Imagine this: You’re studying away in your dorm when you suddenly get a hankering for some study snacks. You open your pantry door to the shocking realization that the seemingly endless stock of goodies your parents bought you in the beginning of the semester has suddenly vanished. What’s a collegiette to do?
The only solution is to go grocery shopping, which can be an expensive and long process without your parents there to make the decisions for you. Whether you’re shopping for the first time on your own or are a seasoned Publix-goer, here are a few thoughts that go through all collegiettes’ heads while grocery shopping in college.
You walk into the grocery store determined to make healthy and frugal decisions.
You stock up on the essentials like milk and bread feeling all smug and responsible…
Until you have to pass by the bakery… One box of cookies can’t hurt, right?
Back to making healthy decisions, you head to the breakfast aisle for granola bars.
Why are there so many? It shouldn’t take 10 minutes to decide on a granola bar brand.
You carefully try to analyze the nutrition facts of a few boxes but then…
Okay, focus! Time to get some produce.
Why is fruit so expensive? I could get enough boxes of Pop-Tarts for a month at this price.
You head over to the freezer aisles for some frozen meals and/or or ice cream.
Wait, Ben & Jerry’s is BOGO?!
You manage to muster enough will power…
But somehow, one thing leads to another and soon your cart starts to look a little like this:
So you decide to ignore the jars of Nutella calling your name and head to the checkout line.
Wait, that total can’t be right.
Maybe you do need your parents to rein you in with the groceries.