Eating on a Budget of $15 a Week
September 10, 2007 by Greg
Last week, with a basket full of delectable treats from my neighborhood health food store, I easily rang up $50 for only a few days worth of food. A closer look at my $4 box of cereal, $9 yogurt covered almonds, and $3 mango orange juice, it’s easy to see where my money is going. With just those 3 items, I’m already over this guys one time food budget of $15 a week.
His tips:
- Never allow leftovers to go bad.
- Supplement with inexpensive foods.
- Shop in the produce aisle.
- Never eat out.
- Have substantial cereals for breakfast.
- Avoid junk food.
- Avoid pre-cooked foods.
- Buy a basic paperback cookbook.
- Don’t buy beverages.
While he goes to the extreme of frugal eating, there are tips in there I can utilize right away. I would welcome knocking $10-$20 off my weekly grocery bill choosing to spend that money elsewhere.
Read How to Feed Yourself for $15 a Week for the rest of the information.
One trick I’ve often used is scanning my receipt when I get home. I look for the highest priced item. Regardless of what it is, I make a mental note to either eliminate it, or substitute it with something cheaper on my next visit. Doing this repeatedly has allowed me to realize the true ’staples’ needed for weekly feedings-eliminating most impulse buys. My current budget for (non-restaurant) food then hovers around $35 for approx 6-7 days worth of healthy eats. Not bad.
Not bad at all. Good trick.