Grocery Shopping

Part of growing up means doing tasks that aren't always fun. When you're at home you can usually go to your refrigerator and grab out some food and dig in. There is no thought of how the food got there because the only thing that matters is if it will fill you up. In college, you need to go out to the store, pick up the food for yourself, and stuff it in your mini fridge and hope that it fits.






Grocery shopping is essential, especially if your school doesn't have a meal plan or you don't have someone cooking for you (like me). Getting groceries is tough too because it can be expensive. Going to Duane Reade to pick up all your groceries is a bad move and you will soon realize that once you're out of cash. I know the convenience of having a drug store right down the street from you, but if you want to save money you have to follow some basic rules.


1. Find a grocery store that is near you.
This is a simple rule that i shouldn't have to even list, but you'd be surprised. Some people like to take day trips out to queens to hit up cost-co or target to get their groceries. I think that's a little excessive because I don't want to spend half a day out grocery shopping. Look up REAL grocery stores around your area.

2. Find some good deals.
Its taken me some time and a multiple grocery stores to know where the good deals hide. I have two main grocery stores near me: Key foods and Gristides. These stores offer a different prices for some of the same products. I know which store i should go to pick up eggs and which one to pick up bread from. Going to the stores and comparing the prices will help save a couple extra cents.

3. Spend your money wisely
Buy in bulk. Its that simple.

4. Seriously though, spend your money wisely.
Go into the store with a list of stuff you need. I know its like a cliche, but seriously it will help out a lot. Plan out what you are going to have to eat that week and accommodate yourself. Buy items in bulk or things that you can use and freeze the rest. Items that are in bulk are usually discounted and their unit price is cheap compared to items that are "value sized".

All in all, find a store that you can save money at. Don't be going to Duane Reade to do your shopping because you can find the same product down the street for at least a dollar off. Also look for stores that will give you student discounts.