Monday 03-03-2025 - 11:52

National Student Money Week 2025 - Blog post 2

Broke But Boujee: How to Save Money on Food as a Student

By Sundas Safdar – Money Mentor

Lets be real- being a student is expensive. Between rent, books and trying to have a social life, your bank account is probably crying. But food? That’s where you can ac-tually save big. Here’s how to eat well without going broke. 

 

ChatGPT – Your meal-planning bestie

Struggling to figure out what to eat? Instead of winging it and ordering overpriced takeout, use ChatGPT to create cheap, easy meal plans and grocery lists. This keeps you from impulse buying random stuff and helps you stick to a budget. Batch-cook meals like pasta, stir fries and curries. So, you’re not shambling for food midweek. 

 

Bulk buy = big savings

Trust me, bulk-buying staples like rice, pasta, oats and canned goods will save you serious cash. Hit up Aldi, Lidl or your local wholesale store for the good deals. Also, frozen food is a lifesaver - veggies, meat and even bread last way longer and are often cheaper than fresh. 

 

Stop sleeping on leftovers

Cook once, eat twice (or three times). Leftovers= free meal for tomorrow. Store them properly and boom - you just saved yourself from extra spending.

 

Make your own coffee

We get it, flat whites/lattes/long blacks are a personality trait. But at £4 a cup? In-vest in a flask, make your own coffee (including iced coffee!) and thank me later. With a little planning and some smart swaps, you can eat well, save money and still live your best life. Now go be the budgeting legend you were born to be, bestie!

 

Sundas is an undergraduate student based at our Manchester campus and is one of the Money & Housing Advice Team’s Money Mentors.

Interested in becoming a Money Mentor in 2025/26? Contact the Money & Housing Advice Team – moneyandhousingadvice@law.ac.uk