College doesn't give you much time to make money.You will often need to eat on a budget, which means no fine dining restaurants in your list, and you might not have the time for elaborate cooking.Cheap, quick, and easy ways to get by during college will not be healthy.Determine if a meal plan is the most efficient option for you.
Step 1: Make the most of your college meal plan.
You might have to purchase a meal plan if you live in the dorms.You might want to purchase one if you don't.Meal plans are usually cheaper than eating out.Determine what plan is appropriate for your schedule by calculating the expenses.There are different meals plans in price.Divide the price of the plan by the number of meals included to see if it's worth it.Meal plans can be expensive because you can't use all of your meals.You can avoid this by visiting the dinning hall.Meal plans usually offer two or three meals a day.If you don't believe you'll be able to get to lunch most days of the week, consider signing up for two meals a day.During the middle of the day, snack on other items.There are many additional benefits to meals plans.You can eat healthier because they offer a greater variety of food than you would typically be able to afford.During a busy time in your life, it saves you time and effort.The dining hall is a great place to hang out.If you bring some back home with you, you can get the most out of your meal plan.Take a bag with non-perishables in it.It is possible to turn your two meals per day into three.
Step 2: You can learn to cook.
Students rarely cook before entering college.It is the cheapest way to eat.There are many cheap, hardy recipes.Don't be fooled by cheap restaurants in college towns.Food at a restaurant can be more expensive than food at home.Precooked meals, like TV dinners, should be avoided.They are less hardy and more expensive than home cooked meals.
Step 3: Know what you need to focus on.
The best sources of energy are found in the form of sugars and fats.Sugary foods give a short burst of energy.Purchase vitamins.Fruits and vegetables are often not included in cheap, hardy meals.You can take vitamins with this.
Step 4: There are snacks that you can eat.
A large lunch can make you sleepy at the end of the day.The best way to make the most of your food is to eat small, frequent meals with healthy items.Consider nuts, bananas, and cheese for midday snacks.You can buy your snacks in the bulk aisle.Food is usually cheaper there.
Step 5: Drink a lot of water.
A good source of energy is water.When you are trying to make the most of a less than fulfilling meal, it can make you feel full.You can drink a large glass of water 30 minutes before your meal.
Step 6: You can watch for free food.
Free food is offered at many campus organizations.If you want to get a free bite to eat, try to drop by as many as possible.Academic departments have their own coffee machines.These can help you cut down on your coffee habit.
Step 7: A budget is created.
If you don't have the funds to feed yourself before the semester ends, you will starve yourself.Determine how much money you have for food at the beginning of the year.Divide that number by the number of weeks in your term.You can only spend this amount at the store.You should check your bank account at least once a month to see if you are on track.Readjusting your budget will reflect your current funds.
Step 8: Look for deals.
You can find coupons and sales in the local newspaper.Know the best places to buy specific types of food.Some stores have great prices for pre-made meals, while others only sell fresh produce.You can get special deals if you have a store card.You need to get one of these.It only takes a few minutes to sign up and the savings can be significant.
Step 9: You should stick to a list.
You can spend more money at the store if you buy everything that looks appetizing.If you want to take advantage of great deals, you should only deviate from the list.Staying on a list will help you understand what you need at the store and cut down on food waste.
Step 10: Buy during the season.
When they are in season, fruits and vegetables are cheaper.Try to stick to the items that are in season when you are at the store.You can input your location and the month to determine what is in season.Before entering the grocery store, you should write up your shopping list so that you have a plan.
Step 11: Generic and plain options are available.
Generics cost less than brand name items.Plain items are less expensive.If you want to add fruit or jam to your yogurt, you can purchase unflavored yogurt.You can cook your own chicken for a fraction of the price if you avoid the butcher that has been pre-spiced.
Step 12: You can buy in bulk.
Many items are cheaper when you buy in large portions; there are even specialized stores that sell in bulk for a fraction of the item's normal price.If you want to take advantage of these deals, put some in the freezer.Oatmeal, pasta, dry beans, and dry rice are some of the best foods to buy in bulk.These items last a long time until they are cooked.You don't need to worry about them going bad because you bought more than you could eat.
Step 13: Prepare to cook.
If you are living in a dorm, you may not have access to a full kitchen.To keep yourself well fed, you might want to buy a few small appliances.Purchase items that don't require cooking.Purchase a mini-fridge.You will be able to keep items in your dorm room.A hot plate can be used to quickly heat up items in a small space.It's important that a pan is present.A large wooden spoon can be used to serve food.Some items in your room don't need to be prepared.Fruits, nuts, and processed snack foods are included.
Step 14: It's a good idea to practice cooking.
It's a good idea to start cooking cheap meals that don't pose a risk of illness.You might want to watch someone else cook or cook for someone who can correct your mistakes.If properly cooked meat can cause serious illness.Rice, beans, and pasta are better to start with.You might not have the equipment or ingredients to make overly complicated recipes in a cook book.Go to the internet.There are many recipes that will help you make use of whatever you have on hand.
Step 15: Make oatmeal.
Oatmeal is cheap and a good source of energy.It is possible to purchase it in pre-flavor packets.Adding your own ingredients is cheaper than buying a huge container.Adding bananas to your oatmeal is a good way to give it more flavor.Bananas are one of the cheapest fruits.The price is around $0.40 per pound.These tend to have a short shelf life.
Step 16: Eggs can be made.
Eggs are a cheap source of food.You can cook them for breakfast.If you want a midday snack that you can carry around, boiling them is the way to go.Eggs come in their own container and are a great way to get energy.
Step 17: Make sandwiches.
These are very easy to make.Whether they are peanut butter or almond butter, nut butters are hardy.The ingredients are easy to keep.The student on a budget can find a good midday snack in the sandwiches.
Step 18: You can cook ramen.
Ramen is a popular college lunch.It is cheap and easy to cook.You can add more ingredients to make it better.Ground beef ramen can be as cheap as $0.20 - $0.40 per pack, just add water, heat in microwave, and serve.
Step 19: You can cook rice and beans.
If you buy rice and beans in bulk, you can make this dinner for as little as 44 cents.Buy dry, bagging beans instead of canned ones.It doesn't require much work to soak these in water overnight.Until they are cooked, rice and beans stay fresh.They will keep about five days after cooking them.Rice and beans can be used many different ways.It's possible to throw in some sausage or chicken.There are Creole spices and hot sauce that can give it flavor.You can eat it with salsa and chips.
Step 20: It's a good idea to cook pasta.
It is cheap to eat pasta.It's easy to make.Adding a variety of ingredients to pasta can change the way it tastes and the type of nutrition you get from it.A variety of sauces can be used.The premade sauces can be purchased at the store.You can add some olive oil to your pasta.Adding cheese to pasta is a good idea.They go well on pasta.Mushrooms, peas, onions, tomatoes, and cooked kale are good sources of vitamins.All sorts of meat can be thrown in, including ground beef, chicken, and bacon.If you want more energy, try multigrain pasta.Some stores sell pasta for less than a dollar a pound.
Step 21: Throw in items that are not part of your routine.
A healthy diet requires a balance and is good for living on a budget.Soup is a very cheap way to make sure that you get through your vegetables before they go back.Throw them in a pot and let them cook.You can eat with bread.A cheap, high calories food is cheese.Bagels are a cheap snack.There are 3 packs of macaroni and cheese for $1.00.Buying potatoes in bulk is possible.A 10-pound bag is only $3.49.The potatoes keep well.A 10-pound bag of chicken legs can cost as little as $5.