You can’t live off booze and Taco Bell alone.
Although not all of the tips here are from BuzzFeed's Community — others come from Reddit threads, like this one, and this one.
Four words: Buy a slow cooker:
"There are SOO many different meals you can make, from breakfast to dessert. Throw the ingredients in, go to class, come back to deliciousness." —mikaylal3
BuzzFeed
Figure out one go-to meal you can cook every week:
"Best-tasting cheap dish ever: two jars of Trader Joe's salsa verde and a pack of chicken breast. Grab some tortillas and it will feed you three meals. Salsa is like $1.79 each and the chicken is like $7. Cook it until it's shreds, and load a taco. Bonus: white onion cilantro and lime." –sjblades
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But don't be afraid to experiment:
"A great way to use the Crock-Pot is by making stews — veggie, chicken noodle, lentil, white bean, navy bean, barley — pretty much anything! Also, stock up on quart-sized freezer bags!! If you end up making more than you can eat in a meal or two (which I always, inevitably, do) you can freeze your leftovers for later. Best way to keep from wasting all your delicious goodies." —pantoponrosey
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Remember that you can cook almost anything in a microwave:
Microwaving eggs with shredded cheese for 2 minutes in a mug, scrambling them with a fork and then adding avocado.
—anderka
Adult Swim / Via gfycat.com
And that quick meals can be healthy, too:
"I buy pouches of miso soup mix and extra firm tofu. I put a couple tablespoons of mix in a bowl with water and cube in a couple ounces of tofu. Then I zap it for two minutes in the microwave. Super cheap, calorie-wise. And delicious!"
–Made-of-stars
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No oven? No problem:
"Baked potatoes are easily doable in the microwave. One of the cheaper foods you can get and very healthy. Add microwaved broccoli for the green veggie and then something for flavor like cheese, butter/sour cream (if you have a fridge), salsa, or a can of chili." —Teerlys
BuzzFeed
It's okay to splurge on kitchen appliances, because they pay off in the long run:
"Waffle mix and water and an electric waffle maker! I made waffles all the time and had different toppings in my room." —clarissaa488338cde
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So buy yourself a dang coffee maker:
"Get a Keurig coffee machine! I got one within my first semester and it was a life-saver! I saved so much money on buying coffee and never had to deal with cleaning a coffee pot, which is almost impossible to do in a dorm bathroom sink."
—corinneb42e678228
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And get a cheap rice cooker, too:
"I had a small rice cooker that you put in the microwave (the kind you plug in weren’t allowed) and I used it at least three times a week. I always made white rice because it was the cheapest, but you could make brown rice, quinoa, or even steam some vegetables if you’re feeling ambitious." —ashleyw472385b29
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Take the time to cook meals in bulk:
"Buy whole roast chicken. It's already cooked and you can use it for lots of stuff and several meals. Slice the breast for sandwiches, chicken salad, pick the meat off more difficult spots for mixing in with veggies. If you won't use it all in a few days, you can pull it apart and freeze portions." –idhavetocharge
BuzzFeed
And always save your leftovers:
"Pro tip: Are you a super lazy cook? Cook a pasta meal fit to feed a family of four, then you don't have to cook anything for a couple of days or a week. Microwave pasta is underrated and everyone will think you're the best cook." —moiartworks
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Keep your pantry filled with cheap staples that have long shelf lives:
"Buy staples like rice, potatoes, beans and lentils — all pretty cheap, last long and healthy. If you have access to a freezer, buying frozen veggies, greens and berries is a cheaper and longer lasting option than fresh produce."
—cat4d35566ca
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But also make sure to keep treats around for when your late-night sweet tooth kicks in:
"Broke but craving something sweet? Put Nutella on flour tortillas (like a quesadilla). Heat in the microwave for 15 seconds. Boom! You have a fancy chocolate crepe! Well not exactly, but it tastes good."
—moiartworks
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Remember to stock up on study snacks to get you through those all-nighters:
"Mix hot chocolate powder in with instant oatmeal for a sweet pick-me-up while studying!" —katyr402172915
NBC / Via giphy.com
And finally, you can never go wrong with Pop-Tarts:
"Keep Pop-Tarts on hand, cause you know at 3:30 a.m. you’ll be glad you have them, particularly if you’re drunk." —dianep13
IFC / Via giphy.com
via BuzzFeed/Food
