It's less than 8 months until I head off on my big OE, take two. I'm trying to cut back on expenses so my savings account grows a little faster.
Recently I went caffeine free for 4 weeks to nip that addiction in the bud. I love coffee, but it's definitely healthier for my budget to not need it and just to enjoy a good one every now and then.
My next challenge beginning today is to spend $10 on groceries a week for the next 8 weeks. Our flat account covers cleaning products so this is purely to be spent on food.
The fact I'm not starting with an empty pantry will help, but it's still going to be interesting coming up with varied, healthy meals on that budget.
Here's the basics I'm starting with:
● 1/2 packet milk powder
● rolled oats
● 1/2 packet rice
● 500g masa
● Dried kidney beans
● Flour
● 1x egg
● 1/2 packet soup mix
● Baking basics like sugar & baking soda
● Frozen spinach
● yeast
● Dried herbs & seasonings
● Leftover fruit and veg from last week - 2x persimmon, 1x tamarillo, onions, 3x cloves garlic, 2x purple carrots, 1x potato, 1x bag of yams
Week 1, Day 1:
Put some soup on at 3am before going to sleep. 1/4 packet soup mix, carrots, yams, potato. Baked 1x loaf on bread in the breadmaker.
Went shopping at the vege market with my crisp $10 note. Here's what it bought.
● 1/2 dozen free range eggs
● 1/4 pumpkin
● 4× broccoli
● 1x large apple
● 3× mandarins
● 3x golden kiwifruit
With $2 leftover to take to the supermarket for cooking oil.
It's going to be fun turning that into some interesting meals.
