One of the ways I managed to "pay it all back" was definitely eating for free or alternatively, the ancient practice of "half eating" which I assume was a thing because it definitely works where you only eat half your meal and then eat the rest for dinner! Also an excellent strategy for weight loss.
Example 1: You landed a job at a legitimate company. Sometimes, they have free lunches! Always take extra back to your desk. Eat it as a snack or, alternatively if you can snag an extra leftover sandwich, your dinner.
Example 2: Your legitimate company hosts lunches or dinners for clients sometimes. Always wait until the event is over and go up and grab some of the food. Often this just gets tossed, so you are doing the environment a big favour as well as your pocketbook.
Example 3: You need to buy lunch. You know you could have packed a PBJ but who has time for that sh!t you are busy at work! Just make sure you get the bang for your buck. In other words, buy sometimes that will cost less than $5 for lunch. Meatball sub sandwich. Soup and bun. Pho (save the second half of pho for dinner!).
Example 4: Make an enormous amount of food on the weekend. Bring it to work every day that week. Pay $25 off your loan.
Example 5: Go to your parents place, if you've got some local. They always feed you!
Example 6: Go vegan, or nearly. Meat is expensive!
Example 7: Make your own bread. It can actually be way cheaper than the storebought stuff and tastes about a million times better.
Example 8: When your friends want to go out to eat, choose a place with happy hour.
