Meals plans vary significantly in price. To determine if yours is worth the investment, divide the price of the plan by the number of meals included. [2] X Research source The hidden expense of meal plans is that you often can’t use all of your meals, so you pay for more than you get. To avoid this, visit the dinning hall for every meal you are entitled to. Typically, meal plans offer the choice of two or three meals a day. If you don’t believe you will be able to get to lunch most days of the week, consider signing up for two meals a day. Snack on other items during the middle of the day. [3] X Research source Meals plans have plenty of additional benefits. They offer a greater variety of food than you would typically be able to afford shopping, meaning that you can eat healthier. It saves you time and effort during a busy period of your life. Best of all, the dining hall is a great opportunity to socialize. Although it is typically against the rules, you can get the most of your meal plan by bringing some back home with you. Take a Ziploc bag and bring back some non-perishables, like baked goods. This can be a good way to turn your two meals per day into three.
Restaurants in college towns can be cheap, but don’t be deceived. Even the cheapest restaurant food can be several times more expensive than food cooked at home. Also avoid precooked meals, like TV dinners. Though cheaper than eating out, they are more expensive than home cooked meals and generally less hardy.
Consider purchasing vitamins. Cheap, hardy meals are often short on fruit and vegetables. You can compensate for this with vitamin supplements.
For midday snacks, consider nuts, bananas, and cheese. Try to buy your snacks in the bulk aisle. Food is typically cheaper there.
Many academic departments also have their own coffee machines. These can be a useful way to cut down on the expense of your caffeine habit.
Periodically, maybe once a month, check your bank account to determine if you are on track. If not, readjust your budget to reflect your current funds.
Many stores have cards that allow you to get special deals. Be sure to get one of these. It only takes a little bit of time to sign up and the savings can be significant.
There are now websites that will allow you to input the month and your location to determine what is currently in season. Do this prior to writing up your shopping list, so that you will have a plan before entering the grocery store.
Some of the best foods to buy in bulk include: oatmeal, dry pasta, dry beans, and dry rice. Until they are cooked, these items last virtually forever. That means you don’t need to worry about them going bad because you bought more than you could eat.
Consider purchasing a mini-fridge. This will allow you to keep some perishable items in your dorm room. A hot plate, which generally costs around $50, is a good way to quickly heat up items in a small space. A pan is important. Also, consider a large wooden spoon that can be used to stir and serve food. Alternatively, consider equipping your room with some items that don’t need preparation. These include fruits, nuts, and processed snack foods.
Meat is both expensive and can cause serious illness if improperly cooked. Better foods to start out with include rice, beans, and pasta. Cook books often have overly complicated recipes that require very specific ingredients and equipment you might not have. Stick to the internet. It is replete with recipes that will help you make use of whatever ingredients you have on hand.
Tossing bananas into your oatmeal is a good way to provide additional flavor, make it hardier, and finish off fresh food. Bananas are typically one of the cheapest fruits available. They can be around $0. 40 per pound. Keep in mind that these tend to have a short shelf life. [13] X Research source
Beef and broccoli Chicken Vegetables Ground beef Ramen can be as cheap as $0. 20 - $0. 40 per pack: Just add water, heat in microwave, and serve.
Rice and beans stay fresh indefinitely until they are cooked. After cooking them though, they will only keep about five days. [18] X Research source Rice and beans are incredibly adaptable. Try throwing in some sausage or chicken. Creole spices and hot sauce can give it flavor, as can onions. You can also consider eating it with salsa and chips.
You can use a variety of sauces. Tomato based sauces and alfredo sauces can be purchased premade at the store. You can also simply put olive oil on top of your pasta, for some healthy fats. Pasta is also a good meal to incorporate cheese. Mozzarella and Parmesan go well on top of pasta. For more vitamins, incorporate mushrooms, spinach, peas, onions, tomatoes, or cooked kale. You can throw in all sorts of meat, including ground beef, chicken, and bacon. Try multigrain pasta for more energy. Some discount stores sell pasta for only $0. 75 a pound.
Soup can be a very cheap way to make sure that you get through your vegetables before they go back. Simply throw them in some broth and let them simmer. Eat with bread. Cheese is a cheap, high protein, high calorie food. Bagels are a hearty, cheap snack. [21] X Research source Macaroni and cheese can be sold in packs of 3 for $1. 00. Potatoes can be bought in bulk. A 10-pound bag may cost only $3. 49. Potatoes keep particularly well. A 10-pound bag of chicken legs can cost as little as $4. 99-$6. 99.
