<p>Do you eat out often or prefer buying your own grocery? I think this is one of my biggest problems (along with my sleeping schedule). I live off of campus and I do not have a meal plan since they are crazy expensive, so I usually buy my groceries. However, I tend to get lazy and decide against cooking, so all of the food in the fridge goes bad. I tend to eat out a lot because it's just so much easier, but also more expensive, unfortunately. The only crucial things in my fridge are: eggs, bacon, brita filter water, and occasional fruits and veggies. I'm trying to limit my eating out habit and buying more groceries so I can save money and conveniently eat at my own place. What are some essentials on a grocery list? How often do you eat out?</p>
<p>I eat out a lot, almost every day. But I usually only eat one meal a day, so it’s like I just get that and I’m good. I just usually get vegetables which I eat right away and some non-perishable stuff at the grocery store. It’s rare though because I’m really lazy about going to the grocery store especially as it gets colder.</p>
<p>I cook all the time. I think it helps that I blog about it (as stupid as that is) because it’s the easiest way for me to remember what I’ve changed, amounts I used, etc.- I hate writing in my cookbooks. </p>
<p>I’d like to point out that there are a 1001 ways to make/eat ramen, all of which are easy:)</p>
<p>I eat out often, too often. Spend WAY too much money on food.</p>
<p>I buy my own groceries. Yeah, it can be a pain but when you buy $10 in groceries vs. $10 in a meal it goes a very long way. For a certain price you can burly an omlette with french toast, bacon, and a biscuit. For less than you can most likely get the same thing.</p>
<p>I’m starting to buy my own groceries, because it would cost about half of my current meal plan to do so. I don’t plan on going out that often, just because I’m lazy and don’t want to drive out anywhere.</p>
<p>Some grocery essentials: bread, peanut butter (both are cheap), pasta, tomato sauce, oatmeal, breakfast bars. You can also take those hamburger helper meals, make that, and have it last 2-3 days.</p>
<p>I spend about 200-50 a month on groceries which may sound like a lot but add up your eating out/fast food meals and it becomes astounding…I have a lot of fresh staples and I always have eggs and some sort of chicken/or veggie burger on hand. You can mix and match a lot…for example yesterday I had…
Omelete w/veggies: eggs + fresh veggies + spinach
Salad and Apple: peanut butter+apple + spinach + fresh veggies
Boca Burger,Sweet Potato,Sauteed Mushrooms: frozen burger + fresh veggies</p>
<p>See how many repeats but how different of a meal? If you buy smart, it’s really not that expensive or that time consuming.</p>
<p>Took a trip to the grocery store earlier today and stocked up on some of the foods on the suggested lists. For desserts or sweet tooth cravings, I got pudding and jell-o; they’re cheap and good. 
Thanks for the responses!</p>
<p>Chef Boyardee is a life saver. Bread, nutella, peanut butter, cereal and lunch meat are some other essentials. For eating out, chinese food is pretty cheap. Also get your hands on coupon books and the like.</p>
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<p>The best part about owning a physical cookbook instead of just looking at recipes off of the internet is you can write in them! Recipes with food stains on them are always the best ones and help make it into a family record.</p>
<p>One of the best gifts my mom ever gave me was the Betty Crocker cookbook she got from her mom when she went to college. It’s got notes from both of them in it, and now it’s got a bunch of my own. Whenever I don’t know what to make for dinner, I can always turn to that and find something that’s been tested by family.</p>