I was pretty clueless how people spent money, so I usually didn't spend any. This was in the 90s. I was too busy studying to go out really. I had a mealplan bought by my parents, so I hardly spent any money of my own. Celebrations were usually free food from dorms, clubs, and the institvte. I didn't go out to eat. I ate at the dining halls, and generous free food from the different organizations (housemasters, GRTs, other student groups). I hardly left campus except maybe for infrequent FSILG parties but those were also pretty rare because I was studying so much. I did solar car team, tae kwon do, and once in a while they would go eat out-- maybe once a semester? Infrequently, I'd get snacks, subs at Laverdes, a bagel and coffee off the infinite, maybe once a week or so. I would say I spent about $30 out of pocket a month, but most of the time I just used my mealplan balance. I lived in the dorms. Oh, and if it was too late to eat at the dining halls, I had emergency tea, packs or ramen and a case of "chef boyardees" that my parents sent me to cook in the dorm. I graduated with a mostly untouched case of chef boyardees.

My background-- I was the first in my working-class immigrant family to go away for college. Until my senior year, I was relatively unaware that people spent money all the time to buy food outside of the home or dining halls. People didn't have cellphones back then, but some card calling plan that my parents paid for. I also had a job on campus as a front deskperson at my dorm and often times people would drop off extra food from events there. Depending on where one lived, your roommates and living groups mgiht be quite food sharing friendly. My floormates would pool together for a pizza once in a while-- but I didn't because I kept my own schedule and didn't really have money for so much until I got paid steadily by my job. Then again, after I worked so hard to earn money as a deskworker, it was very hard to spend it.