7 Ways for College Students to Stretch Their Food Budget

Here are 7 Ways for College Students to Stretch Their Food Budget so they can save money and avoid unhealthy eating habits. These include frugal tips for buying groceries and how to find dining deals around campus.

You might think that being a college student means living on a diet of ramen noodles. But the truth is, there are more nutritious ways to eat while still keeping some money in the bank. Take a look below at 7 Ways for College Students to Stretch their Food Budget so the ramen noodle diet can get kicked to the curb where it belongs!

7 Ways for College Students to Stretch Their Food Budget

Take advantage of student ID discounts. Many stores and restaurants offer a discount when you present your student ID. This can help you save anywhere from 10-20 percent on your purchase or score you freebies such as a free beverage or side item. Know which places offer this discount, and be sure to present your ID.

Shop at day old bread or scratch and dent stores. Find a local day old bread store where you can score bread, donuts, muffins, and more at a discount. You can also find local scratch and dent grocery stores where you can get recently expired or scratch and dent food items for pennies on the dollar.

Print out coupons for free. There is no need to buy a Sunday paper to access money saving coupons. Instead, print off coupons for free on websites such as Coupons.com where hundreds of free printable coupons are waiting for you to browse, print, and clip.

Take advantage of events with free food. There are so many events happening on campus, so be sure to attend the events that offer free food at them. This is a perk many events use to draw students in, so take advantage of it! You might score free pizza, subs, or donuts this way.

Know when the “special nights” of favorite eateries. Know when eateries in the area offer specials. For example, know when the local Mexican joint offers .99 burrito night, or the local pizza place offers $1 slice night. Events like these can help you eat out for less and score some amazing food bargains.

Don’t fear generic. After being raised on name brand foods it can be hard for college kids to make the switch to generic. Try out stores such as Aldi where the generic items come with a money back guarantee so you can try the items and get your money back if you aren’t pleased. You might find some new and inexpensive favorites this way.

Get creative with microwave cooking. There are so many microwave meals on Pinterest, so learn some new ones and create some budget friendly meals right in your room or apartment. You will find rice and bean dishes that are not only great tasting and filling, but so cheap to make and enjoy.

So forget the ramen noodle diet or the idea that being away at college means eating poorly. Give these 7 ways for college students to stretch their food budget a try and see what a huge (and tasty) difference they can make.