2 people, 3 meals a day, 7 days a week, for 3 weeks - shopping spend £78.67

So, here is the total cost of a 3 week shop in the Barker-Mills household.
To be honest, this is one of our expensive shops, because its the arduous buying of household essentials that pushes the cost up.

For example, this month, we had to buy the cat litter, the big pack of cat food, cat biscuits, washing up liquid, sponges, shampoo, the monster pack of 16 loo rolls etc.

So in reality, our FOOD spend, was in fact £59.70.
What makes this budget so miraculous is that we only eat free range meat products, this month it's two packs of Asda's free range chicken legs and thighs - for us, thats enough ethical meat for a fair few meals.
Combined with organic dairy products, better for the cows, better for the farmers.


That makes our daily food spend on average is £2.84, making it £1.42 each per day.

Is it possible to feed two people on such a cost per day?
Of course, no two days are the same, so some days we will have a budget dinner, other days dinner comprises of leftovers, occasionally we have a more lavish Sunday lunch made with chicken thighs etc.

It is all about clever cooking, and making portions go further.

An average day?

Porridge for two people - thats Asda smartprice porridge oats at just 75p for 1kg, it makes anything "oat"based for breakfast an immediate cheap eat.

50g per portion porridge oats - 7.5p
200ml milk - 13p

Breakfast for two 20.5p

Don't fancy porridge again but you've got loads of oats left?
How about breakfast bars?

Breakfast Bars

50g mixed fruit and nuts (£0.14)

150g porridge oats (£0.10)

50g brown sugar (£0.10)

50g butter (£0.20)

100g golden syrup (£0.25)

It's as simple as mixing wet ingredients into dry ingredients, pressing into a baking tray, baking at 180c for 10 minutes and then leaving to cool.

Melt peanut butter and drizzle over for something special

Makes 15 bars

So whats for lunch?

Hummus and crudites? A portion of hummus 50g at 21p, a chopped carrot 7p.
Healthy, snacky lunch = 28p

Not robust enough? How about a tuna salad?

70g Asda mixed salad, 27p
1/2 a tin of tuna 34p
Lunch cost 61p

Romantic dinner for 2?

Posh Fish Cakes – makes 4 (serves 4 as a starter, 2 as a main)

1 white frozen white fish fillet (£0.33)

5 frozen mash pellets / 1 serving (£0.14) OR 1 tin of new potatoes (£0.15)

1 spring onion (£0.07)

2-3 stalks of coriander (homegrown, taken from herb box)

1 fresh chilli (homegrown, taken from herb box)

For the coating

1 egg (£0.13)

50g breadcrumbs (homemade, using stale bread, blended)          

£0.67 total cost

Defrost fish and potatoes.

Flake fish and season with salt and pepper. Chop spring onions, chilli & coriander. Mix all the above into the mash potato.

Shape into patties.

Beat the egg in a small bowl, in a separate bowl have your breadcrumbs.

Dip your patties one by one, first into egg, then into your breadcrumbs.

Fry in a lightly oiled pan until crisp and golden.

Serve with side salad of lettuce and cucumber.