Is Blue Apron Cheap Enough for Your College Budget?

By Vin Lee

Blue Apron

BBQ Chicken Wings with Smoky Sweet Potato Salad & Coleslaw

It’s no mystery that college students live on a tight budget. Even if you don’t have it written down somewhere, your negative balance on your debit card or your bill-less wallet will find a way to remind you of your reality. But no matter how empty our pockets are, you need to eat.

If you have access to a stove top (or a hot plate) and an oven on a occasion, and you spend at least $10/day on food, then meet your new BFF, Blue Apron.


Blue Apron

Garganelli Pasta & Tomato Sauce with Fresh Mozzarella & Arugula-Orange Salad


Blue Apron is a delivery service that sends you all the ingredients (minus salt, pepper, and olive oil) you need to prepare at least 6-8 meals a week. Also included in your package are recipe cards with very easy to follow step-by-step directions. Your food arrives in a box sandwiched between 2 blocks of ice, keeping you food cold until you are ready to unpack and transfer to your fridge. Then, when you are ready to eat, all you need is 10-20 minutes to prepare each meal, and within the hour you could be enjoying a meal that tastes like your parents are in town treating you out to dinner.

Don’t believe me, try them out for free using this link, and then you decide for yourself.

Blue Apron

Meatloaf with Parsnip & Sweet Potato Oven Fries


MY RECOMMENDATION
Get the 2-person plan* - $59.94/week for 3 meals that serve 2 people. That’s at least 6 meals for lunch/dinner for you only, and if you have leftovers, it can stretch up to 8 or 9 meals.

For breakfast, spend $10 a week on oatmeal, yogurt, cereal, and/or fruit. Total cost to you, $69.94.
*If you have a roommate who wants to join in, get the family plan and split in half.

Blue Apron

Stir-Fried Orange Shrimp with Baby Bok Choy, Brown Rice & Cashews


PROS
  • If money is tight, skip your delivery as much as you want with no hassle
  • You don’t have to know how to cook, just how to follow instructions
  • You are eating healthy in college - your parents would be proud
  • You get to pick the day of the week you receive your delivery
  • Get fresh food weekly without going to the grocery store
  • Shipping is free

CONS
  • In my opinion, NONE. Just do it.
Blue Apron

Tandoori Chicken & Brown Rice with Coconut-Tomato Sauce & Mint Yogurt


BONUS
Keep your fruits and vegetables fresh at least 1-2 weeks longer than normal for $20/year with Bluapple (NOT affiliated with Blue Apron).

Blue Apron

Catfish Po' Boy Sandwiches with Cajun Sweet Potatoes & Remoulade


BTW, this is NOT a PAID endorsement. I signed-up back in September 2015 and haven't looked by since. I'm currently approaching my 250th meal!

Trending

New York Mets Summer Internship Program

Image
New York Mets Summer Internship Program is available for college students who are rising Juniors, Seniors, and graduate students. The internships run from May to August every summer. Internships run 13 weeks and are full-time, paid positions. Interns make a valuable contribution to the team. Internship areas include Accounting, External Affairs and Community Outreach, Human Resources, Metropolitan Hospitality, Procurement, Project Development, Tickets Sales & Services. Part-time internships are offered in Corporate Partnerships, Marketing & Communications, and Media Relations.
Read more

The United States Marshals Service Internship

Image
The United States Marshals Service Internship is offered to college students in their junior or senior year who are majoring in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Sociology, and Political Science. The internship is unpaid. Applicants must have a grade point average of 3.0 or above and must be full-time students attending a four-year, accredited college or university. Interns will work in any one of the following departments: General Operations, Investigations, Seized Assets, Judicial Security or Management. It is a great opportunity for students to gain experience and learn the functions of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Read more

💋 Cosmopolitan 💁🏽‍♀️ Internships

Image
Cosmopolitan Internships are available to college students in the Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The internships are unpaid and only open to undergraduate students who are eligible to receive college credit. Students do not need prior experience working for a magazine. Students must have excellent verbal and written communication skills, creativity and enthusiasm, and the ability to work two full days a week during the spring and fall semesters, and four days a week during the summer and winter semesters.
Read more

Los Angeles Dodgers & Other MLB Internships

Image
Los Angeles Dodgers Internship is looking for a college student to work for the summer as a Baseball Operations & Research Associate. The associate will be responsible for compiling statistical baseball data. Students applying must have a strong interest in baseball and be familiar with baseball data (Pitch f/x, Hit f/x, Field f/x and Trackman). Computer skills are a must, particularly SQL, Excel, R, STATA, SAS or other statistical software. Attention to detail, programming and database skills are required.
Read more

NHL Hockey Internships

Image
NHL Hockey Internships are available across the country for college students interested in getting hands-on experience working for a professional sports organization. Students will find a wide selection of professional sports teams who are looking for interns. Students may major in business, marketing and public relations, graphics and website design, communications, government affairs, journalism and media production, accounting, photography, TV production, and much more.
Read more

💊 Eli Lilly 💊 Internships

Image
Eli Lilly Internships are available during the summer for college students pursuing a degree in the pharmaceutical industry. Areas of study can include chemistry, biology, engineering, finance, marketing, human resources, information technology, sales, animal science, international business, and statistics. The internships are 10-12 weeks in duration and are paid internships. Students who live outside the internship area may also receive a stipend for housing and transportation. Eli Lilly recruits students for internships through campus visits in the Fall and Spring. In addition,the company works with a number of career-specific professional organizations, such as the Society of Women Engineers and the National Association of Black Accountants, and other professional organizations to identify outstanding students for internships.
Read more

💋 Hearst Magazines 👗 Internships

Image
Hearst Magazines Internships are offered in the Fall, Spring and Summer for college students seeking careers in the publishing industry. The internships are for academic credit. Undergraduate and graduate students may apply. Eligible fields of study may include fashion, editorial, marketing, advertising and sales, art, Web, and more. Students must be enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university.
Read more

♠︎ Kate Spade ♠︎ Summer Internship Program

Image
Kate Spade Summer Internship Program offers an exciting opportunity for college sophomores, juniors and seniors who are pursing careers in the fashion industry. The annual program provides participants with a strong foundation for entry-level candidates in the fashion industry. The internship program is 10 weeks long. Interns will work with managers on company projects. They will work with corporate across many functional areas and learn how a fashion and apparel corporation works. The company looks for motivated candidates in an effort to develop world class talent.
Read more

Pittsburgh Penguins Internships

Image
Pittsburgh Penguins Internships are available in the Fall in a number of areas. Applicants must be college juniors or seniors. Internships are unpaid. Internships are available in the areas of production operations, multimedia, radio, graphics and more. Internships are in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, headquarters of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Read more

Detroit Lions Internships

Image
Detroit Lions Internships offer an exciting opportunity for college students to work in the area of sports management. Many paid internship positions are available in a variety of departments within the Detroit Lions and Ford Field Management. Students must be enrolled full-time in a four-year degree program and have a grade point average of 3.0 or above. They must have completed their junior year of college before applying. Opportunities include athletic training, broadcasting, community relations, digital media, equipment manager during training camp, marketing, events management, media relations, scouting, sponsorships and much more.
Read more