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Tips for Being Thrifty & Being in College

oohcow said:
so... anyone got any good recipe sites?

I move out of the dorms this year... and i need to start cooking for myself... need some simple stuff... never really was taught to cook anything... so any help is appreciated lol
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This might be a stupid, or obvious tip, but don't underestimate the power of spices and herbs in cooking! Sometimes they can be expensive (see previous post for cheaper alternatives) but spices can totally change a pasta or meat dish, or anything you are making! Then keep all your spices in the freezer so they stay fresh!
 
dshock said:
^keeping spices in the freezer? never heard of that before. Kind of interesting trick.
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Yes, I have multiple reasons for it, I think in general it just keeps your spices fresher, but also many spices, such as chili powders, paprika, have insect larvae in them and keeping them in the freezer keeps the eggs from hatching .... horror story time ..... my aunt was making Goulash with paprika that she kept in the cupboard, that was apparently rather old, she put a bunch in the pot she was cooking in, tasted it, and crunched down on something strange, she looked in the pot and found a bunch of beetles in her goulash, she literally had to pick the beetles out of her teeth she said. 8o That is probably the most terrifying thing I have ever heard so I keep all my spices and herbs in the freezer, even the ones that most likely don't have insect larvae in them. Its mostly red spices and chili's over things like thyme and oregano that have said atrocities lying in the wait in them. The freezer is now my best friend!
 
Food stamps, a lot of college student's don't realize how easy it is to get food stamps. You don't need kids or anything, the only requirments are that you make less then 1100 a month.

Most of my friends and me get from 100 - 150 a month. You just fill out the foodstamp app online and then about a week later you go to your local foodstamp/medicare office and stand in line for a three minute interview. A few days later you get your foodstamp card in the mail. You just keep using the same one, the money on it refills itself every month for 6 months and then after 6 months you have another 3 minute interview and it keeps going on and on like that. Anyway I get 120 dollars on my foodstamp card each month and it's helped a lot.
 
it's not so easy in every state or country. you realize this, right?

income of $1100 a month, at least here, really isn't that bad for someone who does not have a college education.
 
rgpizza said:
Food stamps, a lot of college student's don't realize how easy it is to get food stamps. You don't need kids or anything, the only requirments are that you make less then 1100 a month.

Most of my friends and me get from 100 - 150 a month. You just fill out the foodstamp app online and then about a week later you go to your local foodstamp/medicare office and stand in line for a three minute interview. A few days later you get your foodstamp card in the mail. You just keep using the same one, the money on it refills itself every month for 6 months and then after 6 months you have another 3 minute interview and it keeps going on and on like that. Anyway I get 120 dollars on my foodstamp card each month and it's helped a lot.
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Question, do you also have to be an independent in order to qualify for foodstamps? That is you cannot be claimed as a dependent on taxes and such.
Just curious ... because I am pretty sure that is a stipulation.
 
steinanwine said:
Question, do you also have to be an independent in order to qualify for foodstamps? That is you cannot be claimed as a dependent on taxes and such.
Just curious ... because I am pretty sure that is a stipulation.
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You need to call them. It varies state by state, as I mentioned before.
 
1) Do one weekly shop at the supermarket, and buy whatever you need. if you're a snacker, buy snacks. if you're not, then good for you. I normally spend around $70NZD on food a week (Steak is about $12 for two sirloin, while broccoli ranges around $3 to give you an estimate) and i always buy chocolate bikkies etc. I find that by doing this, I dont end up spending any money on food during the week.
2) If I'm going out to dinner for a friends birthday or whatever, I always have a meal before I go, and that way i can eat less and drink more of my BYO wine.
3) I find that if i spend a lot of money on food, it makes me feel so guilty that clothes shopping is out of the question.
4) Get flatmates so you can steal their clothes
5) Get flatmates so that you can constantly 'run out of tomato sauce' and have to use theirs
6) Get flatmates so you can say 'But i got the toilet paper last time!'

... Get flatmates. They make life easier.
 
^^ but only good roommates

no one wants to live with someone who is constantly mooching off of them
 
Buy in bulk from the wholesaler or discount store (bigs bags of rice, trays of tinned tomatoes etc). Then buy fresh veg at end of day from local veg stall = they'll do you deal.
 
steinanwine said:
Question, do you also have to be an independent in order to qualify for foodstamps? That is you cannot be claimed as a dependent on taxes and such.
Just curious ... because I am pretty sure that is a stipulation.
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You can be a dependent it doesn't matter. I don't know about other states but I live in Florida and If you live in Florida I know for a fact it is super easy to get them here. I can't imagine it being a tremendous difference in other states. Lots of people are just to lazy to fill out the application but a lot of people I work ( I work in a restaurant ) went and got them as well. Anyway a 100 free dollars for food a month can help out a lot.
 
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