It can be really difficult to decide between getting that cute new pair of booties or buying enough food to get you through the week. And ultimately, as students, we don’t always make the best choices when it comes to spending money wisely.
We’ve all been there: That day when you open up the pantry drawer and you’re left with nothing but rice crackers and instant oatmeal. You’ve hit rock bottom in the food department, and it’s time to make that painful trip to the grocery store. If you’re anything like me, you’ve waited far too long and you have the mentality that you’ve got to stock up. Realistically, by the end of it, it looks like your preparing for the zombie apocalypse. So, after you’ve made your way down every aisle, you end up filling your cart to the top with things you’ve never tried before. By the time the cashier rings it up, you’re stuck with a bill over 120 bucks, which is already a crazy amount of money. But deep down you know that there’s no way you can eat all this before the expiry date. I’d say on average I throw out close to 40% of veggies, fruits and the other items because they expire before I can even get through half. Sound like you? Then keep reading, I’ve got the perfect solution!
Start off by taking note of the things you’re throwing out. If you notice you keep throwing away yogurt, it’s because you’re not eating it. You might have loved it at one point, but frequently purchasing the same items every time may cause you to get sick of them. Humans are creatures of habit. We figure out what we like and in an attempt to please ourselves we purchase it time and time again. But we often don’t realize we no longer hold the same love for it. So treat yourself to these items, but only buy them every other week, no matter how hard it may be leaving them behind at the market. Bulk isn’t always better. We often get lost in the wondrous aisles of Costco, realizing we have the capability of creating our own stockpile in our apartments. However, this is dangerous. Realize if it says “family size,” that’s what it intends to serve. So although in retrospect you may be getting a ‘better deal’ there is no humanly possible way you’re going to finish it before it goes bad. Sometimes opting for a carton of milk rather than 5 bags, ends up saving you from throwing away what you couldn’t finish. Living downtown, I’ve realized that groceries are way more expensive. It’s taken me 3 whole years to get it down pat. However, here are a few cheats to save yourself some extra cash:
A) Student days: Many grocery stores such as Loblaws’ offer a student day. Every Tuesday, upon showing your student i.d at check out, you receive 10% off your bill. Now 10% may not seem like a lot, but if your spending over 100 bucks, you end up saving over $10 dollars which is a few drinks at a bar… you can’t complain about that.
B) Take advantage of the market: Before the season ends, you have time to hit up the market where local farmers set up shop and sell dirt cheap produce. I got a bag of 6 green peppers for 2 dollars, something that would cost me roughly 6 at the local grocers.
C) Go out of town: If you attend UOttawa or Carleton, you’ll receive a bus pass with tuition, which means you have free access to public transportation. If you’re in need of picking up some groceries on the off day, just step outside the city- produce and meats tend to be a lot cheaper.
D) Take advantage of living with roommates: My roommates and I have worked out a system where we take turns purchasing certain items. So rather than having 4 tubs of margarine floating in the fridge marked with our initials, we just have one and we each take turns when it runs out. That way the basics are covered and you’re not spending an over load of cash on things you all use.
E) Get in the habit of making more frequent trips to the grocery store: Don’t wait until you are eating the crumbs from the cabinet to make the venture. Instead, go grocery shopping once a week or once every two weeks. Also, portion the amount of food you’re buying. Buy smaller amounts of veggies—something you can realistically see yourself eating. Same goes for fruits. Instead of buying a bunch of everything, choose 2 or 3 fruits and buy limited quantities. Putting it into proportion and giving yourself enough time to eat the food you purchase means you won’t be wasting anything.
If you follow these tips and ticks, you will see how much money you will be saving! The grocery store may not look very amusing, but that doesn’t mean you have to hate going. Portion your food better and take advantage of being a student. You’d be surprised with what you can get for just a small amount of cash. Good luck and happy shopping!
Photo credits:
http://www.sarahbmurphy.com/wp…
http://www.blackbullion.co.uk/…