Everybody knows that college students are broke. It’s why Spotify offers premium for $4.99 instead of full price and why J.Crew takes 15 percent off when you show your student ID at checkout – they know our pain, and they feel bad for us.
The bigger issue is that we all have to eat, and sometimes even the thought of another trip to the dining hall or another PB&J is enough to make us gag.
However, it’s totally possible to treat yourself to a meal out on the cheap. Kiss that third evening of Lenoir pork loin goodbye because here’s five meals that can fill your hungry belly for under $5.
Mini Veggie Deluxe: Cosmic — $3.87 with tax
This burrito is a gift from heaven above. Its small size makes it great as either a meal or a snack, and if you get it during dinner instead of after a night out on the town they’ll throw in a couple chips and a side of salsa. It’s a great amount of food for your dollar.
The mini veggie is so much of a bargain it doesn’t make much sense to upgrade. Adding chicken or steak to your mini burrito can add almost two dollars extra to the final price, and moving up to the regular size almost doubles the cost of the meal.
Artichoke Basil Pizza Slice: Artisan Pizza Kitchen — $3.45 without tax
There’s no need to purchase a whole pizza and get it delivered, buy by the slice instead. A slice of Artichoke Basil pizza is head and shoulders above anything any of the big pizza chains can offer, and it costs about 3 dollars for a slice that’s big enough to constitute a meal.
If you go out here for dinner, you can even enjoy a soda instead of passing it up for water and come in within your budget. Nothing makes a college student feel like they have their finances together quite like ordering a soda when they’re out for dinner, so treat yourself. You deserve to feel fancy.
Any Specialty Hot Dog: Sutton’s Drug Store — $3.29 without tax
Sutton’s specialty hot dogs are piled high with plenty of yummy toppings that will set high expectations for your family’s next Fourth of July cookout. My favorite is the BLT hot dog, complete with mayo, lettuce, tomato and plenty of bacon.
This one is a great stop because all you have to bring is a five-dollar bill. It’ll cover your whole meal, tax and your server’s tip while leaving you with a full stomach.
Any Breakfast Bagel: Alpine Bagel — less than $4.50 without tax
If you’ve studied for so long that you forgot to eat and need a quick meal on campus, don’t fret. All of Alpine’s breakfast bagels are served all day and come in for under five dollars.
Whether it’s a simple plain bagel with egg, or one of their more complicated breakfast sandwiches on an everything bagel, all of it is within your budget and is sure to get you through the day without thinking about your stomach excessively.
Value Menu: Wendy’s — each item less than $2.50 without tax
Sometimes you just need some fast food every once and a while, it’s totally understandable. I’ve been that guy that got four orders of six-piece chicken nuggets for a meal so we’re all in this together.
Don’t be afraid to order completely off of the value menu to create your own cheap combo. You can make a close replica to any of the regular combos by using the value menu creatively, so don’t be afraid to use it to your advantage.
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