To avoid getting confused with the things you need every day, it is very important to make a college grocery list before you shop for your groceries as a student. Grocery shopping is a fun activity that appears confusing without a list. To make it easier, you need a list to guide you. If you don’t know how to shop smartly for a student budget, you’ll end up leaving the grocery store with foods of less value after having spent excessively, and that is where a poor college student grocery list comes into play. So, If you can master the art of writing a grocery list and also putting the essential things on your grocery list, it’ll save you time and money. Read on to know the essential grocery list for college students. Here is a review of what this post looks like:
What Does Grocery Mean?
A grocery is food that you buy in a grocer’s shop. A grocery store or grocer’s shop is a retail shop that primarily sells food, either fresh or preserved.
Why Do I Need A College Grocery List?
Often enough, when you find yourself at the grocery store without a grocery list, it usually leads to some unfavorable outcome. Here are the reasons you need a grocery list as a student:
To avoid buying unnecessary itemsTo avoid going way over your budgetPrevents you from buying something you already haveTo avoid ending up with random food items that don’t go togetherStops you from forgetting things you actually needIt prevents you from going to the store multiple timesIt keeps you on the healthy track because you tend to buy what you require
See also: College Student Budget Template: How To Track Your Spending In School
How Do I Create A College Grocery List?
Going grocery shopping without an organized list can lead to you aimlessly moving around the store without a detailed plan, only to go home with a bunch of things you don’t need and missing those that you do. Having a grocery list has many benefits, like keeping you on a healthy track and preventing additional trips to the store. Follow these steps to make an organized grocery list:
Step 1: Have A Running List
Have a “to buy” list somewhere in your room. Use this running list to keep tabs on items that you have run out of or are close to needing to be replenished.
Step 2: Meal Planning
Meal planning is the best way to ensure that you are only purchasing items that you need, not going way over your budget, and staying organized.
Step 3: Take Inventory Of Staple Items
The first step to creating a grocery list is to go through your pantry and fridge and take inventory of any staple items that need replenishing. Eggs, Milk, Butter, Granola Bars, and any canned goods you use regularly need to be on the list.
Step 4: Look Up For Coupons
Look up different coupons and specials that are available to you prior to organizing your list. This way, if you find a deal on something that you normally run out of quickly, you can stock up and save money.
Step 5: Organize By Sections
To make your shopping trip less time-consuming and labor-intensive, organize your list according to the sections in your grocery store. If you divide your list into sections, it’s much easier to ensure that no items go overlooked.
Step 6: Specify Quantity
The quantity of one item is very important when creating your list. It is good to know how much of an item you need to get in advance.
Step 7: Check Your List
Go over your list and make any final edits before it’s time to leave for the store. Write out a good copy of your list.
Step 8: Don’t Leave It
Don’t leave your list on the counter! Make sure that you put it somewhere you won’t leave it behind before you leave for your shopping trip.
What Are The Essential College Grocery List for Students?
Whether you are living in a hostel or private accommodation as a student, you need to cook your own meals. And to do so, you need to have the following in your grocery list. Here we provide you with 30 essential grocery list for college students. This list is divided into non-refrigerated, refrigerated, and frozen food items:
College Grocery list (Refrigerated)
Butter/MargarineMilk/Coconut Milk/Almond Milk (Your favorites)Eggs/Egg SubstitutesCheese (any) Cheddar, Ricotta, Feta, Brie, etc.Fresh fruits/vegetables (Apples, bananas, tomato, lettuce, etc.)Condiments (pick your favorite most-used only) Mayo, Ketchup, Mustard, Barbeque Sauce, etc.Deli Meats/Bacon/Rotisserie Chickens Pre-cooked or buy your ownYogurtPickles, Olives, Hot pepper rings, marinated vegetables.
College Grocery List (Non-refridgerated)
BreadFlours- All-purpose, Whole Wheat, Flax Meal/Flour, Almond Flour, etc.Oils- Extra Virgin, Coconut Oil, Walnut oil, Peanut Oil, Sesame Oil, Vegetable Oil, Cooking spray, etc.Honey/Peanut Butter/Almond Butter/ Sunflower seed butter, etc.Unsweetened cocoa powder and other baking basics, Vanilla extract, chocolate chips, marshmallows, jello, cooked instant pudding/custards, Baking powder, Baking soda, Corn StarchWhole Wheat Pasta, Cous-Cous, Brown Rice, White Rice, Wild Rice, Quinoa, etc.Canned foods- Tomatoes, Pizza Sauce, vegetables and fruit, olives, mushrooms, tomato paste, etc.Vinegar- White, Apple Cider, Wine Vinegar, Rice Wine Vinegar, lemon juice, Lime Juice, etc.Whole-grain Cereal/Instant-Oatmeal (sugar-reduced), Steel cut oats, Large Flake Oatmeal, Cream of Wheat, etc.Raisins and Nuts- Cashew, Peanuts, Chia Seeds, Flax Seeds, Hemp hearts, Sunflower Seeds, Dried Fruits, etc.Beans (all kinds- Dry is cheaper ) Chickpeas, Black Beans, Kidney Beans, Tahini Paste *You can make an awesome hummus very easyHerbs and Spices *Buy all your favorites to flavor your meals *including sugars, garlic, chicken broth, parsley, bay leaf.
Grocery List (Frozen)
Frozen FruitsFrozen VegetablesWraps/Pita/Tortillas/Bread/English muffins/Flat BreadHotdogs or Veggie DogsSausages or Vegetarian optionMinced Beef/Pork/Lamb/Chicken/Turkey or Vegetarian MinceFrozen egg cartons (these are great because you can defrost them and use them as needed)Other cuts of meat- Pork Chops, Chicken Breast, Turkey Breast, Ribs, Chicken WingsYou can freeze fresh ginger
Don’t forget to keep your eyes open for increased prices, reduced prices and in-store specials. These will help stretch your grocery budget so that you can spend a bit more on the essential products that you need.
Do I Need Snacks On My College Grocery List?
You might think snacks don’t belong to an essential grocery list for students, but sometimes it should be added to your budget outside the essential things you need. If you’re thinking of adding snacks to your essential grocery list, check out these snacks:
PopcornCrackersRice cakesBaked chipsApple/banana chipsSeeds/nutsFig cookiesGranola barsDark chocolate
How Can I Save Money While Grocery Shopping In College?
While it might seem overwhelming to feed and shop for yourself, you need to save money as a student while shopping. Check out these tips to help you save money:
1. Check Student-Friendly Stores
The easiest way to save money while shopping is by frequenting local markets that offer student discounts. Usually, stores close to campus know they’ll get more customers if they offer a 5%–10% discount for those with university ID cards. Buying your weekly groceries from these shops at a discounted price is perfect for sticking to your budget. SEE ALSO: Easy Procedures to get Netflix Student Discounts Fast | Updated
2. Plan Your Meals (and Stick to That Plan)
One of the most important things you should do before grocery shopping is to plan out your meals for the week. A meal plan will help you stay on track and hopefully under budget when shopping because you’ll know exactly what you need.
3. Eat Before You Shop
Studies indicate that being hungry while looking at food only leads to greater perceived hunger which could lead to more impulsive thoughts about food. Make sure to grab a snack at home or have a friend grab you something from the dining hall before you head to the store. That way, you can avoid spending more on things that excite your hungry stomach.
4. Use Technology
These days, there’s an app for everything. Grocery shopping is no different. As a college student, you can easily download several apps that help you keep track of your pantry’s inventory, budget effectively, or eat healthier. There are quite a few different apps out there, so try several to find out which ones make your shopping experience easier.
5. Freeze Anything and Everything
Yogurt, bread, vegetables, tomato sauce, almost everything lasts longer when you throw it in the freezer. Freezing leftovers from meals work great too.
What is the average college student grocery budget?
Each state has a different average monthly average grocery budget. While an individual’s grocery bill typically comes to $356, a college student’s grocery budget is about $260 on average. Check out the monthly cost of groceries for college students’ state table below.
Conclusion
Having a college grocery list is very important. It would keep you on a healthy track because you buy things you require and it also helps you avoid buying some unnecessary items.
Sources
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