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Original poster

£11 a week food shop

165 replies

Novynu · 22/04/2023 10:33

Looking for very cheap meal ideas. I do eat meat but meat is probably out of budget.

I have around £11 per week for one persons food for the next 5 weeks.

So far I have spaghetti and sauce
Cous cous with a few vegetables thrown in
Batch cook salad to eat over few days lunch

TIA ☺️

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Fluffywabbits · 22/04/2023 10:34

Lentil and carrot soup is cheap and filling. Also freezes well.

ConkerBonkers · 22/04/2023 10:36

Time to raid your cupboards and work out what you can buy with £11 to supplement. Bread and jam could do a few breakfasts and lunches for example, then you just have your evening meals to think about. A tin of tuna, bag of pasta, and pesto from Aldi would come to about £3 and would do at least four/ five evening meals.

MartinFowler · 22/04/2023 10:36

Go to the shop at whoopsie time, smaller shops are often better for this. Bread and veg from as little as 5p. Also olio app for free food. Foodbank?

namechange3394 · 22/04/2023 10:38

Do you have the £55 now, or will you be getting £11 each week?

If the £55 now, and you've a freezer, you could spend on some ingredients for batch cooking a big (vegetable/lentil if you don't think you can afford mince) chilli and a curry, each of which would feed you a couple of times a week with a side of rice.

Porridge is cheap. Make with water not milk for extra cheapness. Beans on toast for lunch.

NewBootsAndRanty · 22/04/2023 10:39

If it's just a temporary thing, then Iceland food club? Repayments are £10/week.

www.fairforyou.co.uk/food-club-card

KnickerlessParsons · 22/04/2023 10:41

Loads of filling soups and bread and butter.
Soup is best when made from manky veg - it has more flavour, and you can make soup from any veg combination. Throw in some lentils to make it more filling.

Willmafrockfit · 22/04/2023 10:41

do you have red lentils?
food in the cupboards/freezer?

Willmafrockfit · 22/04/2023 10:42

so you have £55 for 5 weeks?

ncuser3456 · 22/04/2023 10:45

Are you restricted on energy use too? What’s in your cupboard already? Do you have the £55 to hand already or only have access to £11pw?

If you have all the £55, buy one big bag of rice 5kg is about £10, fresh onions keep in a dark cupboard, and garlic powder. Each day rice and one fresh vegetable (e.g. courgette, aubergine, tomato, spinach, potato, tin chickpeas, oven roasted squash) with onion and garlic powder sautéed - portions should be enough for 2 or 3 meals. In the morning rice with 2 eggs for breakfast (12 eggs is about £3). So £15 for rice, onions and garlic, £15 over the five weeks for eggs, and then £5 left each week for veg, which I can do from local shops that sell food for African and Asian cultures - things like eddo cooked like potato, and fried plantain is filling as well. Supplement with spices and sauces from cupboard.

Crabwoman · 22/04/2023 10:51

Do you have a 'pay what you can afford' social supermarket for staples?

harrissa · 22/04/2023 11:01

I don't think it's manageable. I remember a student friend who tried to live on £11 a week for food...in 1995. She bought out of date food from a stall somewhere, and lots of rice, and applied for a hardship fund.

I think it can't be done. You can self refer to a food bank.

mamnotmum · 22/04/2023 11:01

Soup. Bag of 1kg frozen veg - 72p. Stock cubes - 60p for 12. 12 bread buns - £1.30

That should do 3 meals for 4. For less than £3.

Then pasta dishes. Basic sandwiches. The fruit/veg boxes for £2.

Original poster
Novynu · 22/04/2023 11:03

It’ll be £11 each week. I have already used everything out of cupboards and freezer over the past few weeks.

The closest community pantry store is not that local to me and will cost me bus fare to get there.

I have applied for the Iceland card but I don’t think I will be approved as my credit is the worst.

Ill definitely plan out some soups.

OP posts:
Wazzzzzuuuuuuup · 22/04/2023 11:03

Can you tell us what you already have, like any dried goods, tins, oil or butter spreads, herbs and spices.

I think it can be done, but would be able to make some suggestions for meals if you can give us a bit more info

ginlovingqueen · 22/04/2023 11:05

Do you have a local surplus food larder? You can
Usually fill up a bag for £2

Original poster
Novynu · 22/04/2023 11:06

harrissa · 22/04/2023 11:01

I don't think it's manageable. I remember a student friend who tried to live on £11 a week for food...in 1995. She bought out of date food from a stall somewhere, and lots of rice, and applied for a hardship fund.

I think it can't be done. You can self refer to a food bank.

It isn’t really manageable. I do often have to go hungry sometimes but that just is what it is with being very poor like I am. I’m not looking for sympathy or anything as I am used to my reality but it is my reality all the same. I just keep pushing through ☺️

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 22/04/2023 11:07

Get some stock cubes, and save all veg peelings and left overs for soup.

Original poster
Novynu · 22/04/2023 11:08

Wazzzzzuuuuuuup · 22/04/2023 11:03

Can you tell us what you already have, like any dried goods, tins, oil or butter spreads, herbs and spices.

I think it can be done, but would be able to make some suggestions for meals if you can give us a bit more info

I have an onion, one portion of dried spaghetti, some oil and salt and pepper.

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 22/04/2023 11:08

Try the cheap noodles, a friend of mine lived on them when she was a student.

ginlovingqueen · 22/04/2023 11:09

Can somebody give you a lift to the pantry? Contact the organisers and ask if they can deliver to you? There's loads of
People who volunteer at these things. Maybe someone can help you ?

Original poster
Novynu · 22/04/2023 11:09

@mamnotmum do you have any shop suggestions that are best for frozen veg bags? I have a Sainsbury’s and a Tesco local to me.

OP posts:
DustyLee123 · 22/04/2023 11:09

Pasta is nice if you put some butter/oil and black pepper on it.

ginlovingqueen · 22/04/2023 11:09

Jacket potato and beans is a good cheap and filling meal

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 22/04/2023 11:10

Novynu · 22/04/2023 11:03

It’ll be £11 each week. I have already used everything out of cupboards and freezer over the past few weeks.

The closest community pantry store is not that local to me and will cost me bus fare to get there.

I have applied for the Iceland card but I don’t think I will be approved as my credit is the worst.

Ill definitely plan out some soups.

With the food pantry could you walk there and bus back?

Have you checked any loyalty cards to see if you have any points to use?

Have you searched for local food banks?
Do you have any Sikh gudhwaras nearby, they often have community meals that anyone can go to?

£11 a week will not be enough for even 2 good meals a day, so you are going to need to find a way to get either free food or extra money.

Is there anything you can sell?
If you look at your local council jobs are there any poll station jobs going for beginning of May elections, not sure how quickly they pay but a possible way to add a days extra money?