Groceries On A Budget

When you move off campus, your world changes. One of the biggest changes is that suddenly you have to face paying for a lot more stuff. Even food, which used to be served up in heaping mounds in the dining hall, is your fiscal responsibility. And food can be expensive, especially when your budget is tight. But guess what? You can afford to eat — and you don't need to live on Ramen or eat dog food — for as little as $10.00 per week. It's amazing what you can buy at the grocery store for cheap if you follow a few simple guidelines: Buy generic or store brand food. Beggars can't be choosers, and besides, it's not that different from the gourmet stuff. Buy frozen or canned fruits and veggies. This is one instance where the more expensive stuff does taste better, but fresh produce can be superpricey. Besides, it goes bad quickly. Frozen and canned veggies offer most of the nutrients of fresh produce at a fraction of the cost. Drink juice made from frozen concentrate. Buy economy sized packages — you get more bang for your buck. Be creative with spices and seasonings. You can make your own gourmet pasta sauces instead of buying the expensive bottled kind. Focus on foods that offer a lot of calories for little money. Don't buy fancy sports nutrition bars; buy things like potatoes, canned tuna, oatmeal, apples, oranges, grapes, whole wheat bread, popcorn, cheddar cheese and rice. Here's a sample shopping list for someone who can only spend $10.00 on groceries in a given week: 25 ounces barley ($1.19) 10 ounces store brand frozen mixed vegetables ($0.79) 16 ounces store brand spaghetti ($0.59) 15 ounces store brand tomato sauce ($0.49) 1 pound loaf store brand whole wheat bread ($0.89) 18 ounces store brand peanut butter ($1.69) 10 ounces canned mixed fruit ($0.75) 1 pound bananas ($0.50) 1 dozen store brand eggs ($0.99) 1 quart 1% milk ($1.05) 12 ounces (makes 48 ounces) frozen orange juice concentrate with calcium ($0.99) The total cost for this grocery list is $9.92. You won't win any prizes for your healthy diet, but it's a whole lot better than what a lot of college students chow down. If you can go over the $10.00 limit, try adding more fruits and vegetables, some lean meat or beans, and maybe something to satisfy your sweet tooth — whatever you want most. So don't despair when your wallet feels light and your stomach is growling. With careful planning, there's no need to go hungry. Christie Matheson once bought a week's worth of groceries for $8.27. She's trying to break that record.