£1 A Day For Food and Drink For 2 For A Year!

Popperwell

I won't say that some meals that I have are not expensive but
sometimes it can be as little as 50p for the day but on average it is between £1-£2.

But then again I try for yellow stickered stuff, very much a case of pot luck and sometimes they only knock as little as 25p-50p off.

It is misleading though as when shopping for food tonight, I spent £7.50 and getting home I seem to have very little for my money but if I allow that potatoes, bread, milk, a chicken pie, watercress and cheese can be stretched out over a few meals possibly over two weeks that doesn't seem quite as bad. I can get a number of meals out of a box of cereal and if you have managed to buy it when on offer even better.

Often it's the initial cost that is the problem. Of course it is different for me being single...if you have a family or a partner that could affect what you have to spend and how low the budget can be.

But continued price rises on lots of basic foods is worrying.

grumpybear_3

Seconding what Ginny says about produce markets - the one in my market town is nice, but the markets in the three big cities near me and are excellent for cheap fruit and veg.

I used to find market shopping intimidating to begin with with all the stalls selling the same thing and people shouting and hollering but have a good browse for the best quality / price, feel free to touch and feel and don't be rushed into making your decisions. Some markets sell stuff by the bowl too, which is cool but make sure you're happy with what they're selling you first to make sure there's nothing scabby hiding at the bottom of the bowl!

It also pays to go and have a wander around different parts of town -ethnic supermarkets often have some really good fruit and veg - and some other interesting bits too that might liven up your cooking and lots cheaper than the exotic food isle at the supermarket.

tori.k

Half the battle when dealing with such a small budget is just in how you look at it £1 a day seems nothing but £60pm feels a lot better when writing your shopping list. the only downside i can see is that if you are meat eaters you will have to put any animals welfare morals you have aside, to be able to source the cheapest meat and eggs.
Be prepared for very simple but repetitive meals, what is your freezer set up like? we have two and couldn't manage our tight budget without them.

growing your own can be expensive and freezer space is precious so be selective on what you grow. i tend you use a lot of things like pea shoots for salads i just buy a 30p box of dried peas from the supermarket and sprout these, no need to buy expensive packs of seeds, talk to other keen gardeners most are happy to give cuttings and seeds, i bagged a rhubarb crown a few years ago from a old boy i was chatting too while out on a walk.

most of all have fun, with your challenge best of luck

System

Hi I will try to reply to all of you best I can.

Rachbc - We worked out the best solution is to do this monthly by going to 3 or 4 different places to buy the things we need at the best value. Also I will be havign a cook day once a month that we will enjoy doing. I think my fiance's parents will probably join in the cook day too as they like that kind of thing. Everything will be cooked for dinners in one go and put into containers (ordered off of Ebay) and into the freezer. IF there are any left of veges (Don't think there will be) we will blanch them and freeze for next time. Also yes we will be using seeds. We already have stuff growing that should produce in spring. Peppers, onions, potatoes, carrots.

craigywv -
We are not vegatarians no and we already have some meat in a few menu options but the meat will hardly be much in each portion at all. The veges I believe are the most important. You can get flour for like 12p a bag here so I may well try some bread of our own... will cost a little more for wholewheat flour. One store does a loaf of brown for 55p which is actually very nice. Your right about the Asian stores though they are fantastic for fresh veg and fruit and lentils and beans and rice etc. Thanks for your advice.

Gigervamp -
I don't know where they got it from "Think just £1 per day when a single apple costs 40p"! What a load of rubbish! Maybe if you live in West London. And living on sausages it not healthy haha.

Aril - Thanks I have briefly looked but added the link to bookmarks to check out.

chirpychick - Thanks for your reply. You sound like your doing a terrific job keep it up. Fro Christmas we will be at Philips parents anyway. If we do have to cook for others we will be cooking them something we have had on our menu and sticking to the 50p per head! This is important as it also then shows to guests that it can be done.

Patchwork Quilt - We aren't just getting all the cheapest possible junk we can. Me and Philip have always tried to be healthy eaters. We certainly wouldn't starve. Along the way we will be helping small local grocer business. Also tinned bake beans are NOT on the menu hehe. Thanks for your support.

quintwins - He's actually as excited about it as I am.

gibson123 - Our long term plans are to live overseas in areas of poverty. Any money saved will be going into our 10 year goal savings account. Which also 10% of our wages does. This is to enable us to buy land and property overseas in which we can offer locals employment by working over the lands vegetation and take produce home with them to their family. Which is also part of my honours degree... to learn... understand and be better equipped.

grumpybear - Hehe Farmfoods is certainly not on the agenda or Iceland. Better to make these things yourself huh? Funny you say about allotment. I have a large back garden and I have applied to the council here for allotment space.

ginnyknit - Thanks for your support it's really appreciated . Porridge is a deffo 75p a KG in ASDA 100% rolled Oats. Already eat them everyday. I will keep posting. I have written it on the calender to keep updating you all.

Popperwell - That's my worry too a huge inflation lol.

tori.k - It's £1 a day for the both of us so like 50p a day per head. Also our freezer is pretty A ok. We will cook our meals for dinners in one go. Any veg that grows I will blanch and freeze... if I run out of space it will go in Philips folks chest of freezers haha.

craigywv

if your worried about inflation start to put away a few tins a week wont cost musc, 1 week couple bags of flour 1 week some sugar i have over 60 tins of tescos tinned c reamed rice bit of an obsession of mine but its a meal hot or cold with blob of jam/dried fruit. i saying start putting away now but i dont know if thats possible if you have already started your £1 a day challenge still could be maybe done though if you take out say 30.00 and buy your own stock which as you need it you buy bAck off yourself sounds complicated but there is a thread on here for that purpose its called second purse challenge have a look it might suit you good luck

Popperwell

Well done on your long post Newfoundscotty
That is a great goal to aim for if it comes off...However long it takes it will wonderful the day that you come on here and say it is happening.

I guess whilst it is lovely to be secure and know all is safe, things do change sometimes in seconds, what's that saying about "Best laid plans" and sometimes a challenge is good.

At least here though we may all have a different reason or situation to deal with, we are all doing the best that we can and hopefully are able to give tips to make things easier, solutions to some problems and support.

System

I shall return 1st December with an update. AS this is our first day. I have put it on my calender to write something. Thanks everyone.

optimistic

This sounds interesting and I wish you well with your challenge.
Have you thought about growing chives? They die down over winter but then come back the following year and you can snip away to your hearts content all summer - good for salads, stir fries and putting into soups and casseroles. often theyre reduced at this time of year and can also be split so you end up with many plants,
Good luck and keep us posted.;)

tori.k

I take my hat off, but I hate to admit my thinking is 50p per person a day is setting yourself up to fail, your calorie intake should be at minimum 2500 a day but if your planning on growing a lot of your own you will need more than this, I struggle this year on £1 a day PP especially thru the dark half of the year and don't think i can replete it next due to the rise in just about everything, summer is not so bad but the garden wasn't as productive this year compared to most. and we are about as far south(west) as you can get, I look forward to your costings. may be worth you having a look at frugaldom an amazing woman that runs her whole household on 4k a year, if your looking to save money towards your dream that would be a great place to start like here their is a wealth of information and ideas to make the most of everything.

System

tori.k wrote: »

I take my hat off, but I hate to admit my thinking is 50p per person a day is setting yourself up to fail, your calorie intake should be at minimum 2500 a day but if your planning on growing a lot of your own you will need more than this, I struggle this year on £1 a day PP especially thru the dark half of the year and don't think i can replete it next due to the rise in just about everything, summer is not so bad but the garden wasn't as productive this year compared to most. and we are about as far south(west) as you can get, I look forward to your costings. may be worth you having a look at frugaldom an amazing woman that runs her whole household on 4k a year, if your looking to save money towards your dream that would be a great place to start like here their is a wealth of information and ideas to make the most of everything.

Setting it up £1 per head is pointless as we already live on much less than that anyway.