The Challenge: J $1500 or less

Just like anyone experiencing difficulties during the recession, I am in a financial mess. My finances are seriously out of whack and I’m basically living week to week off my lunch money. Not to mention that I’m indebted to a friend of mine. So what’s a girl to do? Challenge myself to spend less and save more of course; and so that is exactly what I’m trying to do.

The Challenge: How can I use only $1500 Jamaican dollars and get a healthy, yet filling 5 days worth of lunch?

 How I’m doing it:

1.    1)    Every week I plan a menu of what I’d like to eat for the week. Same thing or different things for the relevant days, it really doesn’t matter as long as you can be creative with your ingredients.

2.    2) Then, I make a list of items that I intend to buy at the supermarket. I follow the list and try to avoid impulse buying which is a serious cause of overspending for most shoppers.

3.    3)  I try to buy some things in bulk or excess. You know the things that you know you will more likely need for the month at the beginning of the month so you don’t have to buy it at a later date. This usually works out to be cheaper than buying the same thing every week.

4.   4)  And finally, after cashing I keep a track of my expenses by keeping the relevant receipts and noting the prices to see if I can get value for money elsewhere.

This week’s ingredients were:

From CariHome Supermarket, Manor Park:

·         1 box, Reggae Jammin’ Burgers- J $349.69 +tax

·         2, Breadbasket Marble Cake 170g- J $93.75*2= J $187.50 (This was an impulse buy. See how much I could’ve saved? Almost J $200

Total: J $598.39

From Hi-Lo Food Stores, Manor Park:

·         3, Dr Lushus Wheat Cheesebread- J74.03*3= J $ 222.09 (-J $6.67 discount)

·         1 pack, Bulk fries-J $95.27 +tax

·         3, Noel-Poz Club Crackers- J $13.95*3= J $41.85 +tax (-J $1.26 discount)

·         1 pack, Grace Macaroni- J $58.93 +tax

Total: J $444.30

Grand total for the week: J $1042.69

The Menu:

So from the looks of my ingredients I guess you’ve figured out that I plan to make some burgers and fries this week. But where’s the lettuce and tomatoes? Well remember that bulk shopping I spoke about earlier? That’s where that come in. Things like vegetables that you should use often due to their high vitamin and mineral content, great nutritional value and not to mention filling effects, I like to buy at the beginning of the month. I also plan to do a pasta dish using the macaroni, the burgers and vegetables on some of the days.  Later this week I’ll share with you pictures of how it turned out.

Other tips of the trade include: Finding out if your supermarket has a customer loyalty program or has magna rewards. Hi-lo food stores has both so I tend to get discounts when I shop. It may not be a lot but it helps. I also tend to buy snacks for those during the day or late night munches every two weeks and I usually buy low cost, healthier snacks like whole grain crackers or such.

Anyone else care to take the challenge and tell me how it goes? It doesn’t matter which country you’re from, the point is to do budgeted shopping and eat great. Share your stories with me if you do at verdenella@gmail.com.