Being short on cash in student life is pretty much normal but it ain’t fun. 

Sometimes, you have to borrow money from friends, share food with them and commute to and from college to get going until the end of the month. 

It’s all worth it to stretch those few bucks left in your pocket. Isn’t it? 

So Foodnerd has decided to compile a list of food hacks which can help you save money without giving up much on your favorite food.

Also read: 10 surprising food facts that will blow your mind

1: Be Social (for the sake of food)

It’s so beneficial to keep eyes peeled for those free invites to students event around college and universities. 

Sometimes, social committees arrange such seminars and training such as free pizza at the music club or free Hi-tea at finance workshop. 

Not only you will enjoy the event but also you will get to meet new people or it may help you learn something new and exciting. So it’s not just about the free food only ;)

Also read: All you can eat/order under Rs 300/- via Foodnerd in Islamabad

2: Ask for a student discount

Literally every popular retailer, restaurant and cinema offer a student discount to attract pupils from the city’s colleges and universities which can help you save few bucks off every purchase. 

The best way is to just ask at the counter if they offer student discounts or not and don't forget to keep your student I.D card with yourself.

Also read: 5 Best coffee places in Islamabad

3: Support Meatless Tuesdays and Wednesdays

In Pakistan, usually, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are observed as meatless days. If you haven’t hopped on meatless days yet, you need to join the bandwagon. 

All you have to do is to swap your meaty dish to the vegetable option which is inexpensive and nutritious at the same time. 

Plus, that palak gobbi, and mix vegetable bowl are equally tempting and colorful for Instagram and Snapchat stories.

Also read: These 4 Japanese restaurants in Islamabad are worth visiting

4: Order lunch for dinner

Most restaurants offer lunch deals for a lower price as compared it to their dinner menu. This typically happens between 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm when the prices are reasonably low and you can cash in some discount. 

You may purchase an extra entree to save as leftovers - Foodnerd can bring your favorite meal right to your table. Order here.

Also read: These restaurants offers best steaks in Islamabad

5: Avoid big group dinner gatherings

Who doesn’t like to go out and dine with a bunch of college buddies? 

If you can successfully manage to stay out of these gatherings a few times a month, then you can save some serious cash at the end of the month. 

Big groups dinners often can add up and put a hole in the pocket especially when everyone decides to evenly split up the bill.

Also read: 5 delicious food you must order online via Foodnerd

6: Keep snacks in your pantry

Keep snacks in your dorm or apartment all the times. This helps a lot because when you are hungry, you can munch on snacks which can mildly reduce the intensity of your appetite. 

Thus, it will help you reduce the urge of eating-out. Look for staples with longer shelf life such as peanut butter, dry fruits, noodles, and other snacks.

Also read: 7 Awesome Hi-tea places in Islamabad

7: Host a dinner

If you have access to a kitchen then you can ask everyone to bring some low-cost ingredients and dishes they can find and prepare a big dinner. 

More often than not ingredients purchased in-bulk cost less and can be an efficient way to host a dinner under a budget. 

If you are ordering on Foodnerd, you can find family deals and extra large pizzas on a discounted rate from Pizza Hut, Domino’s, and other outlets. Order here.

Also read: 6 Refreshing Breakfast places in Islamabad

8: Become a Food Influencer of your campus

Being a food blogger on Instagram has some serious perks. 

Restaurants like to send free meals to influencers to get mentions of their brand on influencers’ stories and posts. 

Restaurants and customers like to know more about food. Talk about it, review it, and post it on social platforms. 

Are you already an influencer? we have something for you. Get in touch with us via Facebook or Instagram.

Also read: 15 Popular Pakistani Food You Just Can't Ignore

Being a student how did you manage to save money? Let us know in the comment section.