One Week-ish of meals for two for $100*

22 Aug

I am in my “We have food at home” era as it feels like everything is getting more expensive by the day. I am someone who has lived out of home from 18 (which feels like it would be impossible to do now) and since then I have been teaching myself ways that I to eat well and affordably.

Because knowing how to cook well has allowed me to afford the things that bring me joy. Saving money by cooking dinners and work lunches has meant that there is time and money for wines with friends, Pilates classes and for you watching at home tickets to Club Sup.

Knowing how to conquer your meal prep is also hacking your finances so that you can actually enjoy life and not feel like you are constantly grinding and under financial pressure makes everything better. I know you know it. I also want to raise the notion that cooking is mediation as it forces you to get off your phone and out of your head into a recipe. Don’t be scared, embrace it!

I want to first start with saying that keeping jars or tins of olives, tomatoes, capers, pickles, vegetables and anchovies on hand will forever be the way to add life into anything. I also want to add that I keep a good base of flours, salt, butter and oils on the go and buy in bulk wherever I can/afford

Is it a tomato pasta with all of the above with a fat grating of parm on a Friday/Saturday night pre or post meetings friends out for a wine? All of these things can and will last you a very long time. They are something that I have relied on heavily throughout my 20’s and I still do because over the years they have remained affordable in comparison to other ingredients. They do so much of the heavy lifting in sauces, pastas or salads that you almost shouldn’t live without a few jars.

Ok now that is out of the way the other week I set myself a challenge to see how much a grocery shop of just over $100 could feed myself and my partner. How many meals could we get out of it and how long would that last us in between our busy schedules?

The answer is almost 10 days and about 10 meals, with some able to be stretched our for lunches for the next day which is a win.

My major tip is to avoid either of the larger supermarkets and try and find a grocer or a market. Nearly always markets and independent grocers provide you with good market prices.

I am sure you a thinking that’s impossible although I actually shopped this list in my local area of (Toorak… we are here for the cheap rent) and went to a butcher and a grocer that present as being rather high end… Despite that I was still able to procure this list of ingredients for just either side of $100.

Across two people for 10 meals its $5 a meal.

There is a lot here so it’s being split over two parts because its also how I cooked it , over 10 days in and out of our busy schedules. Our local grocer has some of the freshest fruit and vege going with the bunch of cavolo nero lasting me two weeks in the fridge.

The Shopping List