One of the harshest actualities of college life is realizing
that you have to buy your own groceries.
You can no longer look in the fridge that magically gets refilled every
week and take whatever you want, even if you know for a fact that you
personally didn’t buy it. Your roommates
will probably strangle you. Actually, I
know for a fact that they will strangle you. Don’t be that guy.
Groceries are one of the most consistent expenses
you’ll have to budget for. I’ve found
that generally I spend about $25 a week on groceries (sometimes I’ll skip two
or three weeks and spend about $50 - $75 at a time).
Don’t think you can
skimp on groceries and still get by!
Skimping isn’t healthy and it isn’t worth feeling crappy all of the
time from lack of nutrition! With that,
make sure you follow your mom’s oldest rule in the book about buying something
from all of the food groups. This
includes fruits, veggies, meat, grains, dairy, and my favorite - good
fats. You’ll find that pretty much
everything on this list can be expensive or inexpensive depending on where you shop and what
time of the week you shop. However, if
you watch for sales and plan your budget accordingly, there shouldn’t be a
problem. Take note that although the
processed boxed items appear to be a better “fast” option, most of the time
they are more expensive than buying fresh items that are better for you. Look at the labels and decide for yourself! (See the food pyramid below for examples of the different food groups to consider.)
Just remember that IT’S OKAY to shop at Wal-Mart even if
your mom shops at a place that’s more expensive. You’re a poor college student and so is
everyone else! No one in college can afford to shop at Whole Foods (unless they
have an amazing job or their parents are willing to chip in). Don’t be afraid
to look for deals and buy cheaper knock-off brands. No shame. I tend to shop at Smith’s Grocery store, which
I consider to be a “middle-of-the-road” store as far as price and quality, and
I get a long just fine with my weekly budget. You might have to shop around at different
stores the first few weeks to test out overall costs and quality, which I would
recommend. It is totally worth your time
and helps you to think more critically about your grocery spending and eating
habits.
My last piece of advice would be to look up recipes and
create a shopping list before you even leave for the store. This forces you to actually cook during the
week and to stick to your budget. Put necessary
items at the top of the list and “items you want, but could live without” at
the bottom, in case you go over your spending limit. This will make your shopping easier and less
stressful as you figure out your grocery routine.
Good luck, and happy shopping!
For more tips on "Smart Shopping" check out this short clip created by the Food Network:
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