Imagine you go to the store for only three items — let’s say toothpaste, apples and a loaf of bread. Only three items, yet you check out and all of a sudden you have spent $30. For many, this situation sounds too familiar.
It is no secret that groceries and household items cost significantly more now than they did years ago. For college students managing either all or part of their own income and household, this issue is even more pertinent.
US food prices increased by 25% from 2019 to 2013, rising faster than housing and medical care prices. Food prices are expected to continue to increase in 2024 by 2.2%. This includes both food-at-home prices (grocery store purchases) and food-away-from-home (restaurant purchases). Food-at-home prices alone increased by 5% from 2022 to 2023.
“The same budget that I was using probably two years ago has doubled, I would say,” Hannah Thompson, a fifth-year senior studying sociology and criminal justice said.
Maura Dailey, a junior biomedical engineering major, noticed the biggest increase when the size of the household she was shopping for changed.
“I live with one other person, so going grocery shopping for my entire family of five and feeding them, and then coming here and only feeding two people, I haven’t noticed that much of a difference. Which is saying a lot because a few years ago I would go grocery shopping with my mom for my family of five and it would be a few hundred dollars for a week or two. Now, I feel like I’m spending $200 to $300 every week or two for me and my roommate.”
Many students at UT are financially independent in some shape or form, whether it is all or part of a tuition bill, rent, grocery costs or all of the above.
“It’s definitely frustrating because I have to pay for part of my schooling,” Dailey said. “I mean, I don’t pay for my groceries, my parents do, and I don’t like wasting their money. So, I’m definitely mindful of their money and I’m mindful of friends who are also going through this and seeing their grocery bills go up that they have to pay on their own.”
This increase in prices leaves students like Thompson feeling like they must make a choice between a basic necessity and a social life.
“It’s hard because for me personally, it’s my last semester,” Thompson said. “I want to take advantage of that and do all of these fun things. You’re kind of splitting money between life experiences and eating, which is definitely not a great position to be in.”
To combat the growing issue, students like Thompson and Dailey are finding solutions such as meal-planning and restricting unnecessary spending.
“We’re going in and making menus and lists of what we need,” Dailey said. “We try to only go grocery shopping every two weeks if we can. We don’t really have a budget, but we’re mindful of how much we’re spending.”
Dailey also utilizes products such as poultry and produce on sale, rather than sticking to the same brand every time.
Making brand and store switches is a tactic Thompson has found helpful as well.
“I shop at Aldi now primarily,” Thompson said. “I’ll only come to Publix or Kroger for name brand things that I really want. Aldi right now is much more affordable.”
Some other solutions include signing up for loyalty rewards. Many grocery stores such as Kroger and Publix have apps and reward systems that give exclusive sales or discounts to members and are free to sign up. The University Commons Publix offers a 10% student discount at any checkout line where students show their Vol Card.
Another solution is buying in bulk. While it may seem pricey in the moment, it has actually been shown to be cheaper and effective in the long run. This is a great solution for students who plan meals a week or two in advance, while also eliminating trips to the grocery store.
For students who may need more financial support, the Big Orange Pantry and Free Store on campus provide a variety of non-perishable food items, household items, hygiene products and other essential goods to support students.
