Budge it

[j4]

I don't know what to do about budgeting for food. sion_a and I have been sharing evening meals, and basically he's been paying for pretty much everything, which is clearly unfair; but when I suggested trying to allocate a set amount for food he was unhappy about the idea & said he'd prefer to go back to the way we used to do it -- on a completely ad hoc basis, buying food roughly once a week but often more, and sort of taking turns to pay. I can understand why he wouldn't want to do that -- there's no reason why he should have to go without everything he wants just because I'm skint -- but I don't think I can cope with that kind of system and still claw my finances back to a sensible point.

On the other hand, I have no idea how to budget for feeding just one person, because more or less ever since I've lived out I've been sponging off one boyfriend or another, and cooking for at least two people. Basically I'm just not used to living a single life, but it's about time I learned.

How much do people think is a sensible amount of money to allocate for a week's food (lunches and evening meals) for one?

For ages I've been eating at the pub on Thursdays with the rest of the crowd -- is it stupid to try to build that into a budget? (The pub food isn't expensive, but it's still eating-out rather than eating-in. Last night's meal cost £3.25, and that's not quite the cheapest option.)


So far this week I have spent the following:

£ 1.19   5 avocados and 2 bananas
£ 0.99   1 bag of new potatoes
£ 3.25   meal at the pub
£ 2.40   1 pint of beer
£15.00   karate lesson

The potatoes and avocados between them have made lots of salads for lunches. I feel like I've been reasonably good about money, but the evening meals have mostly been covered by stuff that sion_a's bought, so really I'm just sponging still. :-(

Bank balance is looking more healthy, but there's still £86 owed to a friend to come out of that -- and no, I can't pay back in instalments, I just want to clear the debt in one go -- and money for a birthday present for somebody else. Salary comes through in less than a week now, but I know I mustn't see that as the point when I can start spending money again!

Food tonight is sorted: I'm working a shift at the pub so I'll have my usual sandwich or bowl of chips. And more money! Hurrah.

Comments

[vyvyan.livejournal.com]

I can feed two of us on about £15-20 a week. I buy staples from a supermarket (bread, marg, pasta, cheese, tinned tomatoes, quorn - all ultra-economy brand where possible) where they're cheaper; fresh fruit and vegetables from the market (because they're cheaper than the supermarket, and actually taste of something); and other stuff (spices, rice, milk, tinned fruit) from the assorted "ethnic" small shops on Mill Road (because they're cheaper and nicer than from supermarkets). I cook everything from scratch (well, ok, I don't usually make my own bread), basically never buy snacks or desserts or treats, and always make a list of what I need before I go out shopping and only buy that.

I should say that this doesn't include alcohol, which we both spend far too much on. Still, 3 bottles for £7 at Londis is possibly about the cheapest way to do it.

When I was an undergraduate I lived largely on packet soup, tea without milk, and toast with peanut butter. That was very cheap (£5 a week?), but I doubt it was particularly good for me :-)