A Healthy Grocery List on a College Budget!

Hello there!

I'm so it's excited it's Monday because in two days I will be back at school to move in for my final year of college! I'm starting to pack everything up and it's all becoming real! Can you tell I'm excited?? It's a little bittersweet because it's my last year but I'm really looking forward to all the fun times to come.

As soon as I get my things in order at my apartment, I'll be hitting up the grocery store to restock my fridge. And with living on my own comes the responsibility of choosing healthy foods and not blowing a bunch of cash on snacks. (Mom and Dad, you raised me right!) So today, I thought I would share with you my healthy grocery list on a college budget!

Last year, I found I would rotate between 8-9 meals and then bought my grocery based on them. I would suggest before going to the grocery store, you should sit down and write out meals you enjoy such as salads, grilled chicken and veggies, pastas, quesadillas, etc. and buy what you need according to those meals. If you're stumped on meal ideas, Pinterest has a world of options. Also, planning out your meals for the week can prevent you from overspending.  

Now everyone has different food preferences but these were items I noticed I kept in my fridge or pantry last year.

Purchase weekly:

- Tortilla shells 

- Shredded nacho/taco cheese

- Chicken breast

- Deli Turkey or cold cuts

- Bananas

- Avocados 

- Tomatos 

- Salad greens

Purchase every 2-3 weeks or as needed:

- Milk

- Eggs

- Butter

- Feta cheese

- Orange Juice

- Greek yogurt

- Cottage cheese

- Frozen fruit

- Frozen veggies

- Wheat bread

- Hummus

- Pasta

- Granola

- Oatmeal

- Coffee creamer

Purchase when out:

- Rice

- Spices

- Popcorn

- Condiments

- Canned soup

- Peanut butter

- Tomato sauce

- Coffee K-cups 

- Lemon/Lime juice

Other tips to consider when grocery shopping that can help save you money:

- Buy in bulk: buying things in bulk from stores like Costco or Sam's Club will be more expensive initially but you won't run out of the product quickly and in the end, the unit price is smaller.

- Buy store brands: contrary to popular belief, name brand isn't always better. Store brands are typically the same quality as name brands but much cheaper. While there are some items that I will always buy name brand, the money you save when you buy store brands is worth it!

- Check "sell by" and expiration dates: when buying perishables like milk, eggs, and cheese, it's important to check the "sell by" and expiration dates before purchasing. By checking these, you can increase the longevity of your food and extend your next purchasing date.

- Coupons are your best friend: as a kid, I always rolled my eyes when my mom would pull out her coupon book before going to the grocery store but now, I get it. (sorry Mom!) Being able to save a couple dollars here and there can really add up and end up being big savings. 

I hope this list helped and gave you some ideas! Thank you so much for reading!

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7 Things To Do Before Classes Even Start!

Hello there!

Classes are right around the corner and I can't wait to dive in! Last semester, I found a few methods to stay on top of my work and to keep track of my grades. They worked so well that I will be implementing them again this semester. And the trick: I did most of them before classes even started! I thought I would share them with you today so you can be have your best semester yet!

1. Print out your syllabi and read them.

While this is only possible if your professors have uploaded them to your online course sites, you can also do this after the first session of your class where you will most likely get the syllabus. It's important to read them thoroughly so you know the class expectations, any assignments, or policies your professors may have. Some professors like to go over them in the first class but others may not. Regardless, take some time and look over them.

2. Enter important dates (exams, quizzes, assignments, etc.) into your planner.

Once you have looked over your syllabi, enter the important dates given to you by your professors into your planner. This way you can stay in the know about what's coming up and you can better plan out and prioritize your work. I like to give each class a color in my planner so I know exactly what's coming up and what to prepare for. Plus it looks more fun and colorful too! :)

3. Make a mini schedule in your planner of professors' office hours.

One secret I've learned in my three years of college so far is that professors love to see you during their office hours and if you go frequently, this can help your final grade. However, it can be kind of hard to keep track of them when you have 4, 5, or more professors to go to, all at different times. I have found that making a schedule in the notes section of your planner of when and where a particular professor holds office hours makes it easy to coordinate around your schedule. Also, by keeping it in your planner, it's all in a central location and you have it at all times. Below is an example from last fall.

4. Make a reading checklist for each class.

My classes tend to be very reading intensive and it can be hard to keep track of all of them. Last semester, I made reading checklists to help keep me accountable and to make sure I was doing all of them. For me, it can be hard to keep track of them from the syllabus but by making a checklist, I was able to keep track of all the due dates, pages, and whether or not I had completed it. Below is a sample page from the Holocaust and literature class I took last semester.

5. Make an assignment spreadsheet to keep track of your grades.

A great way to track of your progress in all your classes is to keep an assignment spreadsheet on your computer that you update throughout the semester. Below is my assignment spreadsheet from last semester. The far right column is covered up so you can't see my grades. :) However, I would put in my grade with the point values if I knew them or the percentage of my final grade that particular assignment was worth. Also, I would highlight it blue once I took a particular exam or turned in an assignment, just as another way to keep track of all my assignments.

6. Order your textbooks!

I'm the type of person that likes to order my textbooks slightly in advance. Usually professor assign reading the first class or the first week which can be troublesome to do if you don't have the textbook yet. Also, shipping can be another factor to consider. If it's going to take a while to get to you, you may want to order it well in advance before classes start. However, professors can be very accommodating if you explain your situation. In the meantime, use your library resources! Some libraries will stock textbooks that you can check out for a few hours to complete your assignments.

7. Purge your inbox.

I will admit it, I can be a hoarder when it comes to technology. Right now, I have over a thousand photos on my phone and just as many old emails sitting in my inbox from last semester. At the beginning of each semester, I like to delete all my old emails that I don't need anymore. I usually have no use for them and they tend to clutter my mind. By purging them, it gives a clean slate to the semester and motivates me to keep up on my emails during the school year.

This may sound like a lot to do before classes start, but trust me, it's worth it 100% and will help to jumpstart your semester off on the right foot! I hope this helps and you have the best semester yet!

Let me know if you have any questions in the comment section. Thank you so much for reading!

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Ultimate Back to School Packing Guide!

Hello there!

Is anyone currently stressing out about packing for back to school?? I move back to my apartment in 9 days and I haven't even started to think about packing yet. I know the day is going to creep up and I'm going to be running around like a crazy person! I'm one of the lucky ones though because I don't have that much to bring back to school because I left a lot of my stuff locked up in my apartment over the summer. However, I know how stressful it can be packing for your freshman and even sophomore years. It's a lot to consider and it can be hard to know what you'll actually use in your dorm or apartment. To help ease some stress, here is my ultimate back to school packing guide! 

Did I leave something out? Let me know in the comment section or tell me something you can't live without at college!

Thank you so much for reading! Don't forget to subscribe for more fun!

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Planner Comparison: the Lilly Pulitzer agenda vs. the Day Designer planner

Hello there!

I'm back again today with another post for my back to school series! One of my favorite things about back to school time is getting a new planner for the school year. However, this is always a tough decision for me because there are so many options on the market and I worry that my choice won't be a good fit. I do a lot of research before purchasing one because having a good planner is essential to keeping my busy life in order during the year. So today, I'm here to compare some popular options that will hopefully make the decision easier for you! 

The Lilly Pulitzer agenda

I have used the Lilly Pulitzer agenda for the past 2 years and it served me fairly well. I love the signature, bright and fun prints that all the Lilly agendas feature. This planner has its strengths but it also has a lot of weaknesses. 

Size: The large Lilly agenda measures 6 3/4" x 8 7/8" so it's a good size to fit inside a tote bag or backpack without getting lost, or being too bulky. It includes 17 months, a front pocket, a cute sticker page, yearly overview pages, a list of holidays, and a notes section. I find that these pages tend to be wasted space which is a negative for me. I also usually don't use the last few months of the agenda because I'll get a new agenda for the beginning of the school year and I feel like I'm not getting my money's worth. 

Layout: This agenda features a 2-page, weekly layout that gives a nice overview of your week, all in one glance. However, this is where I have found I run into trouble. Each day has an 8-lined section but most days I end up running out of room. It ends up looking like chaos and clutter and this tends to stress me out. 

This planner also features a standard 2-page, monthly overview. This section is perfect for writing down due dates, deadlines, events, and socials. However, again, I find that this section can look busy and cluttered when I have multiple things written down for one day because the boxes aren't very large.

The Day Designer planner

This is the planner I decided to go with this year. I've heard great things about it and I love its classic, clean, and mature design. 

Size: This planner measures 9" wide x 9.75" tall and weighs 2 lbs. It is slightly larger than the large Lilly agenda but isn't overwhelming and can easily fit into a tote bag or backpack. It includes 12 months, an inside cover pocket, daily planning pages, and goal setting sheets. Although I haven't had this planner for very long, I feel pages won't go unused.

Layout: This planner features a 2-page, monthly layout with large boxes to avoid a clutter look. Depending on my size of writing, I can easily fit 3 to 4 items in each box without the box looking overwhelming.

The main reason I switched to the Day Designer was because of the daily planning pages. There are so many great features (prepare yourself for awesome)! At the top of each page, there is a section call "today's top three." This is a great tool to prioritize your day. Next is a four-section area with prompts for "due", "dinner", "dollars", and "don't forget." This is perfect for quick reminders. Each page features a lined schedule from 5 am to 9 pm to fill in work schedules, class, lunch dates, volunteer hours, meetings, gym time, and so much more. Next to that section is a lined to-do list with boxes that can be checked off. As a college student, I have so many things that I need to remember to do in a day so this section is going to be a great way to remind myself to complete all my tasks. The daily planning pages also feature a large notes section at the bottom of each page, an area for a daily gratitude where you can fill in something you are thankful for from your day, and a cute inspirational quote to motivate you. 

I'm so happy with my choice of planner for this year! I think it is going to serve me well and help to organize my (often) hectic life. 

I hope you found this helpful and you find the perfect planner for you! Thanks for reading and don't forget to subscribe!

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Back to School Essentials

Hello there!

I'm so excited for this blog post today because it is the first post in my back to school series! Woohoo! I love back to school time because it means shopping, new school supplies, and the anticipation of seeing old friends that I've missed over the summer.

Since this year is my last year of college (so incredibly sad about this), I feel like I have a pretty good idea about what I'll need to survive a new semester. So here is my list of back to school essentials!

1. Tote bag
2. Laptop
3. Planner
4. 5-subject notebook
5. Water bottle
6. Colored pens
7. Pencils
8. Headphones
9. Oil blotting sheets
10. Dry shampoo
11. Baseball hat
12. Sunglasses
13. Chapstick
14. Tide-to-go
15. Converse

Thanks for reading and don't forget to subscribe! What are some of your back to school essentials?

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Special Announcement!

Hello there!

Since it is officially August, it's time to start thinking about back to school. In lieu of this time, I have an announcement for A Petite Perspective! Starting this coming Monday, I'm going to have a...

I have so many great ideas to get you ready for back to school that I will be posting 2-3 times a week this month! So stay tuned for some fun posts!

Let me know in the comments if you have any thing specific you would like to see.

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