<p>I am currently a student in Austin, Texas, and I am considering into moving into an apartment. I am trying to compile a comparison between living on campus/off campus. </p>
<p>How much should I budget for food? I don't eat breakfast (except coffee, maybe some toast) and I don't eat huge meals, so is $100 reasonable if I shop smart? In bulk? </p>
<p>Just haven't had to break this up before. </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>$100 a month? maybe, if you’re careful and prepare all your meals at home.</p>
<p>$100 for what? A week? A month? If a month, you’d have to be pretty damn thrifty with food.</p>
<p>I’d be interested if it was actually cheaper to live off campus. When my brother was interested in living off-campus, he couldn’t put together a single situation that would actually have been cheaper than on-campus living.</p>
<p>I seriously spend like 85% of my money on food…it’s awful…</p>
<p>I cook my own food. Ideally I would like $100 a week, but I could probably make it off 75$ or even $50. I like to eat a lot.</p>
<p>my usual grocery list is like
chicken 7$
sweet potatoes 5$
2xcottage cheese 6$
peanut butter 3$
bananas/apples 4$
2xalmonds 6$
orange juice 5$
carrots 3$</p>
<p>39$</p>
<p>That’s really rough but it’s the average cost (I’ll get milk or potato chips usually). And I’ll go once or twice a week.</p>
<p>I lived in apartment last year. I spent $50 a week on groceries. I could have cut it down to $40 - 45 if I really had to. A lot of the food I made went to my boyfriend, so it wasn’t just me eating it. I also eat fairly healthy, and am a vegan, and sometimes people think those two things cost a bit more. I usually ate a very small breakfast (banana or oatmeal), a lunch, dinner, and a snack or two.</p>
<p>I would def. shop in bulk ie buying a huge bag of rice, storing it in a container, rather than spending 3 bucks on a box every time. Also things like tv dinners are complete rip offs.</p>
<p>Here its way cheaper to live off campus. Housing (and all associated expenses) costs me approx. $5100 for the year and food around $1600 (I’m not paying for my own food the entire year - summer & winter break I’m home). So thats $6700. But at school housing and board is around 12k. Way better deal.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>On-campus housing at my undergrad school was roughly $650 a month. When I moved off campus I was paying around $400-$450. I also dropped off the board plan which was roughly $6-$7.50 a meal, when I could cook my own for a dollar or two.</p>
<p>You’ve got a really generous school if living on campus is cheaper than off.</p>
<p>I’d figure $100 a week if you just want to shop around comfortably, spend a little more on certain items, maybe get some fast food once or twice.</p>
<p>This semester, I’ve cut my costs down to $40 a week - and that’s buying a ton of food as well. I buy beef cuts in bulk, inexpensive chicken, lots of pasta, rice, beans, cereal, milk, lots of bread, tuna, brocolli, chips, and some sauces. I should probably throw some fruit in there but its too expensive for now!</p>
<p>The only reason I cut my budget down is because I’m studying abroad (in Australia - food is not cheaper), I do not have a job here, and my available funds for this trip are getting tight towards the end here. It’s not cheap or easy to transfer more money!</p>
<p>I think I spend about $40 a week, but it depends a lot on how much you cook vs eating out (which can add up) and what kind of food you buy. Even buying prepared food can be more expensive than buying everything in bulk and spending a lot more time cooking.</p>
<p>Find a local farmer’s market, </p>
<p>Go there, </p>
<p>It will save you $$$</p>
<p>I cook daily and I spent no more than 100dollars a month on the main meals + $70 dollars for starbuck/going out to eat + 25 or so for snacks= 190ish</p>
<p>^ I second going to the local farmer’s market it will save you money and get you fresher produce. My usual grocery bill a week is about $75, and I could cut that down if I really had to.</p>
<p>I know that Austin is a big health food area, but if you really are on a budget don’t buy organic or go to Whole Foods that will kill your wallet. If you really want to save some $$ (if you have a car) go to CostCo and buy in bulk.</p>
<p>We gave each of our kids the equivalent of the lowest-price meal plan into their checking account for food when they lived in apartments. Each of them made do with that amount & if they ran out supplemented it with other funds. I believe they saved, even with eating a few meals out with friends but cooking themselves most of the time.</p>
<p>When they had access to a car & were able to make Costco runs, they were able to stretch their $ further.</p>
<p>Well there’s always beans, rice and lentils. They’ll keep you alive, maybe not completely health, but it’s better than ramen.</p>
<p>$200/mo. But that’s lunch only. I eat breakfast and dinner at home. :P</p>
<p>But, obviously as a commuter student I can not cook food. So I have to buy from an overpriced university cafeteria.</p>
<p>It depends whether or not you like eggs, probably one of the most cost efficient food ever. (Also delicious)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>lentils are one of the best foods a human can eat and the healthiest also.</p>
<p>Much also depends on how expensive/inexpensive the area you’re purchasing food in and your access to shopping & cooking facilities, time to cook, freezer/refrigeration space, storage space for bulk purchases, etc. You obviously have more flexibility if you have a large fridge & freezer, lots of storage space & access to wide array of shopping choices including Costco. </p>
<p>S is able to keep his food bill very low because he & room mate share costs & most meals. They purchase food, split the bill, make large meals that last both of them for several days. </p>
<p>Back in the stone ages, my boyfriend, room mate & I had a dining rotation system. While we were all interested, each of us took turns & cooked 2 dinners/week (the 7th night of the week, we went out or ate leftovers). It worked very nicely and gave us variety while keeping costs lower than if each of us cooked for ourselves alone.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Well yeah, but if you’re subsisting completely off of them your vitamin intake is going to be horrific, that was my point :p</p>
<p>$50-$60/week</p>
<p>Also, USE COUPONS, most newspapers have a weekly section where they list the different deals for the various stores</p>