Reevaluate your spending habits

If you buy a Starbucks coffee and a pack of cigarettes every day, yet claim you do not have money to buy lunch, you may want to rethink your priorities. Look at all the stuff you buy and figure out what you can cut from your budget.

Go frozen

Yes, frozen peas are not as appetizing as the delicious sugar snap ones, but a bag of frozen veggies ranges from $1-3. Frozen fruits, veggies and meats cost less, and you do not have to worry about these foods going bad. Also if you buy meat and do not plan on eating it in the next few days, freeze it. Something died so you could eat it; do not waste it.

Stop tossing non-expired food

I have many friends who refuse to eat leftovers or day old meat. People are starving all over the world and you’re going to throw away chicken you cooked yesterday? Nuke it in the microwave and be grateful you have something to eat. Also, some foods, like yogurt, can be eaten a few days past the expiration date. Double check before you toss perfectly good food.

Stop being so picky

If you’re on a college budget, chances are you’re not going to be able to buy all organic, free-range food. Get over it. An inorganic salad with chicken breast is still healthier than eating McDonalds for dinner.

Pack and plan

You do not have to spend hours making charts and prepping your food. Look at the food you have in your fridge and figure out what’s going to expire soon, what can be frozen and what you can eat in the next few days. Also, invest in some tupperware containers. I buy a bag of spinach, carrots and a couple of cucumbers, put them in some containers, and I have salad for the next 3 days.

If you wake up early and do not have time to make lunch in the morning, pack lunch the night before, so you’re not munching on junk food the next day when you get hungry. Buying a $5 sandwich every day adds up when you can make one at home for less than $1.

Multiple stop shopping

If you have the means of transportation, go to more than one grocery store to take advantage of different sales. Grocery Outlet has good deals on fruits and vegetables, Safeway has $5 Fridays and Fred Meyer offers a lot of healthy options.

Clip Coupons

Instead of tossing the coupons you get in the mail, use them. Coupons are not just for your grandma. Sure, you may only save a dollar or two per shopping trip, but those dollars add up at the end of the month.

Cook in bulk

If you do not have time to cook every day, then set aside one day where you cook in bulk. Make a pasta casserole or cook a bag of chicken breasts. When you get home after a long day, all you have to do is throw your food in the microwave, and you have a stress free dinner.

Stop hating cooking

Cooking is not that hard. You do not need to cook a fancy meal every night, and you can make a perfectly delicious meal in 30 minutes. Instead of making cooking a chore, make it part of your day. Grab a cookbook or look online for some recipes so you’re not stuck cooking the same boring thing every day. If you can read and you have a kitchen, then you can cook. You just need to take the time and have the patience to do so.