Credit to Peyton Thies

The tall glass box hums in the quiet hallway. A glow from inside seems brighter the closer you become. As you stand in front of the box, staring inside, you see rows of metallic coils holding the prize. What is the
prize? Snacks—lots and lots of snacks.

The change from middle school to high school is important for many reasons. The biggest for you could be the new classes, new teachers, or new facilities. But for my first day of school, it was the vending machines. They have sodas, sports drinks, salty snacks, savory snacks and more. But nothing in life is free. Especially not the vending machines.

While prices everywhere are high due to inflation, vending machine prices at school seem unusually high. A 20-oz bottle of Dole Lemonade costs $2.75, and a Mountain Dew Kickstart costs $3.75. Snacks aren’t cheap either, with a single Rice Krispie costing $1.75. While the main benefit of vending machines is convenience, convenience does not outweigh the expense.

Although running to the store may be time-consuming, the extra few minutes are worth it when you consider the math.

Gatorade eight packs from the store cost you $7.88. That comes down to $1.01 per bottle. Therefore, by taking a few extra minutes to grab Gatorade from the store, you will save $1.74 per bottle. This math stays consistent as you save $2.15 on Mountain Dew Kickstarts, $1.50 on Rice Krispies, and $1.25 on Oreos.

I could never tell someone to stay clear of the vending machines, because that would be hypocritical. But remember to be mindful of how much you’re spending, and if you can, stop by the store, and save yourself some cash.