A penny squeezed is a penny squeezed!

I was eating with a buddy the other day and I have to say I was really impressed by the meal he prepared--- chicken pesto pizza with a side salad. We began to talk about the cooking process and what was most surprising was that the meal was prepared for less than ten dollars! Such a tasty meal, with leftovers, that was super cheap to make. It made me think of the advantages of saving money all the while getting yourself a meal in the process. There are a number of budget plans and resources on the web to help keep track of how much you spend on food. As a broke college student you need to take advantage of these opportunities--- I use a majority of these websites myself! But here are some of my ideas that are easy to follow.

Start by cooking at home and sticking to a healthy and carefully planned food budget. Shopping in grocery stores can be daunting, but you’d be surprised on how much you save on food by not eating out. Remember to go to the store with an idea of what you need for the week. If you go without a grocery list, your more likely to splurge on items that you do not need. Also make sure you sign up for club cards! This valuable reasource gives you a chance to save on a variety of items. Remember also that just because there is a discounted price it might not be a good deal--- don't be afraid to do the math, look at other brands, and explore other options. Another great resource with grocery stores are coupons! I know it makes you feel like an eighty year old women, but to be honest those women know what they are doing. You'd be surprised at the amount of money you can save--- look for coupons in papers, when you enter the store, and online.

If money is really tight, start to cook foods that are easy and cheap—like pasta, eggs, beans, nuts and fruits. These types of food are easy to make and super filling. Things like making your own trail-mix and taking it to school will save you hundreds of dollars over the course of a year. Look online for easy and reasourceful dishes that can benefit your belly and wallet.

And don’t be afraid to experiment! I can make a mad delicious mac n cheese with tuna meal for under $2.50! That is have the fun of food, experimenting! My favorite website is supercook.com. Every time I look into my cupboard and all I see is some fettuccine, rice and some leftover ground beef. I enter what I have into the website and it gives your a variety of options with what you can cook.