PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Hello Forumites! However well-intentioned, for the safety of other users we ask that you refrain from seeking or offering medical advice. This includes recommendations for medicines, procedures or over-the-counter remedies. Posts or threads found to be in breach of this rule will be removed.
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Single Money Saver living on my own

Options
2456753

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 17,413 Forumite
    10,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped!
    I am a widow and I live alone.I can manage fairly well, but I do miss cooking for a houseful.I find it easier to have a Jacket spud with filling than bother to cook as I used to.I love it when I have visitors as it gives me a chance to cook again.I suppose I spend about £15-20 a week altogether.I do get fed up with mince though.
  • mink35
    mink35 Posts: 6,068 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    JackieO wrote:
    I am a widow and I live alone.I can manage fairly well, but I do miss cooking for a houseful.I find it easier to have a Jacket spud with filling than bother to cook as I used to.I love it when I have visitors as it gives me a chance to cook again.I suppose I spend about £15-20 a week altogether.I do get fed up with mince though.

    I'll come and visit then you can cook for me, lol :D I'm sure we can rustle up a few other old stylers to keep me company as well!
    Mink
  • DingDong_3
    DingDong_3 Posts: 34 Forumite
    I live on my own and started the grocery challenge last week. I used to spend £30 a week which included everything (bus fare, cleaning products etc) but having read these threads, I'm only allowing myself £20 a week now but to be honest I don't think I'll spend it all. Making a meal plan for the week is a brilliant idea because you know then exactly what to buy and you won't get tempted by frozen pizzas. This week I'm having:

    home made spag bol
    corned beef hash
    beans n mash
    homemade pizza
    pasta
    beans on toast topped with grilled cheese

    I'm hopeless at cooking (or think I am) but the spag bol I made yesterday was delicious (and there are two more servings in the freezer). As I get used to cooking, (and read more on these threads) I'll be able to add more recipes. At the moment I buy all my fruit/veg from Tesco but I've started looking at market prices. By the way, Tesco usually do a cheap bag of apples. I got 6 braeburns for 19p a few weeks ago which were fine. I stew them and have them with custard for a cheap dessert

    What cereal does everyone buy? I buy bitesize shredded wheat which are pretty expensive but it's the only cereal I can find with low salt and sugar.

    Anyway if I can get my food down to £20 a week without much effort then you can too! :)
  • crana999
    crana999 Posts: 573 Forumite
    I like branflakes with sultanas / raisins.. I've had that for breakfast almost every day since I was very small!

    But I'll eat porridge or my cheapy version of muesli (oats + apple juice + raisins), which are cheaper.
  • tiff
    tiff Posts: 6,608 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Savvy Shopper!
    We have switched from cheerios and coco pops to cornflakes, weetabix and shredded wheat. 0wn label cornflakes are cheap for a large box, and my children like them with warm milk so no added sugar.
    “A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.” - Dave Ramsey
  • Austin_Allegro
    Austin_Allegro Posts: 1,462 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I live on my own and can easily eat on £10 a week, or even £8, but I normally spend between £10 and £15.

    That doesn't include cleaning products or toiletries, but that only averages about £2 a week anyway. The main ways I keep costs down are:

    1. Making sandwiches to take to work and making my own fillings such as tuna and mayonnaise etc instead of buying ready made fillings.

    2. Eating a lot of rice/pasta/potatoes and less meat. I get economy rice at 52p a kilo, potatoes in bulk at £1.75 for 5kg, and 1kg of pasta for about 60p

    3. I get everything on the ecopomy labels except where experience has shown these to be inferior to the branded products.

    4. I get economy muesli for breakfast, about 85p a kilo, this lasts 2-3 weeks

    5. If I get meat it's usually things like chicken or bacon, stretched out with potatoes and pasta etc

    6. I get fruit from market stalls, it's much cheaper than supermarkets, eg 20 apples for a pound.

    7. I get a big bag of frozen veg from the supermarket, this costs about 97p and lasts 1-2 weeks.

    8. I stock up on things like whisky and gin when abroad, and make my own wine.
    'Never keep up with Joneses. Drag them down to your level. It's cheaper.' Quentin Crisp
  • winkle1
    winkle1 Posts: 446 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    thx for all your replies.

    i'm trying to make that 10 a week cover EVERYTHING inc cleaning products. perhaps this isnt realistic.

    this is also to cover lunches as i always take food to work - usually ham sandwiches and a tin of soup (or homemade soup if i have left over veg) and a bag of crisps. breakfast is porridge oats, dinner is always made from scratch - spag bol, pasta and veg, chilli etc.

    i'm trying to eat heathily so I buy a lot of fruit and veg - usually get this from the indian shops as they are so much cheaper.

    i'm going to see how i do this month (spent £25 of my £40 budget already!!) and take it from there. think this will give me a more accurate idea of how much i should allow for food.
    ***PROUD TO BE DEALING WITH MY DEBT***

    Reclaimed my bank charges - got £250 back from HSBC and £88 from First Direct :)
  • winkle1
    winkle1 Posts: 446 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    dingdong - I tend to do a meal plan for the week as I'm doing weight watchers so planning my meals means i wont stray of the plan!
    ***PROUD TO BE DEALING WITH MY DEBT***

    Reclaimed my bank charges - got £250 back from HSBC and £88 from First Direct :)
  • r.mac_2
    r.mac_2 Posts: 4,746 Forumite
    sureeks,

    I live by myself too and this month my march grocery challengr budget is £15. This includes meals and cleaning products as well as work lunches. But not toilettries.

    So far I found that last week, I was under budget by approximately a pound (and that included two tuna steaks costing £5!).

    This week I havn't been to the shops yet!!! Although I have spent £2.50 in pret-a-manger. This came out of my treat/going out/others budget which is £30 per week.

    I made up my meal plan for this week;

    Mon -beef stew (left overs from Mum's when home at weekend) with potatoes and peas
    Tues - chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella and pesto, rice (chicken cost me 50p, mozzarella cost 50p, but only using half, pesto in store cupboard)
    Wed - pasta and tomato sauce (pennies - all store cupboard)
    Thurs - evening class (take double sandwiches to work)
    Fri - going to attempt to make my own pizza (again all store cupboard, but will add fresh veg to top - onion and pepper)

    haven't thought about the weekend yet. hope that gives you an idea or inpiration.
    aless02 wrote: »
    r.mac, you are so wise and wonderful, that post was lovely and so insightful!
    I can't promise that all my replies will illicit this response :p
  • winkle1
    winkle1 Posts: 446 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    thx for the ideas r.mac. this week i'm having:

    mon: pasta and veg in tomato sauce - had to buy veg but thats it.
    tues: egg on toast.
    weds: eating at boyfs.
    thurs: chilli con carne: i buy mince and split the pack into 6 and use 1/6th every time i cook.
    fri & weekend: not sure what i'm doing yet.

    for breakfasts i have oats and milk every day. lunch all this week will be ham sandwiches and soup (with crisps, fruit and jelly for extras)
    ***PROUD TO BE DEALING WITH MY DEBT***

    Reclaimed my bank charges - got £250 back from HSBC and £88 from First Direct :)
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.7K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.5K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.8K Life & Family
  • 256.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.