Editor’s note: The Daily Evergreen has decided to continue the Ask Emma column under a new name: Ask Life.

Dear Life Section,

It is nearing the end of the school year, and my RDA balance is not on track with what is recommended. I do not think RDA alone will get me through the end of the year. How do I deal with low RDA?

Sincerely,

Level 2 RDA Holder

Dear Level 2 RDA Holder,

Sticking with a budget is hard. That is completely understandable.

However, in such a tough time, there are ways to make that RDA last and be able to have solid meals until the end of the semester.

There is always the on-campus food pantry located in the Compton Union Building on the ground floor.

The Cougar Food Pantry is free to all WSU students. It is a great resource to get solid snacks like bags of chips or even whole loaves of bread. They also offer ingredients for making a solid meal.

You are limited to a certain amount of food per person. When checking out, you give the cashier a little information, including your name, whether you are a graduate or undergraduate student and how many people you are feeding.

The hours for the food pantry are listed on the door. Take a picture of them, as they can vary.

There is also now a new food pantry in faculty suite 203 of Thompson Hall.

Besides the campus food pantries, there are plenty of ways to purchase groceries for less outside of campus.

For those without a car, WSU buses can take you to all of the following locations listed.

The Grocery Outlet is a great way to get discounted food with great quality and freshness. It is also not nearly as crowded as Walmart can get.

Along with the Grocery Outlet, the Dollar Tree is also a valuable place to get other things like snacks and energy drinks.

One last piece of advice is to learn how to recognize a good deal.

For example, when picking out something in a jar or can, consider the number of ounces and product you would actually be paying for.

Let’s say an eight-ounce jar of peanut butter is $5 while another jar is 10 ounces for $4. You would want to pick the 10-ounce jar, which is more bang for your buck.

One last tip: consider applying for Washington State benefits.

Many working students are eligible for Basic Food benefits.

The application consists of an online application and a phone interview. Once you complete these steps, your eligibility will be reviewed and your benefits decided.

The process can be very tedious but also very rewarding. 

Always remember that there are resources, not just from WSU, for times like these.

Cougs help Cougs!

Sincerely,

The Life Section