Money Tips #2

This one is a restaurant special!

I don't know about you, but I love going out to eat. I do enjoy cooking a lot, but there are people so much better than I am! I want to get what they make. However, I don't like the cost nor do I always get the healthiest things around.

So, today I'll go over how to be careful with money and stay healthy at the same time while going out.

Tip 1: What better place to start off with then with what you first order? Avoid drinks. Don't get tea, beer, or soda. Restaurants can charge a couple of dollars or more for a drink. Instead, get water. Water is free at most restaurants and is the healthiest choice on the menu. If you go for water you can knock three, five dollars, or maybe even more off of your bill. Not to mention avoid some extra calories.

Now, of course I am not saying to never have these things again. I'm a Texas girl. I have a huge weakness for sweet tea. And there are some times I just gotta have it with my meal. But I am aware that I am having an indulgence and is not something I should have often (though man, do I want to).

But, since it is hard to resist, I need to make it last.

Tip 2: Make your meal and/or drink last. Take time and enjoy what you are eating. Talk with the company you are with, chew your food slowly, and drink at a pace. You might find that you are walking out the door with half a drink in your hand and some leftovers. I've heard that if you eat slowly, you can get full faster. Instead of eating three slices of pizza, you might find you have one left-over because you didn't put all your concentration on the meal in front of you.

This might seem more of a health tip than a money one. However, by doing this you are getting an experience with your money. You get someone else to cook for you, you get the time to enjoy it, and you can leave with another meal in your hand for the price of one.

Tip 3: Don't eat all that is on your plate! If you are still a bit hungry (even after Tip 2) try to have half or a little less put into a to-go-box if you are heading anywhere with a fridge. You will have enough for lunch and now you got yourself some dinner. Leftovers are great, especially for college students.

However, this is not an excuse to get more. You still need to avoid spending money and loading up on extra calories. Don't go into a restaurant always thinking you are going to order more so you can have leftovers.

Tip 4: If possible, avoid combos. With this, I am typically thinking more of those drive-thrus than a sit-down restaurant. With most of the drive-thrus, what you are getting isn't enough for a leftover or will taste as good later (i.e. a burger). And sometimes the extra money just isn't worth the curly fries and the drink. Instead, get the main item, take it back to your dorm, and eat it with sides you already have; chips, carrots, fruits, etc.

By doing this, you will avoid spending money on something you don't need and can eat up things you already spent money on. And the same can be done with the sides. Not much of a burger fan but love those fries? Get them and have them as a side for a healthier meal you put together. Don't feel that if you walk into a restaurant, drive-thru or otherwise, you are obligated to get the whole combo package. 

Tip 5: Try to go to more self-serving dine-ins where you don't have to pay tip. There are plenty of places that are like this and offer some great healthy choices. And this doesn't mean it needs to be a fast-food joint. Do a bit of research around your campus. Poke your head in and look at the restaurants. Ask around and see if anyone knows if where there are places you don't have to tip.

I understand that those who are working at these places work hard and deserve tip. I am not saying not give a little extra to any place. This is simply about those going to find places that offer low-cost options.

If you are just aware of the menu and take the time to (that word again) study before your purchase, you will be better off. Take a few minutes, take out your phone, and do some math. How much will the meal be with tax? With a tip? With a drink? As a combo? Just think about how much you would want to spend and if the food is worth it.

Money Tips #1

Back at the dorm now! All settled in and now just slowly building up my courage to make my way down and heat up the stove. But until then, here are some tips I promised to share.

A good place to start for any college student is money. One of the biggest issues in maintaining a healthy diet is the cost. Let's face it, healthy fresh food can be pretty darn expensive. Not to mention if you're not lucky enough to be close to a farmer's market, you typically have to buy in bulk. And bulk offers the chance of spoiling. Then there is the fact that not every campus has a grocery store or market in walking or biking distance, so for those who have a car you're paying gas bills.

So the big question: With all of this cost, is the healthy route still worth it?

Yes. 110% YES.

This is about being healthy. What you do now can, and typically will, greatly affect your body in the future.

I have high cholesterol. It is from the poor choices and, sadly, genetics (curse you genetics). If I don't do something about this now, I could get very sick in the near future. There will be extra doctor's visits, medicine, and probably would have to visit a specialist. I think a little extra work and a little extra cost now can help greatly reduce cost in the future.

And the same can be said for anyone. So this comes to my first tip:

Tip 1: Don't be put off by the cost. Don't go for the fast-food burger just because it is cheap. That thing can start to cost you greatly later on. So work on saving a little so you can put a little extra in your healthy meals.

But not everyone has time or the talent to instantly drop the fast-food. And not everyone can stand a salad or the thought of getting fresh produce every day. But you don't have to. You just need to be conscious of what you are buying.

Tip 2: You don't have to buy expensive, fresh produce that spoils easily! Don't assume healthy instantly means you're limited to the fruits and veggies section in the store. There are many brands that make healthier alternatives to things you like. Progresso, my personal favorite, has delicious soups that are Light. You can stock up on those and they won't go bad if you don't crave one for a few weeks.

As I write Tip 2, I think back to those diet-frozen meals and it reminds me of the trouble I got into. They don't take up much space, they don't spoil easy, they're easy to cook, and some can taste pretty decent. But be careful. I thought it was going to help me lose weight, but my body reacted the opposite and gained instead. A bit of money was wasted on something I had thought would help my weight loss.

Tip 3: Don't instantly assume that you will lose weight or be healthy simply because "Healthy" is in the name of the product. To save on money, and pounds, start off slow with any healthy product, especially frozen meals. Everyone is different. Everyone has a different body type, metabolism, and reaction to certain things. Don't go and stock up on a certain brand or microwave meal without first checking their nutrition label and experimenting with how you react to it.

This does mean a little extra work when you shop. You will need to slowly learn about what you are buying and what is worth the cost, which takes time. And that will come to my final tip of the day.

Tip 4: I recommend don't go get your weekly or monthly groceries if you are in any sort of a rush. To be healthy will take some time at first. Until you know products really well, you will have do some homework. You will need to check and compare labels. Yes, I am saying you need to be one of the people who stand in an aisle holding two different cans of tomato paste reading them. Taking a few extra seconds per item might be annoying, but you can make sure you are getting your money's worth of something. "What? These cans are the exact same price, but this one has 2% less saturated fat!" It might sound silly, but I think it is worth it.

These are just a few little things, but after you start combining things together I think your money will be saved and, more importantly, your health will be protected. Start off slowly. I am still in the learning stages myself, I will be doing all of this with you. But these little steps can help over time and soon we will all be pro-money-saving-healthy-shoppers!