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Forgot your lunch? Bank account looking a little questionable? You’ve still got options.
If you’ve got $15 or less, there are a few ways to get a proper feed at Curtin without immediately defaulting to a $20 lunch.
Here are five campus food hacks worth knowing.
1. Find the $5 Guild Student Saver meals
Budget: from $5
This is probably the first place to look when you’re properly trying to save.
Curtin Guild’s Student Saver range has meals starting from $5, including cheese wraps and toasties, plus rotating weekday meals. Current weekday options include things like mushroom dumplings and rice, vegetable biryani and dhal with rice for $5, with meat options generally around $7.50.
The hack:
Don’t just look at the regular cabinet. Check what the Student Saver of the day is first. And yes, we actually put the $5 option to the test in the latest I’m at Curtin, Now What?.
2. Don’t ignore the smaller menu options at Exchange
Budget: around $9–$11
Going to Exchange doesn’t automatically mean spending $20 on lunch. The trick is looking past the full-size meals.
At Guzman y Gomez – Curtin University, a mini burrito or mini bowl currently starts from $10.60, while the Little G’s meal starts from $9.50.
Or, if you want something more snacky, Pretzel Curtin University currently has its Pretzel Dog for $9.50.
The hack:
Check the app before you order. Places like T4, Guzman y Gomez and Pretzel have loyalty programs that can include app-only offers, member deals and rewards for repeat visits. If you’re buying from the same places anyway, it’s worth seeing whether there’s a cheaper offer waiting before you pay.
3. Check the display fridges at Simply Delicious
Budget: around $12
Simply Delicious have great alternative cheap eats. But, don’t forget to check the display fridges.
They stock ready-made meals for around $12, with options such as teriyaki chicken with steamed rice, Thai green curry chicken with steamed rice, and black pepper beef with steamed rice and fried egg. For the price, the portion sizes are absolutely worth it.
The hack:
If you grab one of the ready-to-go meals, the staff can heat it up for you. Just use the marker provided to write your name on the container, hand it over, and they’ll warm it up while you wait. The meals are also pretty filling, with most giving you a solid mix of protein and carbs for around the $12 mark.
4. Treat Tucker Fresh IGA like a food court
Budget: around $13
You don’t technically have to buy lunch from a café.
Tucker Fresh IGA at Curtin Exchange has groceries, ready-to-eat food and prepared meals. One current option is a My Muscle Chef ready meal for $12.99, with several varieties listed at the Exchange store.
Grab one, heat it up and you’ve got lunch for under $15.
There are also microwaves available in the Guild Student Kitchen in Building 106G, along with a fridge and boiling water.
The hack:
Think supermarket first, café second. Ready meals, marked-down food or a DIY lunch can sometimes get you more for your budget.
5. Eat late and look for the markdowns
Budget: depends what’s left
If you don’t need lunch bang on midday, waiting can pay off.
The Guild currently advertises discounted meals at Café Central after 2:30pm, available until sold out.
Tucker Fresh IGA is another place worth checking for supermarket markdowns. We recommend looking earlier in the morning or later in the day for reduced items such as bread, meat and fresh food.
The hack:
A 2:30pm lunch might not sound glamorous, but neither does paying full price when the same food is about to be marked down.
But are expensive meals better than cheap ones?
That’s the question we wanted to answer.
In the latest episode of I’m at Curtin, Now What?, Kristel and Musa start with one of the cheapest meals they could find on campus and work their way up through mid-range and expensive food.
The challenge? Does spending more actually get you a better meal, or can the cheap option hold its own?
Because if you’ve only got $15, you probably want to know whether spending all of it is actually worth it.
Prices, specials and availability were correct at the time of publication and may change.
