Below are several money savers that can really help you get the most bang for your buck. Combine these ideas with the resources on the previous page (remember CalFresh, for example?), and you'll be able to eat healthy, filling food without emptying your wallet.

Errick McAdams is a personal trainer based out of Washington, DC. Click the image above for more about Errick.

Our Favorite Tips

These are just some tips we've accumulated from our own experience, talking with other college graduates, and the internet. Let us know if you have more tips we should include!

Make Leftovers

You can take leftovers as lunches, eat the same things for dinner for a few days, or freeze them for quick meals in the month to come. Preparing larger meals means buying more of the same ingredient, which is cheaper than purchasing several different ingredients for different meals, plus, you'll only have to prepare one meal. Leftovers are not only a money saver; they're a time-saver, too!

Buy in Bulk

Bulk bins are amazing. You can buy spices, grains, oats, flour, sugar, and more in the bulk bins, depending on where you go. When you buy bulk, you're not paying extra for the packaging plant or label designer. If you're nervous about not having cooking directions on the packaging (we've all been there!), don't worry. A lot of bulk grains use a 2:1 water to grain ratio, but Google can grant you access to a wealth of knowledge, including various cooking techniques and ratios.

You could even invest a few extra dollars for reusable bulk bags, or bring along some mason jars or tupperware containers. If you bring your own containers, make sure to have them weighed at the front of the store before you will them! They will give you a little sticker that says the weight, and then you'll be able to fill the container with whatever you want. Bringing your own containers can save you money on your regular grocery bill if you remember to bring them shopping, and it's an environmentally conscious choice, too!

Find Multi-Use Options

This tip is similar to buying in bulk. If you're planning on make both sweet and savory dishes over the next week or month, you'll probably see ingredients lists that include butter and oil. Instead of purchasing both butter and oil, you could use coconut oil, which can be used in both sweet and savory recipes. Both cooking and baking with coconut oil are super easy. If it's your first time, make sure to do a quick Google search for substituting coconut oil in various recipes.

Eat Less Meat

Eggs are cheap. So are beans. That doesn't mean you can never eat meat, unless you choose to eat a meat-free diet. But if you want to keep meat in your diet, try cutting down to just a few times per week to save a few bucks. When you are buying meat, consider buying a larger quantity and freezing most of it; the price per pound is usually lower when you buy more.

Buy Spices & Other "Additions"

Spices and other additions, like fresh herbs and citrus, make a world of difference in cooking. If you are using the microwave as your primary cooking appliance, spices, herbs, and citrus will help even more. Buying spices in bulk will save you a lot of money (make sure to write the name of the spice on the tag!). When you buy herbs, make sure you have a plan for them because they will spoil, though you can keep them fresh by snipping off the ends and placing them in a mason jar with some water. Finally, you can usually find citrus at a low price, and lemons and limes keep for a long time in the fridge.

Learn Sales Cycles

Grocery stores, especially local stores and those around college campuses, often offer a student discount on a regular basis. It might be once a week or once a month, so check it out and hit it up, and make sure to have your student ID with you!

Look at your local store's advertisements, whether the paper copy that most people throw away or on their website or social media accounts. The trick here is to go on the last day of the sale, not the first, as stores will sometime offer even larger discounts to get rid of the surplus they ordered for the sale in the first place.

Don't Shop Hungry

You've probably heard this one before, and it's absolutely true. If you go grocery shopping on an empty stomach, you'll find yourself unpacking tons of extra snacks that were not in the budget. Eat a good meal before you go shopping to avoid this unfortunate empty wallet.

Get a Rice Cooker or a Crock Pot

Find one at a garage sale or a thrift store, wash it, and use it! You can use your slow cooker to prepare a nice, hot meal while you're in class.

Bottom Line

You have to eat. If you try to incorporate lots of healthy food into your routine, it will not only help you stay healthy, but it will help your academic performance as well. You don't have to spend a fortune to take care of your body and your mind. If you have any questions or want more tips and tricks, make sure to connect with your TRiO advisor and school counselor, and seek out those types of resources on your college campus. Remember the page on College Food Help? Bon appetit!

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