If you are anything like the average college student, you probably don’t have extra money. Getting an education is not a cheap endeavor and jobs are not plentiful. I can think of a thousand things I would rather spend my money on than groceries, but the unfortunate truth is that a large portion of my paycheck goes towards food each month.
About six months ago I took a long look at where my money disappears and decided that I could make a few easy changes to save up some cash. I’ve cut my food bills in half with four simple rules.
First, eat out less. I know that everyone gets a late night Taco Bell craving. Fast food is delicious and ready when you want it. But even if you stick with the special deals, you will waste a ton of money. I put a limit on going out to eat one time a week. With the money you will save, you can afford to buy the rest of your groceries.
My next tip is the most complicated, but in the end can save you a bundle. Make a list of all of the food that you normally eat. Don’t worry about how healthy it is or what you wish you would eat. Just be honest about what you will really buy when you go to the store. Then, pick two or three stores you plan on shopping at. Go around and write down what the normal price is for each item at the different stores.
Once a week, I make trips to Kroger and Meijer. Most people will tell you that Kroger is much more expensive than Meijer. That is true in some cases. However, after making my list, I have found that about half of what I normally buy is cheaper at Kroger. While I won’t drive around to twenty different stores to find the best price on everything, choosing two stores and getting the best deals between the two is a great way to save money.
Third, always check the weekly ads for the stores you shop at. I buy all of my fruit and vegetables based off of these ads. I always try to buy large amounts of non-perishables when they are on sale. I bought twelve boxes of Stove Top when Meijer had a sale a few months ago and still have a few boxes left. Just be sure to check your price list and ensure there really is a sale.
My last suggestion is to write an actual grocery list before you leave. If you followed my previous advice, you can probably even figure out a rough estimate of how much you will spend before you go shopping. Sticking to your list will save you money and probably help you avoid overeating.
If you start following these tips, you will see big changes happen in your food budget. More money saved here means more money to spend on all of the fun things in life. Good luck with your next grocery trip.