Moving off-campus has its list of perks. Not having to use a communal bathroom or sleep on a twin XL mattress are two upgrades that are definitely on the top of that list. You also have way more space, privacy, and freedom. It also makes you feel like an actual adult because let’s face it, dorm-living keeps you in a college student bubble.
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One of the few cons of living off-campus is not having a meal plan. The convenience of going to a dining hall between classes is one of the best perks of living on-campus. Although you can still go to the dining hall when you live off-campus by using your friends’ guest swipes, that’s not always an option. And we all know that it’s definitely not ideal to eat out for every meal.
Having your own kitchen is one of the highlights of making the switch from a college dorm to an off-campus apartment. While I’m personally guilty of eating out very frequently, it’s definitely more affordable to make your own meals at home. It can sometimes get annoying to go back and forth to your apartment for food, so that’s why I love to prep my meals in advance.
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Planning out each meal may sound stressful, but it’s necessary if you want to avoid eating out all the time and cut back on spending. An easy way to plan out your meals for the week is to have a visual of your daily schedule. I recently started using Google Calendar, but any online calendar service that gives you a clear layout of your day-to-day schedule works just as well.
Photo Credit: That Sugar Movement