Grocery Shopping in Beantown--How's it compare to YOURtown?

As a grad student, grocery shopping may seem like no big deal, but once all of the pennies are added up, the ounces and the pounds—groceries can add quite a dent in your monthly finances. Says one grad student at Emerson College, “I try to spend around $40 a week…and that includes going out.” So where are the best places to do one’s grocery shopping in a city known for being as pricey as its LA counterpart?

Stop & Shop, Star Market, Shaw's and Trader Joe’s are the main grocery stores you’ll find on the streets in Beantown and its neighboring towns. “I shop at Stop and Shop—It’s basically just like any grocery story—big selection, big isles, big lines,” says Ashley, a third year MFA student at Emerson College. Stop & Shop offers a rewards program card which gives you special discounts on certain items (which change weekly). There is also a red box in every location which makes this grocery store very useful for food and entertainment.

Star Market and Shaw’s are another option for the grocery shopping grad student. These stores also offer the rewards card which help to cut the cost on some items which to change weekly. According to Yelp, one reviewer mentions the lack of fresh produce and limited stock in the freezer section. If price is your main concern, you may find better options at Stop & Shop. Like Stop and Shop, red box is also available.

Finally, Trader Joe’s offers grad students the chance to sample food from around the world—both from the personable employee at the sample station or from sampling the products right off the shelf (though, do remember to ask for an employee’s assistance before sampling). Trader Joe’s is known for its affordability and shoppers agree—according to one Yelper, “In a nutshell, I go to TJ's for a few reasons; VERY affordable (sometimes way cheaper than other supermarkets for things), FRIENDLY staff, [and] environmentally conscious”. Trader Joe’s may not have a rewards card or a red box, but it has quality and affordability which suffice it to say, may be the only true mark of a worthy grocery store to any graduate student.

Don't Sweat the Job Stuff

It’s great when graduate students find a position in the field they are pursuing, but if you don’t land that dream job right away, don’t sweat it. I don’t anymore.

When I was accepted to Emerson College’s graduate program, I, like many other students, began to feel anxiety about finding a job…quickly. After a month of adjusting to living in a new state, while at the same time applying to numerous jobs at hospitals, other universities, and various offices around Boston, I finally consulted Emerson’s career services website. As soon as I was signed in as an official user, I spotted an office assistant position at a consulting firm just down the street from Emerson. I was hired within a week of my interview, and while now it is sometimes difficult hearing that many of my classmates have jobs in our desired field of study, I know that I am making the right decision by sticking with my job.

If you are offered an opportunity to take a job in your desired career field, you should definitely take it. But if you are someone who needs the security of a paycheck coming in every week, no matter what the field, here are my suggestions for your job search:

· Keep an open mind. Even if a job may not sound attractive, try to get an interview anyway. My job description consisted of moving office furniture, stocking the kitchen, and sorting mail—not terribly exciting stuff. What I found out after being hired was that I had full medical coverage and a free monthly pass for the train; two things WELL worth having in addition to a salary.

· Don’t be stingy about the hours you work. Everyone is bound to miss a social engagement or two because of work—there will be others! Having a steady job, even if it is only part-time, will help give you a schedule that will keep your academic, professional, and social lives organized.

· Utilize your college’s career services site—I mean it! My future boss was very impressed when he learned that I had found the job listing on Emerson’s site, and that I was a full-time student. Being a graduate student helps tremendously when applying for a job. Your potential employer sees that you are focused in pursuing a higher level of education, by your choice.

If you are having trouble finding a position, try not to panic. Consult your school’s career services center as well as the career sections of company websites. Exhaust all possibilities—jobs are out there. If you search thoroughly, you will succeed in finding a job that fits into your busy academic schedule.