Well, it has been a long time since I was a college student, however, I spend $50 a week on groceries and household items for my family of 3 to 4 persons. I most definitely coupon. I also shop at drugstores for groceries because of their rewards program. I look at all the circulars and make my list. It's important for me to stick to the list so I don't blow my budget. We eat what's on sale that week. Definitely buy your basics and stockpile them when the items are super cheap (ie: Bumble Bee tuna fish is 50 cents a can this week at CVS. We eat tuna fish once a week therefore, I buy about 6 to 12 cans. Groceries prices run on a 12 week cycle...there is a high point and a low point ....always buy the most on the low point and if you have a coupon for it...even better. Definitely pack your lunch, snacks, water, coffee along with your books. You will be so glad you did! Best of luck in your studies.

I graduated from college in 2008 so I feel that I am still pretty in touch with the college budget. I think that spending 200 monthly for one person is extreme! In college I would spend no more than $30 per week on groceries. Maybe $50 at the most if I had extra cash and wanted to splurge. You should PLAN your meals based on what is on sale. PLAN your grocery list based on the meals you have PLANNED. Most importantly stick to your PLAN.

Also, I never used coupons in college but I wish that I had because now I buy for 2 and only spend about $60 per week at the most! On weeks when I am spending signficantly more I am buying fish, nuts or some other "big ticket" item. Coupons, Coupons, Coupons are this girl's best friend.

Dear Pre-Med,

I recently graduated in May of this year and, while I have a nice job and a steady income, I share your anxiety when it comes to saving for grad school and eating enough as an athlete. I should tell you up-front that I'm probably a-typical; I have a ton of food issues (wheat, soy, chocolate, walnuts...), eat few animal products, and subsidize my food bill with the occasional goody-stuffed care package from home. This being said, I've been on my own (save the care packages) for a while now and have found a couple of ways to save money that might work for you, too.

1. I buy bulk. Rice, legumes, nuts, dried, fruit - you name it - are all ridiculously inexpensive compared to the pre-packaged, canned, or boxed versions. Except canned corn or tomatoes, those are great because they don't spoil and are pretty cheap staples.

2. I invest in spices. The thing about buying bulk grains or legumes is that they generally don't come with the seasonings, so I also mosey on down to the spice section and grab the most flavorful things I can find: garlic powder, black pepper (or cayenne if you like heat), basil, rosemary, thyme - anything that you can use a small amount of to flavor a whole dish.

Note: Sometimes I splurge on sauces that have a lot of flavor, such as horseradish, Sriracha, or tahini. They're more expensive than spices, but sometimes you just want to make an eggs benedict, you know?

3. I take advantage of store deals. It may seem counterproductive, but I shop pretty much exclusively at the co-op next door and I do it for three reasons: it's an easy twenty feet from my car-less driveway, I can support my local economy and health more effectively, and I can monopolize on all of the deals (of which there are many!).

First, I paid a one-time fee to become a member. Though it was expensive in the short-term, not only can I get discounts on items at the store, I also receive 3% back on all my purchases at the end of each year and I can sell my membership back at full-price if I ever move away. That's $54 dollars back every year if you spend $150 dollars a month on groceries.

Second, I paid a small fee for a biker benefits sticker and now I get 5% off of everything whenever I bring in my helmet. Assuming I would have spent %150 a month on food, I would save $7.50 for each month that I'm able to bike around.

Third, I bring in my own bags to receive 50 cents off of each purchase. I know this may not seem like a lot, but if you go grocery shopping once a week, then you'll save $27 dollars a year!

Before I graduated and got a higher paying job, I worked at Trader Joe's and took advantage of the employee discount in addition to the generally lower prices. With the exception of TJ's, nearly all grocery stores offer coupon books or even memberships. Just remember to look for them if they aren't apparent, the grocery stores want your business!

4. I budget, moderately to strictly. I think the only reason that I can afford to shop where I do is because I don't often go out to eat; I usually only drink with friends at home and I most often make coffee for myself instead of going to a cafe. I never realized how much it cost to eat, imbibe, and caffeinate outside your home until I lived on my own. Thinking about the cost of doing all this as an extension of my grocery budget has helped me spend money where it counts. Plus, it's led me to better appreciate the people in my life and my own capabilities by leading me to took cook for myself and with friends.

5. I'm not vegan, but I don't eat a lot of animal products. I've found that cheese and meat are pretty expensive (especially if they aren't mass-produced), so I tend to buy them only when they're on sale or if it's a special occasion. For protein, I stick to legumes (especially black beans and split peas), almonds, quinoa, fish and eggs. I can't eat spirulina, but if you don't have any issues with wheat, then it's a fantastic source of protein and calories.

6. I bake a lot and I have a crock-pot. I lump these together because they follow the same principle: don't buy foods that are exorbitantly marked up! Foods like soups, baked goods, and even deli-meats and cheeses have crazy inflated prices. The trade off is that these foods are easily accessible and I understand how attractive they can be when you've been up for thirty hours writing a paper on [insert topic here], but it's SO much cheaper to make these foods yourself.
The trick is in the mode of cooking. For breads and soups, I use a crock pot. All you have to do is chop it all up, or mix it all together, leave it alone and poof! Half a week's worth of meals done over a night or work day. Takes no more than twenty minutes of prep time, I promise.
In college, when I had spare time, I would also prep baking mixes that I would store in mason jars or empty yogurt containers. That way all I would have to do is mix in some milk (or dairy-free alternative) and eggs (or apple sauce or pumpkin, if you don't eat eggs), transfer it to a pan and bake. Takes maybe thirty minutes, cook time included.



And that's pretty much it. I know that these tips might not be accessible to everyone, especially if you really like fast food or junk food, which I try to avoid or supplement with my own versions (the wheat things really sucks the enthusiasm from a burger or an Oreo, you know?). Still, I hope you can use some of my tricks for yourself!

Oh, and good luck in med school :)