How they shop Helen Simm, 19, is a drama student at Middlesex University. She lives in self catering halls and shops at Sainsbury or Kwik Save. "There are 24 of us competing for freezer space, so storage is a problem. I buy fresh vegetables and fresh meat but I seem to be unusual in that. I also buy convenience foods like Snack Pots and soups ­ just in case. Red Bull is essential ­ I drink a can every morning. I buy alcohol mainly from the local off licence ­ alcopops and big bottles of fizzy white wine for £3. Occasionally, I'll buy vodka, but that lasts ages." John Howard, 19, is a business studies student at Northampton University. He has just completed his first year in self catering halls and does his food shopping at Tesco. "Tesco seems to have the greatest range and be the cheapest. I really should get a Club Card ­ most of my mates have one. I take sport seriously so I eat healthily ­ mainly rice, potatoes, meat. Baked beans are good too. I make easy meals but ready meals are too expensive. I also eat a lot of Nutri-Grain bars ­ they're a good energy boost for training." Russell Oakford, 20, is studying marketing and law at De Montfort University in Leicester. He shares a house with five others and shops mainly at Tesco. "I've perfected the art of living on £2.50 a week - mostly bread, sausages and Pot Noodles. In the first year I made it a priority to appeal to the girls in halls so they'd cook me meals and that kept costs down. I spend about 10 times as much on alcohol, and I go for taste and quality rather than cost ­ Red Stripe, Stella, Fosters and the odd bottle of cheap vodka. I can't see students going dotcom shopping. The added costs of it put me off and anyway, we've nothing better to do with our time." {{FEATURES }}

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