Cheap Meals for Price Rise Complainers
Day 1
Actually, this should be how to live on under $5 a day, but I'm not sure that people would really believe me. So $5 is the goal. I saw it reported a couple of weeks back that some pensioners were going to a charity to buy a $5 lunch meal, and that was all they were eating for the day apparently because it was all they could afford.
So this is day one in the 7 day challenge to show how $5 per day or $35 per week will give you 3 full meals a day, in addition to morning and afternoon tea, and supper. I will even show you where to buy these items.
I really do think these examples are truly amazing.
Breakfast - Total Cost: $.87 cents
Tropical Low Fat Muesli with Milk
150gms Coles Brand Low Fat Muesli
(750gm Packet = $3.50 - Often on special for $3.00)
150mls of Coles or Safeway Home Brand Skim or Regular Milk
(Either UHT $1.09 or 2 litres Regular $2.19)
Morning Tea - Total Cost: $.50 cents
1 x 200gm Fresh Apple
(1 Pink Lady Apple $2.55kg - $.50cents)
Lunch - Total Cost: $1.32
2 sandwiches with tomato and ham
1 x 150gm Tomato ($3.00kg - $.45cents)
2 Slices of Ham 50gms ($13.95kg- $.70cents)
4 Slices of Bread (Home Brand White - $1.09 per loaf - $.17 cents)
Afternoon Tea - Total Cost: $.11cents
2 Safeway Home Brand Scotch Finger Biscuits
Scotch Fingers (.79 cents per packet (14) - .11cents)
Dinner - Total Cost: $1.27
Crumbed Fish with 3 Vegetables
1 x Coles Home Brand Frozen Crumbed Fish ($1.99 (6 pieces) - $.33ents)
1 x 150gm Fresh Brushed Potato (Mashed or Boiled) (1.55kg - $.24cents)
1 x 100 gm Fresh Carrot (Boiled) (1.99kg - $.20cents)
1 x half tin Coles Brand Baby Peas (.99cents tin - $.50cents)
Dessert/Supper - Total Cost: $.21cents
Toast with Jam
2 Slices of Bread (Home Brand White - $1.09 per loaf - $.09cents
Spread of Jam (Home Brand Jam - $1.39 per Jar - $.12cents)
Total Cost for 3 Meals and 3 Snacks: $4.28
Now we need to take into account that these meals will likely be accompanied by tea or coffee, with or without sugar. That will boost the meals up by at most another 30 cents for the day.
But we should also factor in that the meals above are very generous. Many wont want 2 sandwiches for lunch, or as many snacks, or as full a dinner. So $4.28 should be the maximum you should pay.
This is day one. Stay tuned for the next 6 days. The menu will be varied, and as always with meals on this page, they are all low in fat, high in fibre, protein and vitamins.
About Just Grumpy
3 comments
These are some great tips, and the meals actually do sound pretty tasty.
Great topic. I've been trying to live on under $5 a day for a while now, while also carefully calculating that I'm getting a balanced diet based on whole grains, plenty of fruits and veggies, and a somewhat larger amount of protein than the average person (I'm an athlete). My suggestions include: replacing bread with cheap bulk grains (grits and oatmeal, in my case), eating mostly frozen veggies (available cheap, and about as nutritious as fresh from what I've read), and developing a liking for sardines and kippers (packed with all kinds of excellent nutrients, including plenty of calcium and protein). Also, always buy the cheapest fruit, which generally means "eating with the season"--not such a bad thing. When I calculate my costs, I'm usually around $4, including three cups of tea during the day. The longer I've kept at it, the easier it is.
One plus: I've found it keeps you lean. It's hard to buy enough regular food to be nutritious AND have enough of the $5 for junk food. Generally my splurging involves putting some sugar in a glass of milk or making cinnamon and sugar oatmeal. :)
This is a great post!
I know Ive done similar when on a tight budget.
Its scary how lazy/indulgent we are when you think about it.
Post a Comment