Food for the Broke College Student

By Paige Captain on June 20, 2017

Something that I’ve noticed in our culture is that we really love food. Here in America, we have not only big portion sizes but also an abundance of fast food places pretty much everywhere. It is so easy to eat every meal out, but it isn’t the smartest choice financially, especially as a college student.

What makes food so interesting as a college student is that now instead of just choosing to eat at home or eat out, we also have the choice to eat on campus. During my freshmen year of college I actually wasn’t at Azusa Pacific University, but instead was at Seattle Pacific University and to be honest, I was not very impressed with the on-campus options they had for us.

There were very few places for us to choose from and I always ran out of dining points far before the quarter was over. As a freshman, this was even more frustrating because I was in a dorm rather than an apartment or house. However, now that I just completed my sophomore year at Azusa Pacific University, I can say that I am very impressed with the food options at my current university. I always have plenty of dining points, there are a ton of options, the food genuinely tastes good, and there are healthy options as well.

My own experience with on-campus eating got me thinking about what other students have gone through and what the general consensus is about what should change and what should stay the same. I posted a few polls on my Twitter page and was a little shocked by the results.

When asked if they wished their school had more options, 94 percent said yes and 6 percent said there are already enough options.

When asked if they think they spend too much money on going out to eat, 91 percent said yes, with only 9 percent saying no.

When asked what the best part of on-campus eating was, 70 percent said convenience, 0 percent said the taste, and 30 percent said spending dining points was better than spending “real money.”

When asked about when they choose to not eat on campus what the reason is, 10 percent said it’s because they often aren’t on campus, 40 percent said they don’t like the options their school has, and 50 percent said they would prefer other food.

Here are some tips that I’ve come up with over my past two years in college that have really helped me and I think will help you too.

1. Everything in moderation

I’m sure you’ve probably heard this one a million times but it’s so true.

My dad is always on my case about how I could save so much money if I just chose to make coffee at home rather than going to a coffee shop every morning. While what he’s saying is true, I think that I can buy coffee out while also being financially responsible.

I love going out for coffee and don’t mind spending money on it; it motivates me to get up on time, it tastes so much better than anything I could make at home, and it’s a great thing to do with friends. However, with that being said, it also means that I need to cut back in other areas.

Choosing to get a coffee in the morning means that I can’t also eat out for every meal every day. I think that you can spend your money on the food you like, as long as you aren’t doing it for every meal/beverage.

2. Be aware of spending habits

There are so many times that I’ve spent so much money without even realizing it until the damage is already done. It often happens on payday. I’ll think to myself, “Oh yeah, I just got paid, I can totally afford this” and this mindset will last for numerous purchases (almost always food purchases). I’ll buy lunch out, and then maybe a smoothie, and then I’ll end up buying dinner out as well. It adds up so fast!

It’s very important to be aware that you are spending money rather than just handing over your card without thinking about it. It’s good to plan ahead with these things too. If I know that in the near future I’m going on a trip, going out to coffee/lunch with a friend, etc., I will try to cut back a little on my spending beforehand.

3. Know how to grocery shop

I know it may sound dumb or weird, but I mean it! When you first start living on your own and having to buy your own groceries, you have to learn how much food to buy each week, what day is a good day for you to buy the food, etc. It’s honestly harder than it sounds.

When I first started grocery shopping for myself I always bought way more food than I could actually eat in a week, or I would buy too many perishables and things would go bad. It takes some getting used to. Another factor is knowing what you like and what you will actually eat. There were so many times I bought food and totally thought I would like it and eat it but never did. Knowing how much food to buy and what food to buy really helps you to save and spend efficiently.

4. Don’t keep yourself from having fun

Something that is unique about food is the way that it brings people together. You can hang out with friends, visit family, go on a date, all over a meal. This can get expensive though, especially if you’re constantly getting invited to get food with your friends. I personally believe that you should not let money be the reason you aren’t socializing, but at the same time moderation is important.

I would say that if you aren’t hungry/don’t absolutely need to get something, you can always just go to see your friends; you don’t need to actually buy something.

Thanks for reading!

-Paige

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