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

CVS Health Internships

Image
CVS Health has a highly-rated internship program for both undergraduate students as well as MBA and Master's degree students. This is an internship opportunity for college students to participate in a multi-dimensional program at the largest pharmacy in the United States. Summer internships and year-round internships are available. Internship programs include health-related internships for pharmacy, healthcare operations, dietetics and nutrition, nursing, optometry, and nursing students, as well as corporate internships for students interested in the areas of administration, analytics, marketing, finance, information technology, and law.
Read more

Explore Microsoft Internship Program For Women and Minorities

Image
Explore Microsoft Internship Program is for current college undergraduate minority students pursuing a degree in computer science or software engineering. Students may apply in their freshman or sophomore year of college. Women, minorities (African American, American Indian, Hispanic), and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The internship program is 12 weeks during the summer at Microsoft. This opportunity gives students first-hand experience in software development and exposure to the field of computer science, computer engineering, or related technical areas. Work includes hands-on projects as well as group projects.
Read more

⭕️ The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) Internship Program

Image
The OWN Internship Program is a 10-week paid and for-credit learning experience at the Oprah Winfrey Network television channel. Internships are for current undergraduate or graduate college students. Applicants must have completed at least their sophomore year in college before applying. They must also have a grade point average of 3.0 or above. All interns must be able to work 15 hours or more per week and receive college credit for the internship. Interns receive hands-on training, challenging project work, and networking opportunities.
Read more

Minority Access National Diversity & Inclusion Internship Program

Image
The Minority Access Internship Program offers spring, summer and fall internships for college sophomores, juniors, seniors, graduates, and professionals. All internships are paid and include stipends, travel expenses, and housing assistance. It is open to all students; minorities are encouraged to apply. Students must be enrolled full-time at an U.S. accredited college or university and have a grade point average of 3.0 or above. Interns are placed in positions with various government organizations and corporations where they will receive hands-on experience working in a professional environment.
Read more

Netflix Internships and Jobs

Image
Netflix offers students and grads an opportunity to work for a leading media and video-on-demand company that offers competitive salaries and a work life philosophy not found at most other companies, not to mention living in sunny California. Challenging opportunities are offered in finance, engineering, marketing and public relations, business, technology, legal and much more. Netflix believes in working smarter, not harder. So they have no formal 9-to-5 workday, no prescribed time off policies for salaried employees and no set holiday and vacation schedule.
Read more

NASCAR Diversity Internship Program

Image
NASCAR Diversity Internship Program is a 10-week, full-time, paid summer work opportunity for deserving students with an interest in the NASCAR industry, who are of Alaskan Native, American Indian, Asian/Pacific Islander, African American, Hispanic, or of other racial minority descent. Students must have an interest in the NASCAR industry. This exciting program is available to students with a grade point average of 3.0 or above who have completed their sophomore year in college. They must currently be enrolled in either an undergraduate or graduate college program. Students receive competitive pay, tickets to a NASCAR Nextel Cup Series race, and help with housing.
Read more

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

Chipotle Corporate Internships

Image
Chipotle Corporate Internships are offered to college students who are enrolled in college and pursing degree-awarding programs at an accredited college or university. Internships are offered in a wide variety of areas and are generally located at Chipotle's headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Internships are offered in Administrative, Compliance, Culinary, Customer Service, Design, Development & Facilities, Finance & Accounting, Information Technology, Marketing and Advertising, Operations Management, Human Resources, Purchasing & Supply Chain, Safety, Security and Risk, and Training.
Read more

📺 Ellen Degeneres 🎥 Show Internship

Image
Ellen DeGeneres Show Internship opportunities are available in the Fall for students interested in being an intern on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. The location is Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank, California. Students must be 18 years old or older. Interns work in various departments that include audience, research, human interest, production, and web. They may assist with audience attendance, researching questions for guests appearing on the show or monitoring comments on the web. Interns also get an opportunity to see many celebrities as their job takes them to different places around the Warner Brothers production lot.
Read more

Essence Communications Internship Program

Image
Essence Communications Internship Program is open to undergraduate, graduate students, or recent college graduates interested in a career in the media industry. Applicants must have a strong interest in issues pertaining to African American women. Positions are open in publishing and editorial and offer a stipend; interns are responsible for finding their own housing. The program is 9 weeks long and provides students with on-the-job-training in various aspects of the media. Interns working for one department will also be able to work with other areas of the company to gain more skills and experience.
Read more