Keep both your stomach and wallet full at Storrs Center

Storrs Center: nine new places to grab something to eat, from burritos and sandwiches to cookies and candy. It is a nice addition to the UConn area, sure, but eating out can be expensive. For those fond of the snacks and meals now available for purchase without unlimited wallets, some of these tips to save money at Storrs Center might help out.

First off, do not write off the tablets available in some storefronts, including Moe’s Southwest Grill and Mooyah Burgers and Fries. By entering a phone number into their system, not only are free burgers or meals attainable through their reward system (ten visits at either store nets you a free entrée, as long as you purchase a side and drink), but they will frequently text special coupons; for instance, a Mooyah text on Jan. 22 offered a free turkey burger with purchase of a drink.

UConn basketball games, for both men and women, are another good place to get a deal. Not only can coupons, such as a buy-one get-one for Moe’s, be found in the free booklets available at games, but other giveaways are common. For instance, the calendars given away at recent games include 24 Subway coupons, two for each month.

Another smart tip: watch portions. It’s way too easy to load up on too much food at some places, so being careful with orders can end up saving a bunch of cash by the end of the semester.

Moe’s offers mini burritos on their menu, for instance, which are a buck cheaper than the normal ones and are somewhat healthier (if only by having less calories) than their big brothers.

A regular order of a Mooyah burger comes with two patties; asking for a single burger will knock $1.25 off an order. And instead of a full pizza, two slices and a drink will only cost $4 from Husky Pizza.

Froyoworld and Sweet Emotions weigh orders by the ounce; avoiding that extra scoop of candy or that extra dollop of yogurt or toppings can keep a buck or two off the final price, which will add up over time.

But there’s no denying the easiest ways to save money will be on stores’ menus or social media pages. 7-Eleven, the center’s new convenience store, offers small items like hot dogs, as well as some ridiculous yet delicious novelties (for instance, a stick of buffalo chicken, complete with cheese inside), all of which are decently priced (under $2 in most cases) for those needing a snack. A small cup of coffee, for those needing just a small kick, can be purchased for under $2 at Dog Lane Café or 7-Eleven.

And, of course, Subway’s five-dollar footlongs, though there are only about half-a-dozen options at any time, have helped the company become one of the biggest restaurant chains in the country.

Finally, some stores including Insomnia Cookies and Sweet Emotions put deals, coupons or sales on their Facebook pages; giving them a “Like” might pay off.