By Amy Sullivan

With the cost of tuition at a private college and the cost of living in Boston, few students have an extra $4.29 to shell out at Wollaston’s for a box of Cheerios, not to mention $3.49 for a gallon of milk. Groceries are a large expense for college students, but many do not realize that if you are willing to sacrifice the convenience of our closest grocers, you will find you can save money and choose from a much wider selection of products. Almost everyone on campus has been to Wollaston’s Market (there’s two on campus) or Store 24, which is located on Huntington Avenue. They are the closest to dorm rooms (easiest to get to when the cravings hit) and also accept Husky dining dollars. While these stores are certainly the most convenient, many students do not realize that other grocery shopping options are available. For example, a new Stop ‘ Shop recently opened on a few outbound T stops away. The new store, located at 1620 Tremont St., is right across the street from the Brigham Circle T stop on the Green line. Shaw’s marketplace is also not far; it is located in the Prudential Center, also accessable by the T. Whole Foods Market, formerly Bread and Circus, also offers an alternative grocery shopping option. This store carries all sorts of natural and organic foods, and is located on 15 Westland Ave. So, why travel the extra distance? Sophomore Joelle Torregrossa found out that “a two pound bag of carrots at Wollaston’s costs $4. But I really wanted carrots, so I paid it,” she said. Torregrossa is a biology and chemistry major. Torregrossa could have saved a dollar at Stop ‘ Shop, or gotten at five pound bag at Shaw’s for $3.29. And let’s say that you shop the sales and have a Stop ‘ Shop card. You head to Stop ‘ Shop and pick up a quart of Edy’s ice cream, a bag of Tostitos Restaurant Style tortilla chips, and a bottle of Ocean Spray juice. The total comes to $7.48 (before tax). At Wollaston’s the total would be $13.76 for the exact same items. Total savings is $6.28, just by shopping around and hopping on the T. Senior Will Loring said that although he usually gets take out, when he needs to go grocery shopping, he would usually do it at Shaw’s. “I would grab a sandwich or something if I was close to Wollaston’s, but I know it is probably more expensive than other places,” he said, “but I usually only buy noodles and cheap stuff anyway.” These kind of items often do not call for the extra trip to a larger market. Wonder and Home Pride breads were the same price everywhere, so do not feel bad about paying the local’s price. A half gallon of Garelick Farms milk was actually cheaper at Wollaston’s and Store 24 than at the larger markets, and Store 24 had the lowest price on a gallon of milk with $2.99, although the price was not clearly advertised. Unless on sale, bags of Lay’s potato chips, Doritos and Tostitos were all the same price no matter which store you went to. Juice, cereal and ice cream were all better deals at the larger stores. The larger markets do have a much wider selection of items, and carry their own store brands, which are often much less expensive. They also run regular sales, which can save you lots, and offer items in bulk, which are often a better deal. If you are willing to take the time to fill out an application for a Shaw’s or Stop ‘ Shop card, you are also eligible for more deals. Stop ‘ Shop also offers a delivery service. They will deliver items ordered off their Web site: http://stop andshop.com.