Budget-conscious shopper reveals tips and recipes for meals as low as $3.83 per serving
- Replies 4
We all love getting a great deal, especially when it comes to food! No matter our budget, we can all appreciate the value of making the most out of our meals without compromising on taste or nutrition.
Recently, we came across an inspiring story of a Queenslander who has become a master of frugal meal prepping.
Meet Bec Hardgrave, a 27-year-old fitness coach who follows an 80/20 diet approach. This means she eats healthily 80 per cent of the time and allows herself treats for the remaining 20 per cent.
Not only does she prioritise her health, but she also manages her finances smartly by following a few simple tricks.
Bec's 'cheap eats' rules are straightforward and effective. She keeps her grocery spending in check by shopping for items that are on special, making use of pantry staples, and opting for cheaper cuts of meat.
She also chooses to buy home-brand products, which are usually more affordable, and she also opts for frozen fruits and vegetables, which are both cost-effective and convenient.
By sticking to these practical and easy-to-follow guidelines, Bec shows us all that it's possible to enjoy delicious and nutritious meals without breaking the bank.
If you're curious about the meals she prepares on a budget, let's take a closer look at one of her favourite recipes: a delicious and cost-effective creamy tomato meatball pasta dish. This recipe is perfect for serving 4-6 people and costs only $3.83 per serving.
Here's what she includes in this dish:
'This is a super easy meal prep idea that's both budget and macro-friendly,' she said. 'Feel free to keep the spinach separate so when you reheat it, it's nice and fresh.'
An ideal meal for entertaining, this budget-friendly dish costs just $15.35 to make in total.
And that's not the only delicious and budget-friendly meal that Bec can whip up. Another favourite of hers is gyros-loaded fries, made with just seven simple ingredients. What's even better is that this dish can serve two people, all for under $10 in total.
To demonstrate just how skilled she is at stretching her budget, Bec recently shared the exact amount she spent on groceries to feed two adults.
Her shopping cart was filled with an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables, including baby spinach, mandarins, capsicum, onions, mushrooms, and avocados. She also stocked up on some essential pantry items such as almonds, chips, bread, eggs, and wholemeal muffins.
In addition to that, her meat selection included lean pork mince, beef rump steak, and chicken breasts, along with a 1kg bag of frozen winter vegetables for a balanced meal. To add some creaminess and flavour to her dishes, she picked up light-thickened cream and parmesan cheese.
Out of the 23 items she purchased, only two were pre-made products. Despite this, her entire grocery bill amounted to just $82.14.
Needless to say, Bec's frugal grocery shop impressed many, with some comparing their weekly bills to hers.
'If this was in New Zealand, that would be $200,' one woman commented.
'Two adults, five dinners, five lunches, seven breakfasts and snacks at $145,' came the response from another.
But while Bec and her boyfriend are making the most out of their weekly grocery spending, she admits that her meal prep alone won't fill them up for the entire week.
'We also have staple stuff already at home,' she says. 'So not counting rice, tuna, beans, yoghurt, oats and other snacks we already have, along with spreads, butter and spices.'
'We will probably have two meals out.'
With the increasing food prices, meal prepping becomes a highly practical approach.
Embrace your creativity in the kitchen and remember the 'bulk buying' rule: purchase a substantial amount of a discounted food item each week and utilise it in various meals throughout the week (and even beyond).
By following this method, you can enjoy delicious, nutritious, and budget-friendly meals that fit well into your weekly budget.
We genuinely hope you found this article and the accompanying recipes helpful! If you have any other money-saving tips, advice, or recipes to share, please let us know in the comments below—we're eager to hear from you!
Recently, we came across an inspiring story of a Queenslander who has become a master of frugal meal prepping.
Meet Bec Hardgrave, a 27-year-old fitness coach who follows an 80/20 diet approach. This means she eats healthily 80 per cent of the time and allows herself treats for the remaining 20 per cent.
Not only does she prioritise her health, but she also manages her finances smartly by following a few simple tricks.
Bec Hardgrave has been able to keep her grocery bills down every week. Credit: TikTok/Bec Hardgrave.
Bec's 'cheap eats' rules are straightforward and effective. She keeps her grocery spending in check by shopping for items that are on special, making use of pantry staples, and opting for cheaper cuts of meat.
She also chooses to buy home-brand products, which are usually more affordable, and she also opts for frozen fruits and vegetables, which are both cost-effective and convenient.
By sticking to these practical and easy-to-follow guidelines, Bec shows us all that it's possible to enjoy delicious and nutritious meals without breaking the bank.
If you're curious about the meals she prepares on a budget, let's take a closer look at one of her favourite recipes: a delicious and cost-effective creamy tomato meatball pasta dish. This recipe is perfect for serving 4-6 people and costs only $3.83 per serving.
Here's what she includes in this dish:
- 65 cents worth of penne pasta (240g),
- $6 for lean pork mince (500g),
- $2.50 for traditional pasta sauce,
- $2.80 for light-thickened cream,
- $2 for parmesan cheese,
- and $1.40 for baby spinach (100g).
'This is a super easy meal prep idea that's both budget and macro-friendly,' she said. 'Feel free to keep the spinach separate so when you reheat it, it's nice and fresh.'
An ideal meal for entertaining, this budget-friendly dish costs just $15.35 to make in total.
And that's not the only delicious and budget-friendly meal that Bec can whip up. Another favourite of hers is gyros-loaded fries, made with just seven simple ingredients. What's even better is that this dish can serve two people, all for under $10 in total.
To demonstrate just how skilled she is at stretching her budget, Bec recently shared the exact amount she spent on groceries to feed two adults.
Her shopping cart was filled with an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables, including baby spinach, mandarins, capsicum, onions, mushrooms, and avocados. She also stocked up on some essential pantry items such as almonds, chips, bread, eggs, and wholemeal muffins.
In addition to that, her meat selection included lean pork mince, beef rump steak, and chicken breasts, along with a 1kg bag of frozen winter vegetables for a balanced meal. To add some creaminess and flavour to her dishes, she picked up light-thickened cream and parmesan cheese.
Out of the 23 items she purchased, only two were pre-made products. Despite this, her entire grocery bill amounted to just $82.14.
Needless to say, Bec's frugal grocery shop impressed many, with some comparing their weekly bills to hers.
'If this was in New Zealand, that would be $200,' one woman commented.
'Two adults, five dinners, five lunches, seven breakfasts and snacks at $145,' came the response from another.
But while Bec and her boyfriend are making the most out of their weekly grocery spending, she admits that her meal prep alone won't fill them up for the entire week.
'We also have staple stuff already at home,' she says. 'So not counting rice, tuna, beans, yoghurt, oats and other snacks we already have, along with spreads, butter and spices.'
'We will probably have two meals out.'
With the increasing food prices, meal prepping becomes a highly practical approach.
Embrace your creativity in the kitchen and remember the 'bulk buying' rule: purchase a substantial amount of a discounted food item each week and utilise it in various meals throughout the week (and even beyond).
By following this method, you can enjoy delicious, nutritious, and budget-friendly meals that fit well into your weekly budget.
We genuinely hope you found this article and the accompanying recipes helpful! If you have any other money-saving tips, advice, or recipes to share, please let us know in the comments below—we're eager to hear from you!
.png){kind=icon}
