Maker’s Market: Is The Expense Worth the Convenience?
Reported By: Ellaynah Brown
Illustrated By: Sydney Simmons
As college students, extra money is often not-so-easy to come by. Budgeting is often important to students, and if you’re anything like me, most shopping trips are spent comparing products to find the best prices. If you have stopped by the Maker’s Market at George Fox University (GFU), you have probably noticed that it is not the cheapest option for your grocery runs.
Whether you’re after a box of cereal, a quick drink, or an afternoon snack, you will likely spend more on campus than at any of the grocery stores within a five mile radius. After stopping in the Maker’s Market between classes and spending way too much on two small snacks, I decided it would be interesting to compare prices at the market to a couple of the stores near campus. I will be going to Fred Meyer, which is just a five minute drive from campus, and Grocery Outlet, which is about a five minute walk from campus.
If you have stopped by the campus market in search of breakfast, you may have noticed that a box of cereal is at least $8.30 and even as much as $9.30. Cocoa Pebbles, which go for $8.75 at the Maker’s Market are only $3.99 at Grocery Outlet and $5.49 at Fred Meyer. But, there’s more: the box of Cocoa Pebbles at the Maker’s Market is 11oz, while the boxes of cereal at the alternative stores are 19.5oz for less than half the price of the campus option.
If you are looking for another breakfast option like Pop-Tarts, you should expect to pay three times as much at the Maker’s Market than Grocery Outlet, and almost two times more than what you would spend at Fred Meyer. But if you are in a pinch and need something quick for breakfast, then the $6.10 for Pop-Tarts might be worth it.
As far as a quick stop for a refreshment, the Maker's Market has quite the variety with anything from coffee to kombucha. The Humm brand of kombucha goes for $5.05 at the market, and $2.89 at Grocery Outlet. In addition, Grocery Outlet carries a variety of kombucha all under $2.99. However, it may seem more reasonable to spend the extra few dollars at the market so you don’t have to drive or walk to the store off campus for the same drink.
Whether you have ten minutes or thirty, the Maker’s Market is a great place to stop in between classes for a quick lunch break. They have many options: from sushi to salad, prepped and ready to eat. A large fresh caesar salad is just $4.25 on campus, a dollar more than the competitors, but within a two minute walk from class.
It is evident that the Maker’s Market may not be the place to go if you are looking to save money and keep your grocery costs to a minimum. However, the convenience of having a store on campus may compensate for the price. It would be impractical and stressful to have to rush to a store off campus for lunch if you only have a short break.
Many students get to use flex points, which are included in the cost of their meal plan, to pay for their Maker’s Market purchases.
Overall, the Maker’s Market has been a great addition to campus in providing options for students whether it is for breakfast, lunch, or a snack. If you are in a hurry, the market is a great option. However, if you are interested in saving money, stopping by the nearby grocery stores may be a better option for you.