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AIBU?

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Original poster

To spend £30 a month on ALL food and drink?

409 replies

Jumell · 01/12/2024 12:38

I’m single and live alone. I want to set myself a good budget and admit I’ve overspent /been wasteful in the past.

As a single adult female living alone - is £30 per month on food doable do you think ? Includes eating out etc

OP posts:
thepariscrimefiles · 01/12/2024 13:05

Does this include toiletries, washing powder etc?

Original poster
Jumell · 01/12/2024 13:05

Branleuse · 01/12/2024 13:02

you could make it so that you dont die of starvation, so doable in that sense, but you wouldnt be able to have any sort of balanced diet or anything interesting.

Whats your meal plan? Have you costed anything up ?
Is this something you need to do for a month or two, or are you thinking longer term?

I admit I’ve been wasteful in the past. My project the past few weeks has made me appreciate things more

OP posts:
eRobin · 01/12/2024 13:05

Your silly budget challenge idea will give you high anxiety levels and health complications in the future. What are you saving up for that is worth more to you than your health? There is no way you’re getting the nutrients your body needs, at the quantity it needs everyday. two portions of oily fish a week, beef and chicken, veg and fruit

WinterBerry7 · 01/12/2024 13:04

Jack Monroe is that you?

Volumedelachanel · 01/12/2024 13:04

WombatStewForTea · 01/12/2024 12:39

Surely you mean per week?!
Weekly could be doable but not if eating out at all

This is what i read it as!!

Please keep a food diary to us if it can be done! * *

needhelpwiththisplease · 01/12/2024 13:03

So you are basically " playing " at living in food poverty?
This is batshit and in extremely poor taste

Goody2ShoesAndTheFilthyBeast · 01/12/2024 13:03

Maybe. Live off value pasta, tinned tomatoes etc.
Try it and see.

Havalona · 01/12/2024 13:03

Be realistic FGS and set a budget that won't kill you with starvation.

I would manage fine on about 50 a WEEK, but your budget is ridiculous.

However, no doubt you will have all the frugal fairies of Mumsnet helping you achieve your famine goal. Sad really.

Branleuse · 01/12/2024 13:02

you could make it so that you dont die of starvation, so doable in that sense, but you wouldnt be able to have any sort of balanced diet or anything interesting.

Whats your meal plan? Have you costed anything up ?
Is this something you need to do for a month or two, or are you thinking longer term?

WearsBlackEatsChocolateAvoidsPeople · 01/12/2024 13:01

There is a Youtuber called The Budget Foodie.
She is single and does a week's shopping at Lidl, for £10. Basically porridge for breakfast, egg on toast at lunchtime and homemade soup for dinner.

NerdWhoEatsMedlar · 01/12/2024 13:01

So basically to get 1,800 cals a day you need to be able to buy your food for an average of 18 calories per penny.

A loaf of cheap white bread will do trick, but really?

Find me 20 foods that fit that criteria.

Wendysfriend · 01/12/2024 13:01

So you're 20 days in and already over your budget, so you're proved to yourself that it's not possible.

Rafting2022 · 01/12/2024 13:01

So what have you been eating then? Value beans on toast every day? Home made lentil soup? What about breakfasts and lunches?

TheEllisGreyMethod · 01/12/2024 13:00

Jumell · 01/12/2024 12:54

no - only had 1 slice

I’ve actually spent £30 since Tuesday 12th November 🙌

Show quote history

Which is 18 days, not a month and you have gone over budget and used points/freebies? So surely you can see that for a month (an extra 12 days) that it isnt sustainable?

i get the impression that you are proud of yourself, but frankly i find that poor taste when so many people have to live in food poverty. i myself had £8-10 a week at one point and i became very unwell having to eat 21p pasta and pesto 2 meals a day for weeks on end…

eRobin · 01/12/2024 12:59

if it’s just you then budget £65 a week for food. you will then separately need to account for cleaning products, laundry, and toiletries. And then a seperate budget for eating out, which may cost you £15-30 a time

coffeesaveslives · 01/12/2024 12:58

Jumell · 01/12/2024 12:54

no - only had 1 slice

I’ve actually spent £30 since Tuesday 12th November 🙌

Show quote history

But you have another two weeks to go!

mumda · 01/12/2024 12:58

Bear in mind if you're broke you can try for a foodbank referral, community fridges (open to all) or a community food shop where you'll bag lots of food for not very much.
this is one of those but there are other organisations about.
communitygrocery.org.uk/

Some facebook groups I am in

https://www.facebook.com/groups/651859231575794
Feed Yourself for £1 a day

https://www.facebook.com/fyf20quid
Feed your family for about £20 a week.

£1 a day would be really hard.

One of the lovely youtubers has some food challenge videos. They're often a bit off the wall but interesting
https://www.youtube.com/user/AtomicShrimp

Before you continue to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/user/AtomicShrimp

OatFlatWhiteForMePlease · 01/12/2024 12:57

Jumell · 01/12/2024 12:48

Not a wind up but I get what you’re saying it’s important to eat healthy - we can also make the most of Supermarkets starting to reduce prices in evenings

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Do you walk to the supermarket each evening?

I genuinely can’t imagine what you are eating for so little money. I am £3 a week in oat milk alone.

NorthWestWoes · 01/12/2024 12:57

Did anyone else feed you? Did you happen to pop round your mum’s/ mate’s at dinner time?

Original poster
Jumell · 01/12/2024 12:57

Overthebow · 01/12/2024 12:56

So you’ve really spent about £40 including the treats for 19 days. That’s around £60 a month so almost double your challenge budget and a lot more doable. Try actually doing £30 for a month.

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Ok … admittedly fair point

OP posts:
Original poster
Jumell · 01/12/2024 12:56

Oddsquadnumber1 · 01/12/2024 12:53

I think it would be interesting if you wrote up a shopping list for the month?

I can probably do this from memory! But the day I started was Tuesday 12th Nov so it’ll be then ‘til now - I’ve spent under £30

OP posts:
Overthebow · 01/12/2024 12:56

Jumell · 01/12/2024 12:53

Thanks for all your viewpoints. I appreciate them.

This has been my REAL situation :

on Tuesday 12 November I decided to do a money saving challenge.

since that date - so 19 days admittedly not a month - I’ve spent a total of

£29.83 on food.

slight caveats or ‘cheats’ -

I’ve spent £5 worth of Nectar points on food/drink - so ok - make the above figure £34.83 - in reality.

before starting this I had a few teabags and half a jar of instant coffee in - nothing else

havd had free Gregg’s donut and small gift box of chocs - very small box

So you’ve really spent about £40 including the treats for 19 days. That’s around £60 a month so almost double your challenge budget and a lot more doable. Try actually doing £30 for a month.

bluebeck · 01/12/2024 12:55

So what have you eaten?

Eviebeans · 01/12/2024 12:54

How much would you usually spend per month?

Original poster
Jumell · 01/12/2024 12:54

TheLyingBitchintheWardrobe · 01/12/2024 12:52

£30 a week you mean??

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no - only had 1 slice

I’ve actually spent £30 since Tuesday 12th November 🙌

OP posts: