15 Quick & Delicious Meals On A Tight Budget

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Just because you're in college doesn't mean you have to eat like a college student. Even with limited resources and a low it's still possible to make great meals! Some of these might seem strange but they're definitely delicious. Check out the rest of the list on Brit + Co.


You may think living in a college dorm means the end of good cooking and a constant diet of bad cafeteria food and Pop Tarts, but if you’ve got a waffle maker, a microwave and a mug, you can turn into a pretty incredible home cook with the right recipes — and we have 25 of ‘em for you! Most of these dishes are ready within 10 minutes, making them perfect for whipping up in between classes or for late-night study breaks. From ramen hacks to meals in a mug, you’ll be blown away by the gourmet meals you can make right from your dorm room.

1. Ramen Stir Fry: Skip the flavor packet this time around and turn your attention to that super cheap, pre-measured serving of quick-cooking noodles that you can do anything with! The twirly ramen noodles are fun to eat, and you can throw all kinds of veggies and spices into them. (viaSoup Addict)

2. Mac in a Mug: It doesn’t come out of a box or use mysterious cheese powder, but it does taste amazing! Bonus: It makes only one serving, so the eating-all-five-servings temptation is eliminated. (via The Better Martha)

3. Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars: Granola bars are an absolute lifesaver when you’re in a rush, but why are those little bars so expensive? For the college student on a budget, try these super delicious bars that are healthy for you and made in the microwave! (via Bakerita)

4. Cocoa Mocha: If you don’t have a coffee maker, but you do have a microwave, then you can make this frothy, delicious coffee with instant coffee and hot chocolate. Naturally we topped our beverage with marshmallows. (viaBrit + Co)

5. Waffle Maker Hash Browns: We had no idea there were so many uses for the waffle iron! Making hash browns in a waffle maker gives them the perfect amount of brown crispy goodness. (via Macheesmo)

6. Chocolate Muffin: If it’s called a muffin, we can eat it for breakfast, right? Right? (via Dessert With Benefits)

7. Eggs in a Nest: This healthy breakfast can literally be made in 30 seconds! You’ll be getting protein and some fiber if you use whole wheat bread, making this breakfast better than most of the greasy things available in the cafeteria. (via Brit + Co)

8. Mexican Corn in a Cup: Mexican corn is a fabulous combo of corn, a dash of cream, some cayenne pepper and lots of salty queso fresca. You could eat this on its own or nuke some quesadillas for a mini Mexicanfiesta! (via Little Inspiration)

9. Microwave Salmon: Don’t hate it until you’ve tried it! We think you’ll be amazed by how good this salmon dinner turns out even in a microwave. (via Savory Sweet Life)

10. Waffle Pizza: Don’t order in again. Pull out that waffle iron and try making a pizza crust! You could even have a mini pizza party with the roommates where everyone gets to pick a topping. (via Waffleizer)

11. Cinnamon Apple and Banana Oatmeal: Add fresh (easy) or frozen fruit (EASIER!) to your oatmeal to give it an extra boost. Plus, nothing is more warming than cinnamon oatmeal when that walk across the quad start to get chillier. (via Brit + Co)

12. Taco in a Bag: You can only eat at Taco Bell so many times before you start craving some homemade Mexican food. Try this easy “taco” that won’t even get any dishes dirty, making clean up a breeze. (via Betty Crocker)

13. Ramen Pad Thai: Get crazy with some Asian fusion and make pad Thai out of those old ramen noodles. Just add fish sauce, fresh lime and a handful of peanuts to the spice packet, and you’ve done some impressive ramen hacking. (via Serious Eats)

14. Falafel Waffles: These falafel-filled pita wedges are made in the waffle iron and make a great grab-and-go lunch for long days of classes. You can fill them with falafel and Greek yogurt and not worry about them dripping on your cute outfit like a traditional falafel wrap. (via Serious Eats)

15. 10 Minute Risotto Cups: Forget standing over a stove for an hour, these delicious dinners are made in the microwave in less time than it takes to agree on what to watch on Netflix tonight. We tried a couple different flavor combos like butternut squash + sage and bacon + kale. (via Brit + Co)

What to Pack for School

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Students are moving in! When it comes to moving from one home to another it can be difficult to decide what to bring with you. It may seem tempting to just bring all of your clothes; You never know what you'll need! For some it's easy to drive home and just pick something up if you leave it at home but for others that's not a possibility. Be smart with your packing and follow these tips from Apartment Therapy to help you back efficiently and make the most of your space.


That time is upon us! Back-to-school, off-to-college time. Which means that all across the country, a whole bunch of soon-to-be-freshman are staring at their wardrobe and wondering what on earth should I pack? Here are a few helpful tips for navigating the college closet quandary!

Make a list of what you'll need. Make a list of the clothes you'll need for going to class, going out, lounging around, sleeping, and going to the gym. Going to class clothes should be easily put together mix-and-match outfits with easy-to-walk-in shoes (you'll be walking a lot). Think: versatile skirt/pants plus a bunch of tops you love, plus a decent-sized bag you can carry books in. Lounging around clothes should be comfy but not old and gross. Going out clothes can be whatever you like!

Enlist the help of a trustworthy friend. Sometimes decisions about clothes are a whole lot easier when you have a second opinion. Call over your most stylish friend whom you can trust to be completely honest.

Go through every item in your wardrobe, assessing them careful. Marie Kondo thinks the best question to ask is "does this bring me joy?" and I'm inclined to agree. Try each piece of clothing on if you can't decide. Do you feel happy, comfortable, gorgeous wearing this? Are you excited to wear this? Don't pack anything that is ill-fitting, drab, worn, or too old. Especially don't pack clothes you "hope" will fit. Do pack pieces that look great on you but that you were too shy to wear before. This is college- your chance to reinvent yourself if you want!

Expect to go on a shopping trip when you arrive in your new town. The biggest mistake I made in packing to go to school in New England was buying a "winter" coat in... Australia. The coat was nowhere near warm enough. Stores in warm climates don't stock the kinds of clothes needed for cool climates, and the same is true the other way. If you need seasonal clothes, plan to go shopping when you arrive in your collage town. There you'll pick up gloves that are thick enough, tights that are warm enough, or tank tops and skirts that are cool enough.

Remember, it's okay to not bring everything. This is your moment to cut your closet free of all the junk you've been storing for the last 3 years and pare it down to its stylish, fab core. Just because Mom or Grandma bought it for you, don't feel pressured to bring it. Just because they're the only pair of jeans you have, don't feel pressured to pack them. Don't pack tops just so you'll have enough. Keep your selection pared down to what you absolutely love. This way you'll carry into college your most fashionable you.

Ease Into Move In Day

Image courtesy of Nazareth College - Flickr

Whether you’re moving back into the Clairmont Reserve apartments, moving in for the first time or you’re a freshman moving into your new dorm room, moving is hard! There are a lot of things that you’ll need that you might not think of if you’re used to living at home with your parents. We want to help make your move in as smooth as possible! So we found some tips to help ease your move in blues! For more information, head to Mostly Morgan.

Do you have any secret moving tricks that have helped you in the past? Let us know on the Facebook page!

Summer is here, and while I am looking forward to three months of relaxation (and blogging, and nannying) I know that that there is an entire new class of college freshman to be looking into move in day. I still remember the excitement and anticipation. I was worried about over-packing, and heartbroken about leaving my family, friends, and boyfriend, but I don’t think that I could possibly have been more excited to start my life at the University of Illinois.

I just finished my sophomore year, and it was my second (and last!) year living in the dorms – and I have learned a thing or two about move in day. This past year I was also an I-Guide which meant I spent countless grueling hours going back and forth moving freshman after freshman into their new home. I saw the over-packers, the kids who brought nearly nothing, and everyone in between. What I’m trying to say is that I’m an authority on college move in if there ever was one.

Pack Smart.

A successful college move in day all begins with packing wisely. I have an entire post that you can check out here, but I’ll give you some extra pointers, too.

Don’t pack more than you need – if you’re going home for Thanksgiving (or before!) it won’t be necessary to bring all of your winter gear. You will want a few pieces in case of an emergency, but chances are you won’t have room to store your entire wardrobe in your tiny dorm room.

Don’t over do it – this year (I kid you not) a kid brought a love seat to her dorm room. Not a futon or a small bench, but a love seat bigger than the one in my living room. It easily took up a quarter of her room and probably put her at odds with her roommate from day one. Unless you’re living in a luxury dorm, you aren’t going to want to bring any extra furniture.

Be clever – packing the car is truly an art. To up the odds of you fitting everything, stuff any hollow object you are packing with other things. Fill your fridge with shoes, stuff your undergarments in your shower caddy, just make use of every empty space you can!
Do your research.

At the University of Illinois move in day procedure involves a complicated maze of rerouted roads and restricted access to certain areas, and in a perfect world this would make everything go smoothly. Unfortunately, every year people ignore the hundreds of emails, letters, and alerts making us aware of how to work this system to get straight to your dorm and avoid any traffic.

Move in day comes with a ton of stress – don’t create extra stress by coming unprepared. If you go to a small school you might have nothing to worry about, but most larger schools will have a system like this.

So students and parents alike – look up your respective school to see if there is a move in day protocol that you should be aware of. You don’t want to be the ones screwing everything up!
Ship things to school.

Are you in charge of bringing the fridge? Consider shipping it to school rather than buying one and moving it in with you. You can also take a trip to your local Walmart on move in day, too. If you wait to buy larger items like fridges, microwaves, and carpets the car will be less packed.

If you do decide to ship the microwave to school – just make sure that it doesn’t beat you there or it might be sent back depending on your school’s policy!
Communicate with your roommate moving in.

Not just to establish who is bringing what, but to also coordinate when you will be arriving. It is going to be a lot to easier to move in if you aren’t trying to do so at the same time. If your roommate says she is arriving at 2:00 consider getting there at noon.
Be ready to clean.

Be prepared to inherit a layer of dust and grime – even if they are supposed to be clean when you move in, they often are going to be a bit gross. There are a few things you are going to want to bring:

Lysol Wipes – these are a college kids best friend! These are a quick fix for spills and dust, and they are great for sanitizing if your roommate is sick!

Tide to Go – if you have carpet, chances are you are going to spill take out on it at least once. In my experience a tide to go stick cleans that right up, and no one will ever be the wiser. Plus you want one for your purse or backpack in case you ever spill.

Hand Sanitizer – In the dorms, illness spreads like wildfire so you want to be equipped! During flu season hand sanitizer will be your best friend!
Be ready to forget things.

Chances are there will be something you forget. But you can have your parents mail it to you, shop online (considering checking out Student Rate for some great discounts!), or bus to the nearest Walmart. Everyone forgets something important on move in day and it’s not the end of the world – you can borrow until you get your item!
Meet the people on your floor!

Once mom and dad head out take a break from unpacking and organizing and go out and socialize! The first week or two are crucial in making connections – knock on doors and introduce yourself! Try to gather a group to go to dinner together – you want to start off on the right foot!
Breathe.

Moving in can be stressful and emotions will be running high. Whether you are thrilled or terrified or somewhere in between it’s all going to be alright. College is largely what you make it so go in with a good attitude and try to make move in a positive experience.

Did I forget anything? Let me know your best college move in trick in the comments below!

20 Things I Wish I Had Known Freshman Year

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New students will be moving in soon! Being away from home on your own for the first time can be scary and overwhelming. There is a lot of advice that we wish some people had told us before our first year of school! We found some advice from SR Trends. They’ll tell you what they wish they had been told freshman year so you don’t make the same mistakes.

Here is a list of 20 things I wish I knew freshman year:

1. Try a few different study spots and figure out what works best for you. It could be in your dorm, in the library, outside or in a coffee shop, as long as you get your work done, campus is your oyster!

2. Keep a healthy lifestyle. There’s nothing wrong with partying and bonding with new people but know your limits, exercise every other day and make sure you’re not tired or sick for classes and exams.

3. Build a relationship with a professor or an adviser. Think of any faculty member as a resource and don’t be afraid to ask for help, it can make a big difference in grades and it will make it a lot simpler to ask for letters of recommendation when you’re applying for jobs and internships.

4. Carry a phone charger with you. We all know the plight of smartphone batteries and you don’t want to turn your phone back on and see 23 missed calls from your mom, that can’t end well.

5. Take a random class. You have plenty of time to complete majors and minors, make sure you take advantage of the unique classes that every university offers and learn about something completely different. Tell me “The Game of Thrones” at Virginia or “Japanese Swordsmanship” at George Washington don’t sound fun, I dare you.

6. Don’t buy textbooks before the first week of class. You might not need it or there could be a free version online. Save your money for snacks, you might be able to study without a text book, but you’ll never be able to study without snacks. If it turns out that the textbook is required, consider renting it (Barnes & Noble has a great deal through Studentrate where you can get 6% cash back on rentals)

7. Get along with your roommate. No need to be best friends and get matching tattoos, but a year can seem like ages if you’re constantly arguing. Keep your stuff clean and say what’s on your mind, a five-minute argument is better than a dramatic fight later on.

8. Try to go to as many sporting events as possible. Grab a couple of friends and share in
the awesomeness and excitement that is college sports.

9. Keep a box of Emergen-C in your dorm. There is such thing as the freshmen plague and
it will take you out if you are not eating your fruits, vegetables and grains!

10. Listen to upperclassmen. If you’re reading this, then you’re taking this advice, good job! Students who have taken classes you’re interested in can be helpful for study tips, how to complete any given major or minor, or how to deal with problems that every college student faces at one point.

11. Always use student discounts when shopping online. Studentrate has hundreds of discounts at Forever21, Sephora, Urban Outfitters, Lenovo, and many more so it would be silly to pay full price for anything.

12. If you’re going to skip your 8AM class because it is too early, pick a later class. Start off the year doing stuff right! I know what you’re thinking, “I took morning classes in high school and I was fine”. It’s not the same, try to avoid these classes.

13. Go home once in a while: sometimes, we need a change of scenery to regain our grounding and have some mental detox, and where else to do it, but in your house?

14. Keep in touch with your family. A simple text to your parents can make their day which makes life easier for you. And don’t let your annoying younger brother forget who’s boss. Also, love is the key to care packages.

15. Free food is everywhere if you look hard enough – enough said.

16. Make your dorm room yours. You have to share a small room all year, but there are ways to make it a nice and cozy spot. Decorate your side of the wall, invest in comfortable bedding, it’s a game-changer in the long run. And how are people going to know that you “Keep calm and carry on” unless you have a poster that says so?

17. Get an on-campus job. Working a few hours week during the academic year is a nice financial help and looks great on your resume. For a lot of positions like the library or the welcome desk at the gym, you’ll have a chance to do some homework or talk with your friends. Sounds like something you’d do for free, might as well get paid to refresh twitter faster than it has time to update.

18. Use the writing center!! Most colleges and universities these days have a writing center which is made up of either individuals solely working at the center or upperclassmen who have been trained to help you with your writing. Having trouble coming up with a thesis for your Religion & Science class? Drop by the Writing Center to throw ideas around with an expert!

19. Don’t underestimate your workload. There are so much opportunities for fun at college, procrastination becomes a sport. If you break your workload down in pieces, do a couple of hours a day, it will be more than manageable and you’ll have free time to go see your friends’ ridiculous acapella show or watch people play ultimate Frisbee like they’re in the SuperBowl.

20. Lastly, remember, college is only four years long: take risks, try new things, explore your passions, meet new people and smile! Remember, if it’s not going so well at first, you have three years to find something on campus you like and if you are enjoying yourself, be sure to spend your time wisely as four years go by quicker than you could ever expect!!