University is expensive, and students are feeling the pinch as the cost of living continues to skyrocket.
Coupled with the high cost of textbooks and tuition fees, students are battling with the rising price of their weekly shop.
Although it isn’t as fun as the endless parties and get-togethers, finding a supermarket that fits your budget is an essential fresher’s week activity.
To help freshers and returning students alike, Brig has scoured the shelves of three Stirling supermarkets to find you the most affordable weekly shop.
This is just an example of what a weekly shop might look like and might not reflect your dietary requirements. All prices are accurate at the time of writing.
Tesco
Located a short bus ride away from campus, Tesco offers the most variety for student shoppers. With their free Tesco Clubcard scheme you can save money on essentials and treats which is a great way to maximise your budget if you choose to shop there.
- 800g bread: 70p
- 500g spaghetti: 23p
- 375g multigrain hoops: £1.20
- 1 tin beans: 40p
- 1 tin tomatoes: 28p
- 100g instant coffee: 85p
- 6 eggs: 95p
- Dried basil: £1
- Tomato puree: 39p
- Stock cubes: 65p
- 2 pints of milk: £1.05
- 450g butter alternative: £1.25
- 400g cheese: £2.85
- 4 baking potatoes: 45p
- 6 bananas: 78p
- 200g button mushrooms: £1.10
- 250g spinach: 60p
- 3 onions: 30p
- 500g mince: £1.69
- 10 ham slices: £1.35
TOTAL= £18.07
Co-op
Located at the heart of the campus, the Co-op is always bustling with shoppers buying snacks to fuel their study sessions and groceries to fill their fridge. Co-op offer a loyalty scheme, but it has a sign-up fee of £1.
- 800g bread: 95p
- 500g spaghetti: £1.05
- 370g Cheerios: £3.10
- 1 tin beans: 44p
- 1 tin tomatoes: 55p
- 100g instant coffee: £2
- 6 eggs: £1.35
- Dried basil: £1.95
- Tomato puree: £1.05
- Stock cubes: £1.75
- 2 pints of milk: £1.35
- 500g butter alternative: £1.85
- 350g cheese: £2.50
- 4 baking potatoes: £1
- 5 bananas: £1.05
- 150g button mushrooms: 95p
- 80g spinach and rocket salad: £1.40
- 3 onions: 95p
- 470g mince: £3.35
- 5 ham slices: £2.40
TOTAL= £30.99
Aldi
Out of our three options, Aldi is the furthest away from the university campus involving a short bus ride into the town centre then a fifteen-minute walk.
- 800g bread: 36p
- 500g spaghetti: 23p
- 375g multigrain hoops: 99p
- 1 tin beans: 22p
- 1 tin tomatoes: 28p
- 100g instant coffee: £1.39
- 6 eggs: 95p
- Dried basil: 49p
- Tomato puree: 39p
- Stock cubes: 47p
- 2 pints of milk: £1.05
- 500g butter alternative: 95p
- 400g cheese: £2.39
- 4 baking potatoes: 45p
- 7 bananas: 91p
- 200g button mushrooms: 85p
- 240g spinach: 75p
- 3 onions: 71p
- 500g mince: £1.75
- 10 ham slices: 79p
TOTAL= £16.37
Unsurprisingly, the most convenient option is the most expensive. The Co-op is perfect for grabbing a post-lecture snack but can be a pricey option for your everyday groceries. Shopping at a cheaper supermarket allows you to reduce your living costs and make the most of your budget during your time at university. Why not use the money you save on groceries to join a society this semester?
Feature image credit: Ciara Tait/Brig