Grocery Sale Success

Although my income has increased slightly since finishing undergrad, there are still financial limitations of being a graduate student. These limitations are noticed in my grocery budget. I am always trying to get as much healthy food for my $1 as possible.

Thankfully, with spring fast approaching, produce sales have been more prevalent. Last time I went through the circular to plan my trip, I was surprised by the number of produce items on sale for the 10 for $10 (with the 11th for free) sale. Often these sales feature heavily processed foods that I usually don't eat (yes on occasion I grab the blue box macaroni). 

The four items pictured were in the 10 for $10 sale!

Not only was produce on sale, but so was whole grain pasta (which I prefer to the its enriched counterpart).

While I'm not a pro at shopping on a budget, there are a few things I've learned.

1. Check BOTH the local circular and your cabinets as you make your list, keep in mind your calendar and the amount of food you will likely consume (I tend to overbuy when there are good sales but then it often spoils before I use it)
2. Make and stick to a list, I like to include a budget goal when I shop based on the cost of the items on the list
3. Strive for the 80-20 rule: 80% of your cart is healthful items and the remaining 20% is foods you enjoy

Please feel free to comment with any helpful grocery shopping tips you have.

Next Steps

As my time with EFNEP and K-State Research and Extension come to an end, it is time to look forward to the start of school. While school is three weeks away, I will stay busy with various activities. It will definately be a "different kind of busy", as the more I complete these weeks, the less I will have to do once school starts. Some of those activities include moving, clinical dietetic shadows, and sorority recruitment.

I will also be working on graduate school applications and contacting faculty and internship directors at those respective schools. I am exctied to have date goals for when I will submit each application and am excited to see the results.

Ducks in a Row

In addition to my summer internship, I am in the process of reviewing graduate schools. I am looking for a graduate program that offers a M.S. in Nutrition but also has a combined dietetic internship. To further refine my search, I am placing a high emphasis on programs that offer assistantships and other forms of financial aid!

My goal is to have a defined list of 5-6 programs that I will apply to with personal statements, resumes, and other materials completed by the end of the summer! I am hopeful that the faculty members I contact at regarding their specific area of research will help me further rank the programs!

Due to the hectic nature of a new semester, my goal is to have all my ducks in a row for graduate school applications prior to the start of classes!