Six weeks into school and the transition from my freshman year unlimited meal plan to the sophomore 55 has already proven to be difficult. Gone are the days when I could pop into a dining hall at any or all hours of the day to grab a bite to eat. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m really starting to miss Late Night at Lakeside. Instead, my habitual dining hall eating habits have been replaced with careful calculations and strategic planning.

In order to stretch the Bama 55 all the way until Christmas break, I’ve determined that I can eat no more than three meals per week in dining halls. For the remaining 11 meals (who eats breakfast anyway?), I’m left to either mooch off friends who elected to pay the astronomical price for the convenience of unlimited meals or fend for myself.

Suddenly I’m beginning to understand the age-old stereotype of the starving college student. In light of this new situation, I have become a bit more creative with the daily problem that arises around mealtime. For example, I’ve recently developed a propensity for seeking out free food. In the past week-and-a-half, I’ve gotten Chick-fil-a (twice), a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts, pizza, Moe’s queso and waffles – all for free.

Restaurants in Tuscaloosa are constantly offering free food to college students, because they know we’ll come get it and then possibly buy more. Sure you might have to dress up like a pirate or princess to earn a donut or cupcake, but the opportunity cost of a delicious sweet treat over a little public embarrassment is far too great to pass up. I would venture to bet, with a little bit of research, you could find at least three restaurants offering free food promotions every single week.

And when restaurants aren’t offering food entirely for free, there is a plethora of coupons for nearly every eating establishment imaginable in and around Tuscaloosa from the Strip to Northport. Those little Campus Special coupon books you may have ignored when picking up books at the SUPe Store are extremely useful at tons of places around campus. And even if you didn’t manage to grab a couple booklets, Campus Special offers an app with all the same deals as in their coupon books, plus a few more.

In addition to restaurant deals, any self-respecting group on campus knows that if they want attendees at meetings or events, the “Free Pizza” ploy is sure-fire. Seriously, we’re like moths drawn to a flame when it comes to the prospect of scoring anything for free, whether it be our hundredth koozie or T-shirt or that last slice of greasy cheese pizza we didn’t really need. On game day alone there are dozens of campus organizations offering free food to members at various locations on and around the Quad. I’m not saying you should go cop free food from organizations, but we’re all part of Honors College anyway, right?

After all, our college years will probably be our last chance to freeload off of our parents, score tons of free stuff and enjoy the fruits of others’ labor all under the guise of being poor but endearing college students. I intend to make the most of it.