Tapping that ID card at Edge every morning seemed like a good idea… until it wasn’t. Now you’re at the end of the semester with $20 to your name wondering how you’re going to eat for the next two weeks.

My guess is if you’re reading this, you know this feeling all too well. With finals around the corner, fueling yourself (on a budget) is now as important as ever. Here are our best tips to budget your remaining LionCash and stay happy and healthy in the homestretch.

Dig For The Deals

Let’s be real: you’re a college student in the 21st century. We’re sure you have every fast food restaurant app sitting on your phone, so why not use them to your advantage? Many businesses, like Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks, offer deals or ways to earn points through their app as a reward member.

Cash in on some of your stars to secure that free coffee or wait around for another set of Dunkin deals to roll around. Don’t get us wrong, we’re all for buying coffee out and using it as a reward, but in the age of $7 coffees, it has to be done strategically.

Eat At The Buffet

With so many food options to choose from on campus, it can be hard to force yourself to spend your meal plan where it was designed for. The whole idea of the meal plan levels was built around how many meals, on average, you’ll eat at one of the dining hall buffets. Grab a to-go container from the nice employee at the entrance and load that thing up. This meal is more likely to leave you feeling full, eliminating your desire to spend any extra cash on a snack throughout the day.

Call Your Mom

There’s nothing that a little guilt trip won’t fix. Call up your parents, explain the situation, and maybe even fake a tear or two. Whether they’re already investing in your education or not, they would want you to perform well on your finals and exams. You can’t do that on an empty stomach. With any luck, your parents will throw a few extra dollars into LionCash and cover your lunch for the next day.

Raid The Dorm

You’ve got to have some Ramen saved up in there somewhere. While that frozen meal in the back of your freezer may not be the most nutritious or appetizing, food is food. Throw it in the microwave and call it a day. I’m sure you have some extra snacks lying around from a late night snack run, so whip up a classic girl dinner plate from the remains for your next lunchtime feast.

Phone A Friend

We all have that one friend who somehow has 40% of their meal plan left. A true miracle. Instead of wasting time wishing this was you, kindly ask beg your thriftier friend to loan you a meal. They can definitely spare it, and if they say no — are they really your friend? Repay them with something that isn’t money, such as giving their room a quick clean or whatever gets the job done.