your head, but you might want to get a little more creative and adventurous when you’re working with a tight budget. Some people also shop at Target or Wal-Mart, but some people, like me, have taken advantage of a grocery store called Aldi. These are all great places to go food shopping, and the trick is not a trick at all. All you have to pay attention to is when these places are holding a sale.
Aldi on the one hand, is pretty much like any other grocery store, but their prices are always much cheaper compared to other grocers’. One side-note for any first time thrifty-grocery-shopper that may pay a visit to Aldi: make sure you have a quarter for a shopping cart (which you will get back when you return the cart), and bring your own shopping bags because they do charge for bags. To check out your local circulator for Aldi, you can visit their website.
Another great place to utilize simply for replenishing food items such as eggs, milk and bread, is your local CVS, or Rite Aid. I have gotten back about eighteen dollars in “ExtraCare Bucks” toward any purchase!
Remember, you don’t need to buy every single item you need at the same place, you can get groceries from maybe two places, and grocery shopping doesn’t need to be done in one day. You can go grocery shopping here and there, and this way you may catch sales, and even have enough food stocked up to last you for a while. Also getting canned soups and/or food is good because you never know, you may need back up.
Lastly, just because something is “on sale” doesn’t always mean that it’s the best option. Be smart about your shopping; you will figure out where you can get what for less. Never push aside quality for quantity either; some things are better for you even if they may be a bit on the pricier side. There are all sorts of places you can visit to do all types of grocery shopping, and as a college student, you should never limit yourself. All in all, be a smart shopper and always keep in mind your health!
For some more helpful tips on thrifty food shopping visit pinkofperfection.com.
Shop safely!
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