Budgeting Your Money, Supermarket Style

One of the top priorities for every grad student (besides doing well in class, of course) is to save money. We’ve all figured out just how much we’re paying for every course, every credit, every hour of class. And yeah, it’s a lot. So you’re going to want to cut back on your expenditures. You have to get creative when saving money, especially in a city like Boston. One of my favorite ways to stay on track with my money is with my groceries.

For example. Yes, we all love cereal. It’s great in the morning, for an afternoon snack, or during a late-night paper-writing cram session. But do you know how much cheaper the store brand cereals are? Fine, I’ll grant you that they don’t exactly taste the same. But when you’re exhausted from pulling an all-nighter are you really going to know the difference? I vote no.

Sometimes it’s all about where you shop. Everyone loves a good Whole Foods, and not just for the tasty samples they provide. But for the duration of your graduate studies, say goodbye to Whole Foods (except maybe for the samples) and hello to Market Basket. Even if you have to take the T to get to one, it’s worth the difference you’ll be saving.

Once you’re at Market Basket, there’s really only one thing you need to remember: store brand, store brand, store brand! Seriously, you can practically feel the savings in your wallet.

Make sure you buy enough to make your lunch for work because you’re done with going out on your lunch breaks. It’s a great way to save. Just pack it all in a nice little lunch box, though you might want to call it a meal bag. Sounds much more professional.

Maybe you shouldn't say goodbye to Whole Foods completely. I mean, those samples can come in handy for a nice afternoon snack. You can consider it a weekend activity, and a free one to boot. Now you're thinking like a grad student

The one thing I would go name brand on: water filter. This way you don’t have to buy water bottles, which are mucho expensive. One water filter lasts a few months and is definitely more price-conscious than bottles. Now you know how to save money on food and water. What else is there?!