The first time you go to university is probably the first time you will be consistently grocery shopping and cooking for yourself. This is something many young Canadians and international students are excited about when they begin living in students’ residences.
However, the prospect of cooking for yourself could quickly become a bunch of stressful questions about what to buy, where, and when to buy it. You need to eat, but realistically, you cannot be spending thousands of dollars on your student grocery list weekly. That’s right; you can’t have a champagne taste on a beer budget.
Here’s the ultimate guide to shopping for groceries for university students without breaking the bank.
College or university is a time of excitement and great change for students. However, it can also be a challenging period financially. Because of the high tuition fees and other expenses, many students often live on constrained budgets.
Considering grocery shopping is one of the biggest expenses, it’s imperative to understand what you need. Here’s what to consider before you write down your grocery shopping list.
As a college or university student, you’ll notice two things: your budget is always limited, and your urge for food is forever growing. That doesn’t mean that you can skimp on groceries or eat as if you are on a survival TV show. The good news is that you can still get groceries for college students, even on a small budget. Here’s a sample student budget.
| Expense | Average Cost Per Month (in Toronto) |
| Tuition fees | $2,500 |
| Housing cost | $700 to $2000 |
| Utility costs (electricity, internet, etc.) | $150 to $300 |
| Groceries and food | $280 to $400 |
| Transportation cost | $170 |
Narrowing down your food and grocery plan begins with a budget of about $80 to $100 per week. This amount may vary depending on your appetite and dietary needs. Write down the grocery items you need and how much they cost. You can use an app to track these expenses. Remember, sticking to your budget means saving more dollars for your outings with friends.
Planning will save you time and ensure you have healthy meals. Meal planning will also help you avoid food waste and impulse buying (buying items you don’t need). Part of planning your meals involves creating a customized list of the items you need for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, their quantity and cost. Create a meal plan with overlapping ingredients to save more money.
For college and university students, the cost of breakfast to dinner meals can rack up quickly, regardless of whether you’re on the campus’s meal plan. Creating a meal plan lets you see your budget figures up close and identify opportunities to save money without sacrificing quality, health or your taste.
Evaluate your weekly schedule. Note the days when you have time to cook meals in your student residence and when quick meals make sense. For instance, you may have more lecture time on Tuesdays, requiring quick meals to bring to school.
Maybe you often work at home on Thursdays. So, you can cook your own food during the day. Figure out a schedule that’s convenient for you, and create a list or budget that matches your schedule.
You know that weird feeling when you shop hungry and suddenly your cart is filled with plain yogurt, readymade mac & cheese, or crisps? A good buying list will keep you on track – financially and health-wise. Every student’s grocery shopping list should have the following item categories.
Fresh produce is the unsung hero of any grocery shopping list for college students. Fruits and vegetables often add flavour and nutrition to your meals. Here are item examples under each category and their estimated prices.
Bananas are great for smoothies and snacking, while apples are crunchy and ideal for study-time snacks. Berries are perfect for adding to yogurt or cereal, and you deserve an avocado, even if it’s a simple spread on toast.
Vegetables like spinach are versatile and have many nutrients. So you can toss them into smoothies or salads. Carrots are perfect for adding colour and crunch to your meals. They’re also good for snacking. Bell peppers are good for salads and stir-fries, and chopping them can sometimes relieve stress. Lastly, your mother was right about broccoli; it’s good for your health. It shouldn’t be excluded from grocery lists for college students.
Every college student needs enough protein to feel full and focused. Eggs are an affordable source of protein. Make omelets, scramble them, or boil them. Chicken breast is a healthy, lean meat. You’ll love baked, stir-fried, or grilled chicken.
If you’re a vegetarian, you can marinate and cook tofu. Peanut butter is versatile and delicious. You can add it to your smoothies or slather it on your toast for a protein boost. Lastly, canned tuna is an affordable protein for salads and sandwiches.
Another item to add to your grocery list is dairy or dairy alternatives to keep your cereal soggy and strengthen your bones. Yogurt is a healthy breakfast option. Whether you prefer cow’s milk or plant-based alternatives, you can find affordable options in your favourite fresh produce store.
Don’t forget cheese. It is a culinary MVP, especially for grilled sandwiches or toppings for your pasta dishes.
There are many wholegrain or carb options for students. Rice is an affordable staple that pairs well with nearly anything. Pastry is like comfort food for students. So, keep a variety of pasta sizes and shapes for endless pasta dishes.
Bread is an excellent choice for toast and sandwiches, though not recommended as your main meal. Oatmeal is healthy for breakfast. You can customize it with your preferred toppings. Tortillas are ideal for wraps. Besides, preparing tortillas will make you feel like a chef with a flair.
You’ll need a snack to munch on during your late-night study sessions or while watching your favourite TV show. Popcorn is a whole-grain snack ideal for your movie nights with your peers. Hummus pairs well with pita bread or vegetables for a healthy snack.
Granola bars are a perfect portable snack, especially when you’re late for lectures. Remember to add affordable dark chocolate to your grocery list.
Your kitchen won’t be complete without ingredients to add flavour to your meals. Some of the ingredients that shouldn’t be missed in a grocery list for students include:
Staying hydrated is recommended, whether in your student residence or school. A splash of vitamin C in the morning is a great way to start your day. Remember to buy reusable water bottles and carry your water instead of buying bottled water.
One downside of being a college or university student is being financially broke. Once you have a healthy grocery list and meal plan, here are other tips to stick to your budget and save money.
You can save significant money on your budget for fruits and vegetables by buying at a farmer’s market or discount grocery store. While not every farmer’s market will save you money, some will. Remember, these markets usually sell high-quality groceries at an affordable price.
Similarly, discount stores sell groceries at affordable prices. However, if you want premium-quality or organic groceries, you should be ready to pay more. Take the time to compare prices at different discount stores, and you’ll save money on your monthly budget. Some of the top discount stores in Toronto include Walmart Supercenter, Real Canadian SuperStore, and more.
You can save money on your grocery bills by avoiding impulse purchases. Create a meal plan, followed by a healthy grocery list, and stick to it. If you must alter the list of your food items, you can eliminate some of the items by adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to your meals and snacks. Such changes to a student’s grocery list can make their budget more flexible and save money.
You save significant money on your grocery bills by substituting name-brand groceries with generic brands. Sometimes, you’ll realize that the difference between name-brand produce and generic ones isn’t significant.
For instance, real Cheerios often taste better than generic Cheerios brands. However, if you’re saving a few bucks by buying the generic brands, then it could be worth it. Regarding staples like salt, flour, sugar, and other similar items, there’s no discernible difference in quality.
Therefore, if you can substitute name-brand groceries with generic ones, you can save money on your monthly or annual budget.
You can save about 10% on your fresh produce budget by requesting coupons from the manufacturers you usually buy from. Send them an email and request them to send you available coupons. Don’t be surprised to get coupons for most of the food items you need in a local grocery store. For instance, you can get certain items like beans, toilet paper, or even your favourite vegetables at a lower price.
You can also save money by stocking up on non-perishable grocery items on sale. For instance, buying brown rice, beans, sugar, salt, cooking oil, and other non-perishables in bulk, especially if they’re available at a huge discount, can save money on your monthly budget. You can also freeze foods like meat for future use.
Students can compound their savings by stocking up when some food items are on sale and using coupons. That means you can skip a grocery shop and still eat healthy.
College students can significantly save on their monthly food budgets if they leave credit cards at their residences and shop with cash in grocery stores. A recent study showed that people who shop using credit cards are likely to pay 12% to 18% more than individuals who shop with cash.
Another McDonald’s study also showed that when consumers buy food using credit cards instead of cash, their expenditure shifts from $4.50 to $7. If you buy groceries with cash, you’ll only spend the money you have. After all, buying items with $65 in your pocket differs from buying with thousands of dollars in your credit card limit.
Use cash even when buying other essentials like clothes. If you must use a credit card when shopping, create a well-thought-out budget and stick to it.
Here are other tips to save money on your grocery budget.
Most stores now provide detailed information about grocery prices on shelf cost labels. For instance, when you’re at a long shelf with different toilet papers, how do you determine the option with the best price?
One package may have 36 rolls, while another has 24 rolls, and each package has a unique price. You don’t need a calculator to determine the price of each roll. Most stores now provide detailed price breakdowns for the shelf cost label.
The same goes for cereal and nearly all other grocery items you need. Items in most stores are placed at your eye level or where you cannot strain to see the cost breakdown. For instance, you can find details like the cost per 100g of each cereal, sugar, pasta, and more. Use such price breakdowns to shop smart and save on your food budget.
Cooking your own food from scratch is one of the most effective ways to save money. In fact, you can make your own meals at just a fraction of the cost of eating out, especially in Toronto restaurants. The good thing about making your own meals is that you can make healthy choices and improve the nutritional value of your food. Remember, most student residences like Quad at York allow students to cook meals.
Sometimes, you can cook more food and freeze the leftovers or take them to school for lunch the next day. If you can avoid buying lunch at school, you can save over a thousand dollars per year. Remember, leftovers can save you the hassle of brainstorming meal ideas, especially when you want a quick meal because you’re busy.
If you go to buy groceries on an empty stomach, you’re more likely to choose foods that appeal to your taste buds instead of grocery items that you need. That means you’ll still spend more money to buy the items you need or eat unhealthy food.
Many grocery stores have clearance sections where they offer higher discounts on items with already reduced prices. Contrary to what some college students may believe, clearance sections don’t have expired products. You can always check the product’s shelf life before buying. You can always find good deals on quality products with reduced prices due to overstock.
Some stores allow college students to combine multiple discounts. For instance, you can use a loyalty program discount, promotional code, and a store-wide discount when buying grocery items. You can stack such discounts to get the best possible deals and maximize your monthly or annual grocery budget savings.
For students in Toronto, it makes sense to shop for all your food and grocery items on a budget at discount stores. Be sure to combine as many of the money-saving tips discussed as possible. This can significantly reduce your total grocery bill.
So, create a list of the items you intend to buy and make sure these items align with your meal plan. Next, hunt for coupons and shop at discount stores. Combining various money-saving ideas can allow you to eat healthy while saving cash for fun activities with your peers.
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