I'm a busy college student who shops at Costco. Here are 12 things I buy every semester to save mone

• I'm a busy, full-time student who works and does extracurriculars, and I like to shop at Costco.
•  I rely on my trips to the store to stock up on staples, simplify meal prep, and stay on budget.
• Tide Pods, frozen pizza, leggings, and LaCroix always seem to make it into my cart.

I've shopped at Costco all my life. But as I've gotten older, I've come to love the store for more than just its delicious samples.

These are the must-get Costco items I pick up before I head back to campus each semester.

Lotus Foods ramen elevates the classic college meal.

Like most college students, ramen is often my quick meal of choice.

I like Lotus Foods' ramen because it covers those bases without all the salt and additives found in some other brands.

I have a kitchen in my apartment-style housing, so when I have time, I like to add a source of protein and extra veggies to take ramen to the next level.

Applesauce pouches are an easy way for me to get multiple food groups in on the go.

Applesauce pouches are usually marketed toward children, but they're great for college students, too.

It can be hard to get all the food groups in on a busy schedule, so I opt for a variety that contains both fruits and vegetables.

They're super easy to toss in a bag, and they make a great alternative to expensive snacks at campus stores.

Motor City pizzas are a crowd-pleaser.

I like to keep a few quick meals in the freezer for when I have friends over.

Motor City Pizza Co. frozen pizzas are better (and cheaper) than delivery and make a fitting companion to any late-night study session or movie night.

I like to stock up on almond milk to save money.

I use almond milk almost every day. The on-campus shop near me sells a carton for nearly $9, so I choose to stock up for a lower price at Costco.

It's also the practical choice as a student without a car to eliminate a heavier item from my smaller weekly grocery trips, since Costco sells a bulk version that's shelf stable.

Costco makes stocking up on LaCroix easier, too.

LaCroix is a bit of a luxury on a college budget.

Luckily, Costco sells bulk packs of the sparkling water at a great price, making it a treat I can afford.

Ritika’s cilantro-lime rice lets me make burrito bowls at home.

Buying portioned packs of cilantro-lime rice at Costco makes it easy to save money on one of my favorite quick meals.

I add my favorite toppings and whatever protein I have on hand to make restaurant-style burrito bowls without having to stand in line at Chipotle.

Felina leggings are incredibly comfy.

Leggings are suitable for just about anything I do on campus, so I like to keep a couple of pairs in my closet.

The Felina packs at Costco are comparable to many pricer brands, and they're so soft they make me feel like I'm wearing pajamas to class.

SkinnyPop makes for a delicious on-the-go snack.

I love SkinnyPop Popcorn because it's got just the right balance of saltiness and butteriness while still being pretty healthy.

I like to keep some in all of my bags and my room for a quick snack because it's just that good.

I replace the socks that are always going missing in the communal laundry room.

I find that every semester, I go home with fewer pairs of socks than I arrived with. So I started only buying the K Bell black ankle socks at Costco.

I like that they're all identical, so I don't have to worry about losing their matches when they inevitably disappear.

I use seaweed for more than just a fun snack.

Seaweed makes for a yummy, on-the-go snack, but I also like to use it to make sushi bowls, stir-fries, and rice dishes.

Tide Pods make doing my laundry a little less painful.

Tide pods are another thing I can't live without because they make laundry so easy.

They're sold at astronomical prices at my campus store, so it makes sense to stock up at Costco.

The box comes with nearly 160 pods, so I can leave some at home to pick up over breaks or split it with my brother, who's also in college.

Stir-fry udon packs make a quick meal that’s easy for me to customize.

The frozen packs provide the basics of a simple stir-fry: noodles, seasoning, and veggies.

They're also super easy to jazz up with whatever extra vegetables and protein I need to use up in my fridge.

I try something different each time, making it a meal I never get bored of.

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