Frugal Food Finding (or Buying Food Cheaply)

We're poor college students with little money to our names.  We have to eat - that's not an option.  What can you do to make the money you have count?  How do you save yourself money at the store, but also get the food you need with proper nutrition? Ramen only does so much...

Before I go shopping I always look at the sale flyers.  If they don't get delivered to your building, most stores now have them online.  There are several items that I don't buy unless they're on sale.  Don't limit yourself to the one store you know well.  If there's another grocery store nearby, look at their prices.  I make mental notes of which places sell the things I need at lower prices so I don't waste my money elsewhere.  There's also a plethora of coupons available, but I honestly don't bother to look at them unless I know there is a) a coupon for something I would buy anyway and b) a coupon that gives me savings that are worthwhile (example: if it only saves you 25 cents, it's not worth it).

There is an excellent money-saving trick that I learned only recently.  When you're shopping, do NOT skip over the international food aisle.  Items in the international aisle tend to be considerably cheaper.  While most items are cheaper in this aisle, I notice that spices are especially inexpensive.  I have done some comparisons and in one store, a spice was less than a dollar in the international aisle and the same size bottle in the normal spice aisle was about $3.  The international aisle will definitely save you money.

It's also possible to save money if you change your own eating and cooking habits.  Junk food like chips, candy, and ice cream add up to a lot of money really quickly.  Not indulging (or at least not overindulging) in this sort of food is not only better for you, but better for your wallet.  I also personally don't typically buy something that I can make quickly and easily.  Pasta sauce can be made with a little bit of oil, crushed tomatoes, and spices.  You can make enough sauce for two whole boxes of dried pasta for less than $2.  There are a wide range of other recipes that are just as simple and cheap.

Earlier in this post, I mentioned buying things that are on sale.  If there is something on sale and it's feasible to buy multiples (i.e. it won't spoil and isn't too expensive), buy more and keep what you don't need immediately in the freezer.  Buying things in bulk can also save you a lot of money, but this technique is most helpful when you buy the things you use the most in bulk.  However, buying something in bulk that you don't use often can waste money because the product might spoil.