<p>Is it worth it to cook your own food instead of eating out? Cooking requires shopping for groceries, a lot of time, and it's not too cheap as well right? Also, if you live by yourself you'll always have to cook and freeze or cook small portions. </p>
<p>I don't know how to cook so I'd have to look up websites online to learn how to make more than the very basics. </p>
<p>However, my school offers a meal plan so I don't eat out (often) nor do I need to cook. I think that's the most cost and time effective thing to do for me.</p>
<p>Of course, cooking would still be cheaper than getting a meal plan. But eating a cafeteria is so convenient. </p>
<p>College is so crazy that unless you really enjoy cooking and/or are really good at it, then a meal plan is probably the way to go. Eating out can be a hassle, especially when you're crunched for time, as so many college students are. Does your college/the colleges you are looking at have meal plans that allow you wiggle room to use the caf sometimes and cook for yourself at others?</p>
<p>Meal plan is the way to go, at least freshman year. Unless you live in apartment/suite style living, you may not even have access to a kitchen (I do, but my 'kitchen' is a sink and a microwave) so cooking may not even be an option. And eating out is expensive.</p>
<p>The cheapest way depends on where your living. If you have a full kitchen, it is way cheaper to cook for yourself. Otherwise probably a meal plan would be the cheapest way.</p>