I'm into the last week of my self imposed $10 grocery challenge. It's been fun getting creative with few ingredients, not as difficult as you'd imagine, and has given me ample opportunity to reflect on my eating and spending habits.
I realised that laziness was costing me a lot of money. Our weekend vegetable markets are such good value for money. Sleeping in instead of shopping there meant a much less varied and healthy diet.
Cooking from scratch is also so much cheaper. I was craving pasta this week and at my closest supermarket the budget brand was $1.20 a bag. Instead I grabbed a 99c bag of potatoes that were reduced to clear and made gnocchi just with the addition of a cup of flour. With a tomato and sausage sauce, the gnocchi is enough for 4 meals with potatoes to spare for another 3 meals as a side as well as for soup. Yes, the gnocchi took much longer than boiling a bag of pasta, but it's delicious, I learnt a new skill and it'll be a filling meal.
Something that suprised me was the difference in price and shopping experiences between supermarkets. In my head, Moore Wilsons would seem like the most expensive option but their free range eggs and meat are great value. This week I'm dining on free range roast chicken courtesy of a singular 89c drumstick from their butchery counter. Pak n save is good for basics like grains. From here on in I'll be happy to split my shopping between the market and Moores.
I rediscovered how great pancakes are, for both breakfast and a quick dinner at work. I also discovered how cheap barley is. At under $1 for 500g I'm a little sick of it at the moment but it's so filling and versatile.
Mostly I've discovered a lot about my habits and character that will make sticking to a budget easier for the next 6 months. I am lazy and don't do mornings. Thus packaging meals up straight away and having them in the fridge or freezer is the only way I'll avoid buying food at work. I'm best suited to spending my one night a week off in the kitchen and not have to cook for the rest of the week.
It's handy having a couple of back up meals stashed at work for when you do forget to pack dinner.
I also think challenges like this are fantastic for keeping me focussed - it's making a game out of budgeting.
From next week I'll give myself a little more room to move with a $15 weekly budget, give or take. That will allow for more fruit and cheese - two things I have missed.
