NO FREE LUNCH... BUT THERE ARE THRIFTY ONES

College life is expensive and fast-paced. Between assignments, deadlines, dating, and trying to keep up with “real life,” mid-terms sneak up before you even catch your breath. Most days, I’m guilty of rolling out of bed late, rushing into class with nothing but my notebook, iPad, and a bottle of water.

And if that sounds familiar, you’re probably spending way too much money on lunch at school.

Now, don’t get me wrong – the café on campus is great. But if you’re a penny-pincher or on a budget it’s not the best place to stretch your dollars. So, this week, I gave myself a challenge: spend only $10 total on lunch. Since I’m on campus four days a week, that meant just $2.50 per day. It wasn’t easy, but with some planning (and hot sauce for backup), I pulled it off.

SHOPPING SMART AT WINCO

The first rule of budget shopping? Always go with a list. Shopping without one is a battle you’ll lose – either you overspend, or forget essentials, or come home with random things you didn’t need just because they were on sale.

My second rule: skip the big-name brands. Most food comes from the same farms and factories anyway, so why pay more for a fancy label? The generic brands taste the same and cost way less. That’s why I stick to stores like WinCo.

Pro tip: bring your own reusable bags. We’re making every cent count here.

And my third rule: shop seasonal. Just like you don’t wait until winter to buy a coat, don’t buy fruits and veggies when they’re out of season. Apples in October, for example, are cheap and everywhere.

My $10 Food Haul – @ WinCo prices:

Eggs (dozen, large) → $1.99

Apples (3 pcs, ~1 lb @ $1.28/lb) → $1.28

Butter Popcorn (3-pack) → $1.48

Mac & Cheese (7.25 oz box) → $0.39

Pinto Beans (15 oz can) → $0.68

Oats (bulk, ~0.5 lb) → $0.40

White Bread (20 oz loaf) → $1.50

Yogurt (32 oz tub) → $2.48

Total = $10.20

What I Ate

Monday: Egg & toast → Scrambled eggs on white bread + one apple. Packed a bag of popcorn for my library study session.

Tuesday: Mac & cheese with pinto beans → boosted with chili sauce (because flavor matters). Rounded it out with an apple.

Wednesday: Yogurt & popcorn → My guilty pleasure combo. Apple slices dipped in yogurt on the side.

Thursday: Apple & egg oat pancake → Mixed egg, oats, and chopped apple into a batter, pan-fried like pancakes. Took the last bit of yogurt for extra fuel.

Not only were my meals calorie-friendly, but they were surprisingly filling and yummy – wink.

Now, this might not be your ideal definition of lunch, but trust me, you can stretch your dollar if you get creative. A burrito wrap you make yourself costs less than $2 compared to $7 at the café. A frozen pizza from the grocery store can last all week if you pack two slices per day, and if you shop on sale days, sometimes you even score an extra box for half the price.

Budget eating doesn’t have to be boring. It’s about making swaps, planning ahead, and sometimes just celebrating “Feel-Good Tuesday” or “Pepperoni Thursday” with the food you already bought.

Honestly, it feels good to know you beat the system, plus your wallet will thank you later.

In the next edition of The Advocate we’re going Halloween shopping for LESS!!!