Student budgets are notoriously tight, and food is often near the top of the list when it comes time to trim the financial fat. This is a mistake. According to the American Journal of Health Promotion, students perform best when they eat well, exercise and get enough rest. One solution for students may be to find more ways to eat well for free.
You might need to step out of your comfort zone to eat for free, but that extra effort means that you could save up to $10 or more per meal. If you’re feeling adventurous, you may even be able to stock up on extra food for another rainy day.
Here are seven ways to score free food in college.
[See: How to Live on $13,000 a Year.]
1. Attend club events on campus. If you’re a member of a club or society on campus, there’s a good chance that the organization hosts a number of members-only events where they serve food and drinks. Make a point of attending as many of these events as possible to fill up your social calendar — and get your fair share of free food. If you have roommates or friends who are members of clubs you aren’t, ask about tagging along for a free bite.
2. Hang out at campus restaurants around closing time. When you’ve had a long day and don’t have the energy to make a grocery store run — or have money to pay for it — make a pit stop at a campus pizza joint or other restaurants to see if they have any leftover items from the day. Many places simply throw those items in the trash since they can’t sell them at the last minute. Instead of trying to pull off a dumpster dive, simply ask if you can plate up some of those slices yourself.
[See: 10 Fun, Frugal Ways to Spend Your Free Time.]
3. Go to church. Neighborhood churches often serve free meals or a free breakfast on certain days of the week. Hop on the bus or just walk over to a nearby church to enjoy a hearty meal with fellow worshipers. Check out the church’s bulletin board to learn about any upcoming events where they will be serving free meals or handing out snacks. These usually take place around the holidays and can be another reason to head to church on an empty stomach.
4. Volunteer at campus and off-campus events. Many volunteer organizations recruit large groups of volunteers for bigger events and reward their volunteers with free meals or restaurant coupons. Seek out these events to give back to your community while you earn a meal or two as well.
5. Get a part-time job at a restaurant or cafe. Studying and social activities will keep you plenty busy during the week but picking up a part-time job might be just what you need to get your meals covered. Many venues give employees a free meal during their shifts, and you may be able to take home extra food that would otherwise get thrown away. That part-time job might also give you some extra money to cover the cost of other meals so you never go hungry.
[See: 8 Hacks to Ease Your Financial Life.]
6. Go restaurant hopping on your birthday. If you can postpone your actual birthday celebrations to the weekend, make a point to head out to area restaurants for your free birthday meal. Many chain restaurants and even a few local places will give you a free meal or dessert when you show them your ID card with your birthdate. You can even box up leftovers to take home for another meal during birthday week. Sign up for email updates from your favorite chains and free rewards programs so you can cash in on those free birthday deals.
7. Make your supermarket rounds for free samples. Many grocery stores and warehouse clubs, such as Sam’s Club and Costco, host sampling events on weekends or during certain days of the week to attract more shoppers. Mark your calendar for those days, so you can sample your way around the store and enjoy the equivalent of a free meal. When you’re grocery shopping for your roommates or just making a trip to town, this can be the perfect way to get a free meal during your trip. Some stores will even give you samples of fresh deli meats, cheese and other counter items on sample days or otherwise — all you have to do is ask.
More from U.S. News
10 Meals to Make When You’re Trying to Save
10 Ways to Cut Your Costs This Week
7 Ways to Score Free Food in College originally appeared on usnews.com
