£10 to £15 for food a week?

Material_Girl_2

Hi All,

I want to go on a major saving journey for the next 4 months to pay of my overdraft. However, I am quite sociable and love going out so that is something that often involves food which is fine if I budget it in.

Basically I have £50 a week budgeted for going out which leaves me with about 20 to spend on breakfast, lunches and dinner about 4 times a week. Ideally I'd like to only spend £15 a week on food though and keep the other £ 5 to spend on cleaning and essential toiletries. Is that at all possible?

I seem to rember someone posting ages ago that they only spend £10 on food and eat healthily. I eat healthy and do not buy "junk" food. I do not enjoy cooking but can do basic dishes.

I do not like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen though so about 30 mins is all I would like to spend cooking!

Also, I do like poultry and fish but am happy to eat vegetarian. All my home cooking is for just myself and although I have a small freezer, I can only freeze small containers but have usullay some frozen vegetables at home. I have a Lidl nearby and also alll the other major supermarkets but not sure which one's the cheapest?

The basics I need in my diet are milk, coffee (both decaf and regular but happy with instant), fruit and vegetables as I like getting my 5 a day.

So, is it possible to do it that cheaply or am I crazy to think it can be done?:D I could spend more but really want to get rid of overdraft and start saving. I can easily pay my bills and overdraft's just due to overspending:o

McKneff

Yes, you are crazy that it could be done and its not worth making yoursefl ill by doing it.
mainaining your health is far more important than getting your overdraft paid off, don't be silly and
look after your self first, if you go on this way, your overdraft is still there even if you arent

Material_Girl_2

Well of course I am not planning to make myself ill, if it can't be done it can't be done. I am very much into my healthy diet and I can up the time it takes to pay of my overdraft but would like it done as soon as possible However, I thought there are some savy moneysaver cooks here who have some ideas how to do it cheaply. I am not a cook and always get my most of meals out so have no idea really what I should spend but I would never put my overdraft before my health! I value my health to much to do that. There are people on this site though claiming they can spend that little and be healthy. Are these people just telling porkies then? (genuine question)

Doom_and_Gloom

It is possible but you will have to cook more. There are recipes on this site http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk/planners.html?opt=rcost - although the costing isn't quite right now I don't think it is still cheap. You will also have to work out the amounts you will need just to do it for you as they are for 4.

Try the downshift challenge - you will notice most of the items used in the recipes above are in the smart price/basic/value (whatever you want to call it) range.
Look out for deals that make things cheaper.
Don't forget about reduced produce.
Look for coupons on things you do buy or would be able to buy/justify if cheaper.

What kinds of things do you usually eat?

To be honest though spending so much more on going out seems odd to me.

Material_Girl_2

Thanks Doom_and Gloom! Yes, I was afraid someone would say I'd have to cook more:o I can cook if I must but just don't enjoy it and do not have a lot of time but hey perhaps that's what I have to do to save on food shopping. I have no problem with own brand items etc just need ideas on cheap meals and I am happy with veggie meals.
When I say going out this is not just for meals, it includes coffees with friends and some activities that I do in the week that cost money so £50 is already quite good for that and I can't really go down further on this. I can up my food budget but would love to see how cheaply I can (healthily) do this.
Usually I eat lots of fruit and buy sandwiches and ready made salads, also buy jacket potatoes, stir fries etc. I eat most things really but don't eat a lot of junk food normally or lots of chocolate or sweets, so I could do without those for 4 months or so.

The thing is that £50 spent on going out (can't and don't want to go lower on this amount) would leave me £50 a week for other things but I thought if I spend £15 a week on essential food it would leave me some money left to spent on other things such as toiletries and small emergencies (taxis or unexpected bus fares etc). Also. I guess sometimes I have to spend more on things like coffee, milk etc but won't need to buy them every week?

I guess I can save on breakfasts. Usually buy porridge in the morning but could buy a value pack and make it at home. Also cheaper cereals value pack but what about lunches and dinners?

Money_maker

Try the Old Style board. Loads of threads on how to eat on a shoestring. They will need an inventory of your stock cupboard and fridge (ie. what you already have) and give you really good advice on how to spend within your budget.

Edit: If you usually buy porridge made by someone else for breakfast then this challenge is going to be quite difficult for you.

freeoffers

I live on my own and spend about £10-15 a week on food. How do I do it? I buy reduced produce at the local supermarket. On Sunday I spent £7 on salmon, pork chops, steak, sausages, bacon and some chicken. That's more than a week's worth of food for one person. However, you do have to cook. but there is good news. Because you cook for one you do not have to cook every day. When I cook a meal I tuck some in a container for the next day so in essence i'm cooking about 2-3 times a week. One chicken, for instance, lasts 3 days.

For breakfast I have bran flakes, porridge or will just have toast or a banana. I usually snack on fruit and but whatever is half price at the supermarket (was kiwi fruit last time), as long as I enjoy it. Always buy the loose bananas though because they are fairly cheap. You don't have to be a great cook either. I like buying mince because it is versatile and can be made into meatball burgers or my fav tagliatelle bolognese.

Lunch - this is tough. I usually just have toast or something or the previous night's leftovers.

Dinner - really cheap is a napolitana sauce. Value tomatoes, garlic, onion, value mixed herbs and a little olive oil, sal/pepper and veggy or chicken stock to thicken and flavour. Add value pasta and this meal is less than a pound. Add mince or home made meatballs for a more filling meal that can last a couple of days.

For me the best dinners are those that last a few days. Buy a chicken whole and you can roast it one day and carcass will last a couple of days. The breasts can be sliced, dipped in lightly gravy and put into a sandwich for work.

In short:
I do not buy value cereal but I do buy own brand bran flakes and porridge.
Bananas are cheap and make a great snack or add them to porridge.
Eggs are great because they can be used for breakfast or even a lunch.
Value beans are superb. Beans on toast for lunch or even breakfast is very cheap.
Dinner - whole chicken, mince, pork chops. try and buy the reduced meat and freeze or cook on the day and store in fridge or freezer.

Sorry, there is no structure to this because I am a little tired and Rosemary's Baby is on TV!

freeoffers

Money_maker wrote: »

Try the Old Style board. Loads of threads on how to eat on a shoestring. They will need an inventory of your stock cupboard and fridge (ie. what you already have) and give you really good advice on how to spend within your budget.

Edit: If you usually buy porridge made by someone else for breakfast then this challenge is going to be quite difficult for you.

This is good advice. I do think that doing this and cooking your own food are vital. I have cooked for many years and can testify that it not only saves a lot of money it is tastier too that packet food or takeaways.

Doom_and_Gloom

Making sandwiches for lunch would be cheaper to be honest rather than buying.
My partner takes sandwiches to work (home made bread makes it even cheaper) - he does cheese as he likes them, must cost him 40p at most (4 slices of bread). He takes a 500ml bottle of cola but this is topped up with generic cola form a 2l bottle so 500ml costs about 12p which is a lot cheaper than buying a 500ml while out. He takes a pack of crisps from a multi pack costing around 21p for a pack. He also takes slices of fruit loaf we make another 10p ish. His luch costs less than £1.
I don't eat meat but things like left over roast can be used for sadwiches - BLT's, chicken etc. Even egg salad sandwiches can be a good idea - my partner doesnt eat these as it gives him gas, lol, so not good for work.
A pasta dish for lunch would cost less though. http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk/recipe-pastasalad.html?opt=rcalslow for example could be done once but eaten 4 times for luch. Or this http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk/recipe-moroccanrice.html?opt=rcookquick done with couscous instead of rice is quick although a bit more expencive using couscous instead of rice obiously.

For dinner http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk/recipe-bakedbeancurry.html?opt=rfivehigh is quick and cheap.
My partner finds omlettes quick and cheap - you can add any veg you want as well.

freeoffers

Another thing I do is buy cordial (high juice) and not coke. It works out cheaper.

sarah1972

freeoffers wrote: »

Another thing I do is buy cordial (high juice) and not coke. It works out cheaper.

Water is even cheaper

Seriously though, good luck as there is absolutely no way I could manage on £10 - £15 a week.