The Green Frugal

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Let’s face it, college can be very expensive. However, there are alternatives to save money on food in college besides eating Ramen Noodles for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Tip #1 –  Campus meal plans

Image credit: Flickr.com, dougww

When students live off campus they sometimes believe they are not eligible to sign up for campus meal plans. This is not the case with every university. The initial investment may seem daunting at first, but remember that it often covers three meals a day, six or seven days a week. Ultimately, it should not be surprising that a large university buying in bulk can prepare meals for less money than an individual can. Granted, the food may not be exactly what you’re hungry for at the time, but the long term savings can be significant. You can also see if your college offers a partial meal plan, which will reduce the upfront costs and still save you money in the long-run.

Tip #2 – Shop on a full stomach and make a list before you go

This is not just good advice for college, but a trick that can save you money for a lifetime. If you make a list before you go to the store (and stick to it), you’ll avoid impulse buying. The same goes for eating before heading to the store; when you walk past donuts while hungry they start looking mighty tasty, but if you’ve just eaten you can stroll right past them.

Image credit: Flickr.com, gruntzooki

Tip #3 – The vending machine is not your friend

One of the luxuries of college is that most dorms and campus buildings have vending machines. However, the same snacks, candy or drinks that you buy through a vending machine can cost upwards of 70% less at the grocery store. These extra costs are going to add up quickly and can easily be avoided. Save money by getting your food, drinks, and snacks in advance and not giving in to temptation.

Tip #4 – Be a smart shopper

Yes, there are more exciting ways to spend your Sunday afternoon than reading through the Sunday paper for coupons and advertisements, but the savings you gain from comparing food prices at different grocery stores is astounding. If you combine this tip with tip #2 and plan ahead, finding a grocery store with many of your list items on sale can save you a lot of money.

Tip #5 – Watch the campus calendar

It can really pay off to watch bulletin boards and campus calendars for events where free food is served. There is absolutely nothing wrong with free food. You can get some great bites and save money just by dropping by stopping by a few of these events.

Image credit: Flickr.com, o5com

With so many other costs such as tuition, books, and an active social life, it’s important to try to save as much as you possibly can with small changes. With a little bit of planning ahead you too can save yourself some money and still eat great food. What tricks have you found to save money on food in college?

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One rampant side effect of our economic roller coaster is that hosting moving parties has become more common than throwing baby showers.

With the housing market what it is, statistics show that far more people are moving than they were just three years ago.  Most are moving into shared spaces to save on rent or dump an unmanageable mortgage.

Those who are lucky to have landed a job must often accept that it requires relocation.  And of course during the summer, college grads are returning home or moving on to the real world.

42 million Americans move each year, according to moving.com.  That’s 15% of the population every year!  And, since the average person will move 11 times, it’s fairly likely that you are preparing for a move right now.

Whether the move is to another state or across town, I am sympathetic.  If you’ve ever moved, you know that the cost to move all of your beloved possessions from point A to B is quite high.  The most expensive factor in moving is quantity – which boils down to size and weight.  The heavier and bulkier your load, the harder it hits you in the pocketbook.

If you’re an optimist, you tell yourself this is a prime time to clean house. Simplify! Then as you start packing, you inevitably question how and why you have so much stuff.  How did it all fit into the current space let alone the smaller spot you are headed for?

This is why first rule of moving is to PREPARE to move.

Tip #1   Start Early and Make a Budget

Literally take a few weeks to get organized in your head and in your house. When you wait, you end up tossing everything into boxes and taking twice as much you should. Planning will help you keep your stuff out of storage, allow you time to stock up on cheaper supplies, create a budget and ultimately lower the cost to move.

Will you do it yourself or hire a mover?  Will it cost less to ship your car or drive and pay for gas?  Will you need a hotel?  Need to eat out?  What about cleaning, connecting utilities, overlapping bills at your new and old places, security deposits, parking permits, pet fees, new drivers licenses, groceries for the empty fridge, and pizza and beer for your helpers?

Unanticipated expenses surprise every mover.  Add 10 percent to your final budget for the unexpected.

Check out Part 2  and Part 3 for more great tips to lower the cost to move!

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Photographic Evidence Proves Cash4Books Does Exist!

Cash4Books.net, the mythical company that loves to give away real money for books, has just been discovered on Flickr! Long thought to live only in the overpasses and tunnels of the Information Super Highway, this company now appears to exist in the physical world as well. Just look at these pictures!

Captured in the wild!

Cash4Books even appears to have a reception area for customers!

Cash4books even allows its employees to take breaks!

The employees are working too hard be photographed!

There are tons of pictures on Cash4Books’ Flickr page! Rumor has it that the account will be updated on a regular basis with brand new photos. So, check the Flickr page often–you can even add Cash4Books as a contact!–to see what’s happening the office and warehouse.