Photo illustration by Rachel Seymour
Eating
Eating out on a budget is normal for most college students. As a result, finding cheap food becomes a necessary skill to develop. Inspired by my favorite Food Network show, $40 a Day, I make my mission to find out how much and how well I can go out to eat with just$ 40 for five meals in five days. I have to eat at least one meal in a restaurant each day. The meal includes tax and tip, and no fast food joints are allowed. I'll be on the lookout for some tips to help me along the way.
Day 1: It's been a long, grueling day, running on campus, to work and class, and I can't ignore the rumble in my stomach. I ask my roommate where I can eat for cheap. They direct me to the white Kansas coupons book on our messy dining room table. I flip through it, and come across a two-for-one coupon for Qodba burritos. I convince one of my roommates to eat an early dinner and we head over to dig in to vegetarian burritos, which are $4.99. Make free coupon books and the Campus Coupon pages that appear in the University Daily Kansan your best friends, and you will be sure to find great deals. Total spent today:$ 2.67, after splitting the cost of one burrito.
Day 2: The $40 a Day book, which inspired the Food Network show, is my guide for the next few days. The author, Rachael Ray, who also hosts the show, says that going local is a great way to save money, I decide to hit up one of my favorite restaurants in town: La Parilla.
814 Massachusetts st. I. order my favorite, a steaming hot tofu rice bowl. For $4.50, the price is right. Ray's advice was right on. Look for great little restaurants around town because often times they will have specials and lower-price dishes, and the selection of food will be much more unique. Total spent today:$ 6.55.
Day 3: Bryson Rexwinkle, lola senior,
has some great ideas for where to go eat
for cheap. His friends know him as being
careful with his money. "I've always been
pretty frugal," Rexwinkle says. From a
young age, he's always been on the look-out
for great deals. Rexwinkle says since
then he's found ways to save his money.
He says many restaurants will have specials
different nights of the week such as
half-price meals, two-for-one drinks or
just specially-priced dishes. Sharing a meal
with a friend is also something he reme-
ndes doing to save money. I take his
advice, and go to Zen Zero, 811 Massachusetts
St. to share a bowl of Phad Kae
Mao — or "Drunken Noodles"—with one
of my roommates. The dish costs $6.38
with tax, and because I'm sharing the
food, I really only spending half of that.
Total spent today:$ 3.67.
Day 4: I think我 hit the jackpot today, a free meal! And how did I manage that? Right here on campus, at Veggie Lunch, a weekly event on Thursdays held at the Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread St. I dine on lime and garlic rice and roasted vegetables all wrapped up in a huge tortilla, and also munch on free wheatfields bread dipped in honey. It
just goes to show that if you keep your eyes open, you will come across a lot of ways to save money while still going out to eat. Total spent today: $0.
Day 5: I'm feeling virtuous after my great find yesterday, so decide to splurge a little. Rachel Ray, author of $40 a Day, encourages you to nicer restaurants even if you don't have a lot of money. Don't deprive yourself just because you think you can't afford it. She says that by going to pricier restaurants during off-peak times of the day, you can find lower-priced dishes and still experience the quality and service of the restaurant. It take her advice, and head to Stone Creek, 3801 W. Sixth St. The lunch menu has entrees that have slightly smaller portions and cost half the regular price. Adobo Chicken Fettuccini sounds delicious, and it's only$ 6.95. Total spent today $8.55
To my surprise, I made my budget and still have more than $19 to spare. This little mission was quite an eye-operative. I found out it is possible to go out to eat and not completely empty my bank account. I also picked up some great tips, such as finding lunch menus and ordering dishes such as appetizers or desserts at nicer restaurants to indulge without going broke. It just takes a little snooping around town to get a great meal, and a great deal.
Contact writer at:
mmasud@kansan.com
Today's Special
Thursday and Friday may be the most popular night to eat out, but most restaurants have their specials earlier in the week. Take advantage of these deals to save some serious cash. Here are just a few of the specials I came across on my hunt for cheap meals.
Mondays:
■ Flanny T's Bar and Grill, 3520 W. Sixth St, has buy one, get one free burgers ■ CiCi's, 2020 W. 23rd St., has a $2.99 bufet
Tuesdays:
**FUNCTIONS:**
- **Buffalo Wild Wings**, 1012 Massachusetts St., has 30-cent wings
- **Applebee's Neighborhood Bar and Grill**, 2520 Iowa St., has half-price appetizers
Wednesdays:
Yacht Club, 530 Wisconsin St., has 50-
cent tacos
It's Brothers' Bar and Grill, 1105 Massa-
chuset St., has 10-cent wings
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