Inexpensive Foods for a College Budget

North Point • December 5, 2023

As soon as you start college, you’ll soon begin to realize that cooking and planning your meals is a huge part of your college living experience. Although it may sound like a tedious topic from the outside, once you get into the flow of buying groceries and planning your college meals, you’ll start to enjoy the independence you start to have. It’s important to be aware of the options available to you when you’re living on a college budget, so that you know what to look out for when you’re doing your weekly grocery shopping.

In order to get the most out of your college life, you also need to stay healthy and nourished, which means eating wholesome meals and foods as often as possible. With that being said, it can be tough to find healthy and affordable groceries. This is why college students should pay particularly close attention to the foods and advice given below. The ideas mentioned here will not only give you a ton of inspiration for your college meals in the coming year, but they will also help you to stay within your budget without going hungry!

Rice

Rice is so simple and delicious to cook, it has to be one of the first items on your grocery list when you become a college student. Rice can become the base of any meal or it can be served as a side dish with fish, chicken, or beef. Adding a variety of rainbow-colored vegetables to your rice is also a quick and simple idea if you’re looking for an nutritious dish you can rely on after a busy day of learning!

Beans

Beans are a healthy and affordable addition to your diet as a college student and you can add them to pretty much any dish. Canned beans work well with a variety of different dinners, and they’re a cheaper alternative to meat when making curry, chili, or other meat-based meals. As well as adding extra protein to your meals, the addition of beans will also add fiber and provide you with additional energy as you go about college life!

Pizza

Although not always the healthiest option, pizza is a social and enjoyable food to share with your roommates after a busy week. Ordering in a pizza on a Friday night is a classic college student move and for a very good reason. Not only is it a well deserved treat for you and your friends to enjoy together, but it’s also fairly cheap and very convenient too!

Lunch Meat

Stocking your fridge with various lunch meats will always be a good idea if you’re looking for convenient, affordable, and versatile foods to enjoy during your college experience. Whether you’re making salami and mayonnaise sandwiches to power your late night study sessions or you’re looking to boost your protein intake after an extra active day playing on a sports team, there is so much you can do with cold cuts like ham, turkey, salami, pepperoni, and chicken.

Pasta

Pasta is one of the cheapest and most versatile ingredients you can work with when it comes to your college budget cooking. Whether you’re cooking with whole wheat or white pasta, there are so many different options to prepare, so that you don’t get tired of eating the same thing over and over again. Pasta is also a brilliant source of carbohydrates, which will provide you with the energy you need to play sports and study hard during your college life. Whether you’re making a classic spaghetti with bolognese sauce or you’re whipping up a cheap and cheerful penne with green pesto, there are so many possibilities when it comes to pasta. Also in the same category as pasta is the classic college student staple: Instant ramen. It’s very affordable, quick and super simple to make if you need to fix your hunger right away.

Use Your Freezer Space

Wasting food as a college student can cost you, so you need to make the most of your freezer space and invest in the right kitchen essentials to make your food go further. For example, if you’re buying fresh fruit or vegetables for your regular dishes, it can be very difficult to get through them all if you’re just cooking for one person. Chopping up your fruits and vegetables and storing them in labeled freezer bags gives you a handy go-to ingredient the next time you’re making a meal. This means that your budget is spreading further and you aren’t wasting food unnecessarily.

Batch Cook Your Meals

It goes without saying that cooking your meals in bulk will help save you precious time as a busy college student, as well as making your money go further. Cooking “family style” meals such as soup, lasagna, curries, stews, stroganoffs, or anything that is suitable to be portioned out and saved for later can be your saving grace during your college life. There are so many useful batch cooking websites and cookbooks that will help to guide you through the process if you’ve never done it before, but it's super easy once you get started, and you’ll really enjoy it too!

Enjoy Cooking in Your College Living Environment

Where you live during your college years can have a direct impact on your entire lifestyle, which includes cooking and eating good meals. When you choose to begin your college journey living at NorthPoint, you will have all of the facilities and amenities you need in your college apartment to cook with your roommates and enjoy wholesome meals together. There is a lot of enjoyment to be had when it comes to cooking at college; it can bond people together and help to build lifelong friendships. Choosing a high-quality, modern living space will enhance your college life immeasurably and give you all of the tools you need for a wholesome college experience. Contact our professional and knowledgeable team today to explore your options, apply for an apartment, and find your ideal place to live.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Tips for Academic Success

By North Point • March 16, 2026

University life can feel like it's moving at a million miles per hour once classes start and you build a social life, start working, and take on other responsibilities. However, building good habits early on can help reduce the overwhelm college life can bring. Following are tips on organization, time management, creating routines, and more to support getting things accomplished day to day and succeeding in academics. Approaching Academics The best time to get organized is the start of the semester. Once assignments and exams start coming up, schedules can get really busy very quickly. This makes having a plan from the beginning an important element of academic success. One of the best ways to support academics is by creating a semester roadmap. Mark important dates, such as exam and assignment deadlines, and major projects. This will help you see the time you have to work with. Add in any work commitments you might have or times when you might need to reduce working hours or take time off, so you can make arrangements in advance. Also, identify academic resources on campus. There are support services in different forms to help students. Helpful resources you can look into are: Tutoring center offerings Writing and math center support Librarian knowledge and library databases for research projects Academic advisors for help with course planning Don't overlook the impact of connecting with available resources, and don't just ask for help when you're struggling. Connecting with your instructors can also make a difference. Here are some ideas: Use office hours early in the semester to ask questions or build relationships If you're confused about an assignment, bring the instructions to an office visit, having highlighted exactly what you're struggling with Review graded work and ask for tips on how to improve moving forward Include the course name and section in email subject lines Email ahead of time if you have to miss a class to ask for notes or materials Lastly, try to be as positive as you can about your classes and the semester. Not every class will be easy; it's not meant to be. But being positive about your academic experience can help make things easier. Cultivating Good Study Habits You may need to try a few approaches when it comes to cultivating good study habits to find what works for you. For some, it's reviewing their notes within a few hours of class while everything is still fresh. Others may prefer explaining difficult concepts to a classmate to help them work things out loud. Or, working with small study groups may be more preferable to others. A few more techniques you might want to try include: Creating flashcards for terminology-heavy classes like biology or language courses Practicing sample problems, not just rereading notes, might be helpful for subjects like chemistry or math Aim for short, focused study sections on specific areas or topics, not long, uninterrupted ones Good study habits can be applied to completing large assignments, too. Find a way to complete them that works for you. One option is to break them into smaller steps. For a research paper, this might look like: Choosing a topic Gathering resources Outlining main points Writing the first draft Revizing Editing Submitting Spacing the workload out over several days or weeks may help reduce overwhelm. If you ever feel stuck, remember that campus resources are available to help you out. Managing Time Time management may be one of the biggest challenges for university students. One strategy you may want to try out here is time blocking, where you schedule specific blocks of time for one thing only, i.e., studying, working, completing assignments, or reviewing notes. You may also want to implement planners or digital tools to help stay on top of your schedule and reduce procrastination. Options include: Using a phone calendar to track assignment deadlines Setting reminders in apps for upcoming tasks Using weekly planners to map out schedules Using Simple Study Techniques Pairing time management with simple study techniques can be massively beneficial, too. Consider these ideas: Study in a quiet, distraction-free environment Set small goals for each study session Turn off phone notifications during study periods Work with a study partner for accountability Supporting Well‑Being Your physical and mental health play a huge part in academic success. Remember to make healthcare decisions that align with your individual circumstances. Ideas for supporting well-being include: Maintaining a consistent sleeping routine : Sleep can boost concentration, memory, and focus. Eating nutritious foods to support your body : Regular, healthy meals are important to overall health. Remaining adequately hydrated : Good hydration supports a healthy lifestyle. Drink frequently throughout the day to avoid dehydration. Managing stress : Identify stress-managing activities that work for you, like going for walks, practicing mindfulness, or taking study breaks. Remember that campus services are available to support overall well-being. Establishing an Academic-Friendly Environment Consider the impact your living environment can have on your academic success. Creating a dedicated study space in your apartment is one way you can help your residence function as an effective place for academic success. A productive study set up might look like: A desk with space for books and a laptop Good lighting to reduce eye strain Organization for supplies, supplies and course materials Comfortable, supportive seating Try to keep your study area away from where you relax to create defined spaces. You may also want to coordinate with roommates so you're all on the same page regarding study times, schedules, and quiet hours so everyone gets a comfortable space and a productive living environment to support studies . Contact Us for BYU-I Student Housing Finding the right student living accommodation can make a big difference in supporting academic success. NorthPoint Apartments offers BYU-I student housing near campus and comfortable spaces that can support studies, relaxation, and sociality. Please contact us to discuss availability or to schedule a tour.