One of the trademark experiences of attending college is becoming in charge of your own food. Gone are the days of home cooked dinners and brown bag lunches packed with a sticky note from Mom. The average college student must now figure out how to balance the temptations of newfound independence with being prudent with money.
Food expenses can either make or break a college student’s budget. While eating out with friends is fun and great for one’s mental, social, and emotional well-being, it is equally important to note that eating out too frequently can easily break the bank. I thought I would share some meal prep ideas, tips, and tricks to help busy Honors students save money and stay organized.
Tip #1: Grocery Shop
The first and most important tip is to go grocery shopping. At a first glance, the weekly grocery bill may appear to be an expensive shopping habit, but having a dorm or apartment stocked with various meal ingredients and snacks is crucial to saving money. In the long run, spending about $50-60 dollars a week on groceries is cheaper and more worth the money than spending $10-20 on various lunches and dinners out almost every day of the week.
Tip #2: Make A List
My next tip is to make a list before you go grocery shopping. This will help you stick to your budget while also keeping you focused and organized while at the store. Once you become more experienced, you can get to know all the prices of your favorite weekly groceries. Another favorite trick of mine is to calculate the cost of the grocery bill before you even go into the store. This can help you plan ahead for the week, work out your budget, and maybe even save a little extra money aside for a special treat.
Tip #3: Kitchen Gadgets
My last tip is to invest in various kitchen appliances like slow cookers, Instant Pots, air fryers, and more. Kitchen appliances like these make cooking large batches of food for the week easy and yummy. There is an array of delicious and simple recipes online for each of these types of cooking appliances, so it is easy to remain creative and not feel bored by repetitive meals.
Not only is cooking for yourself a great way to save money and develop a useful skill, but it can also be very soothing and de-stressing after the long days of school and work that accompany being an Honors student. Hope these tips help!
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