how much a month should it cost to feed one person

Fire_Fox

before_hollywood wrote: »

i'm not that bad at shopping (i used to work in a supermarket so i can spot bargains), and we have a freezer (two of us in my house, me and my lodger, so we shop seperately)

i was one of those that was put off cooking as home ec at school was hell for me lol

Buy a slow cooker and then read the associated recipe threads on the Old Style board. All you need to be able to do is wield a knife (five mins), throw everything in the pot and leave for four to six hours. Impossible to burn or overcook the food and you can use cheap cuts of meat padded with loads of cheap veg!

chipbeck

If your work has a canteen (especially if it's subsidised) then it may be a good idea to have lunch there. You can then have something lighter and cheaper for your evening meal.
Then again seeing as you are a lancy you could make a large hot pot or corned beef hash on the Sunday and eat it for the week.

clutterydrawer

I spend around £60 monthly - I could survive for less but I have a huge appetite and like to eat tons of fruit and veg which pushes it up a bit.

el_gringo_3

FreebieRocker wrote: »

I dont know what sorts of things you eat but I know that in Tesco they do 5 meals for £4 so if you're only going to be at home for 5 evening meals in the week, you're sorted there if you like what they have.. Easier than preparing it from scratch if you dislike that sort of thing.

I'm guessing he's a bloke in his twenties, in which case he'll be well aware that these sizes of ready meal aren't actually a meal, but a side dish!

Get yourself down Home Bargains/Bargain Madness/ Farmfoods/ Jack Fulton and see what they have in. That'll be the cheapest.

You'll learn to cook pretty fast.

Also the person who said about the canteens onto something - my girlfriend often brings back soups and stuff that are left over from the canteen at lunch, she either gets them for free or about 50p for enough to feed us both for a few days. Not sure if this is because the chef fancies her though!

patchwork_cat

Ohh watch out el gringo - the way to a woman's heart may well be through her stomach, too!

before_hollywood

el_gringo wrote: »

I'm guessing he's a bloke in his twenties, in which case he'll be well aware that these sizes of ready meal aren't actually a meal, but a side dish!

Get yourself down Home Bargains/Bargain Madness/ Farmfoods/ Jack Fulton and see what they have in. That'll be the cheapest.

You'll learn to cook pretty fast.

bloke in 20s is right- 28 this summer :eek::o
we have home bargains, jack fulton and b and m that is my home town, i am moving to the next town along and they only have asda but its only 3 miles

Fire_Fox

I'd do a monthly big shop at Home Bargains and the other cheap shops right after you get paid, then a weekly top up nearer to home. Alternatively shop every few weeks at Asda online, there is always a free delivery code on this site. You tend to spend less if you work from a list and don't physically see alcohol/ DVD/ junk food aisles!

el_gringo_3

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I'd do a monthly big shop at Home Bargains and the other cheap shops right after you get paid, then a weekly top up nearer to home.

Yep, the monthly big shop at Home bargains to get all the 'random' things they have, then farmfoods/fultons for the cheaper frozen staples and the like, then do local veg shops etc and Morrisons/Asda at the right time of day for the bargains, and you can live like a king pretty cheaply. Requires a car and a bit of time though!

Watch out for the old ladies in the bargain shops though, they are all of the opinion that they have more right to the bargins than you as a young single man will, so you'll probably be forced out the way a couple of times. I once had this happen and said to the old dear 'scuse me' in a rather sarcastic voice, she turned round and snapped 'why , what have you done' at me with a scowl on her face. I couldn't help but laugh, she must have been late 80's/early 90's. You'll also likely have them harrasing you to 'reach something from the top shelf' for them.:rotfl:

chick1_2

Hi I found a couple of great books, meals in moments and student grub, they even have a list of storecupboad ingredients so you will always have stuff in to make one of the meals. They include starters,main meals and deserts (fab) all cheap, cheerful and taste great. Simple and clear instructions, if I can do it anyone can.

baby_fuzz

before_hollywood wrote: »

hey peeps, i'm a single guy moving into own place next month

i often work late and am typically kitchen inept- any ideas how much i should be budgeting for food?

I think that 10-15 a week should be enough, although with inflating prices of EVERYTHING...
You shouldn't be scared of spending a bit more one week to bulk-buy BOGOFs or good deals to whack in the freezer, so long as you reign in the purse strings the following week.

The best way to make sure that you stay in budget, is to list out what you are cooking for each day in the week, and only buy the thigns that you need to cook them!