Cooking On A Budget
As a student, you may find managing your money is tricky, but that does not mean you need to eat poorly. A diet of baked beans, noodles and pasta is not exactly healthy!
Living on that student budget does not mean you can not eat tasty healthy meals; you just need to shop clever and think about your money.
You will probably find that you do not have that much disposable income, so you do not want to be spending on fancy cooking equipment or things you do not actually need. Does your oven have a grill setting? Why buy a toaster then? If you are moving into student accommodation with 4 or 5 other people do you really all need to buy the same pots and pans? You will soon run out of cupboard space if you do. Try getting a list together so you can all contribute different equipment. Baking trays and casserole dishes, these are great for one pot dishes and save on washing up every pan in the house.
Adding flavour to your meals does not have to cost the earth either. Store bought cupboard essentials such as salt, pepper, stock cubes, dried herbs and spices will really bring your meals to life (buy supermarket own brands, they are much cheaper than big brands and still last as long).
Learn to plan your meals, this keeps your spending on track and if you can buy items that can be used for more than one meal. Bulk buy things, chicken breasts, separate them and freeze them, mincemeat, portion it up and freeze this too. If you know what you are buying for your meals, there will also be less waste.
Do not shop daily. Small everyday trips to the supermarket end up costing you more in the long run. Do a weekly shop and make sure you have checked your cupboards so you know what you need, if you stick to the list it will help you keep within budget.
Batch cook your meals; this will save you time on those nights when you just do not have time to cook. Make your own lunches – simple maths tells you it is cheaper, £2 for a shop bought sandwich, £10 a week! You can get a loaf of bread for less than £1 and it will make at least 15 sandwiches. If you freeze your bread too and only defrost what you need, it will last longer.
When you are near the end of the week, just before you are due to do another shop, try one of those websites or apps like Supercook that allow you to put in the ingredients you have in your cupboards. Hey presto they will suggest a recipe and there is no need to shop early!
When you do your shopping, look for bargains. Buy one get one free is not a bargain unless you need the item in the first place. Sometimes, items are close to their use by date so are being sold off cheaper – if you can freeze it on the day then buy it if it is on your list of course.
Take a little time out to plan and budget each week and you can be eating healthy, tasty meals that have not killed your wallet and who knows you might realise you enjoy cooking.
We hope you have enjoyed this blog, ‘Cooking on a Budget’. If you need any assistance in finding the right student property in Sheffield please do not hesitate to contact us.
