Free Samples...Are Free

One of the most common and under appreciated forms of bumming is the use of the free sample. You can come across the free sample anywhere and any amateur mooch can snag a free cookie or a 4 ounce latte sample outside starbucks, however it takes a true bum to know what places have the best free samples. The best places to raid (what we in the business call a hunt for free samples) are large grocery stores or small high end delis or bakeries. With regard to small shops, any place that thinks its fancy enough to call itself a patisserie is bound to have a plate of cookies at the register. Just come in and ask for some free water then snag a nice cookie to go with your drink, and bam, free snack. This may seem intuitive enough and not worth mentioning, but it takes a keen eye to spot the type of place that gives out free samples. Often they are on the upscale side, and they offer free sample sin the hopes that they will stimulate you to spend ridiculous amounts of cash on baked goods. Raiding large supermarkets is by far the easier approach. Not only do supermarkets offer a less intimate atmosphere where you can grab as many samples as you want without being grilled, but they also offer a wider range of samples depending on the aisle your in. Whole foods might be the best place to get free samples. Whole Foods or other high end supermarkets often have multiple stations for you to eat at. College campuses are excellent places to snag free samples. Check the sample plate in Burgess or better yet wait for Mountain Dew or Pepsi to come and set up a table outside d hall (once scored a case of Pepsii )Often raiders mistakenly think there is a one sample per person policy, but I have found that often workers are willing to give out a second sample if you ask nicely and express genuine interest in the food they are giving out. Appear to really like whatever it is, maybe add in some "mmmoh wow uhmm, this is, this is top notch" if you simply eat one and ask for another you look like a bum instead of someone who just really likes food.

Hobo Soup Endorses BJ's

I'm not a fan of the idea of Wholesale clubs. To me the Whole sale club embodies the idea of American excess, with its 40 packs of bottles water and two pound boxes of cereal. However shopped responsibly a Wholesale club can be a college students best friend. There is a BJ's in the Wilton Mall. At 50$ for an annual membership your BJ's card could save you potentially save you hundreds of dollars throughout the year. Of course if you have a meal plan the value is significantly lessened since you don't have to pay for food, but if your on limited meal plan BJ's could be your meal ticket. Of course like every wholesale club there is more then food for sale. Save on office supplies and electronics, I know I sound like an ad right now but it really is a smart choice for the average college student. Real bums will also dredge the Bj's website for online coupons to use at the store.

Mooch Corner: D Hall is a Wonderland

It may seem obvious, but D hall is the best source of food in Saratoga. What may be less obvious is that it is not just useful for meals, but for groceries as well. Obviously if your on an unlimited meal plan you have no use for these tips but if your like a decent percentage of the campus you arn't. First off think about your average grocery list. Maybe you need drinks, fruits, veggies, some cereal, a dozen bagels, all these are goods you can grab in bulk at d hall. Before you go shopping take a large duffel or backpack and several tupperware containers, bring a friend for an even larger haul. Lets begin our mooching walking clockwise around Dhall. Skip pasta and Global and head straight to cereal. obviously there is cereal on hand for you to fill up your containers with, but also apples, oranges and bananas as well. Of course anyone whose looked at D Hall knows where this stuff is. What you may not know is that often the chocolate milk spout doesnt work, leading dining services to place containers of chocolate milk within the milk machine. Simply unlatch the machine and stuff a container in your bag. Think you found all the fruit? wrong. Head over to the omelette station and open the fridge opposite from the grill, inside are sliced lemons and limes. While your there nab some soy milk from the same fridge if your into that kind of thing. Got old egg cartons? recycle and refill with the eggs next to the omelette grill. Move on to the bagel station next to the fridge with the lemons. Stock up on Bagel's and condiments such as cream cheese and butter. Make a B-line to Emily's where you can fill some containers with baby carrots, hard boiled eggs, and sliced cucumber. Most of these foods are on clear display for your consumption, the trick is getting yourself into the mindset of treating D hall like a supermarket instead of a buffet.