This was illuminating, Serina.

I guess this is the tip of the iceberg, in that you have to factor in soap, loo rolls, paracetamol, sanitary products etc. as well. We really have no idea, do we?

Thank you.

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Serina, thank you for the article and for the experience.

You brought back memories for me when I was growing up as a teenager in a war torn Bosnia and Herzegovina (now independent country previously part of Yugoslavia). We take so many things for granted in Australia, including food...I hope your article will be eye opening for people with soul and those who want to reflect.

Blessings

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I would have swapped those instant noodles for rice. Those fried noodles are not filling at all.

Also TVP is 50% protein and cheap. Also a huge bag of dried lentils would have lasted you weeks for $3.

A small cheap bottle of soy sauce would have helped flavour things.

Also places like The Reject Shop - I've seen jars of coffee for $1.25 recently. You could have added coffee to you spend.

Make your own bread is a game changer for saving money. I'm curious why you bought plain flour over self raising? A cheap jar of peanut butter would make it a complete protein too.

Milk powder is the equivalent to 75c a Litre when made up. Not that the bag they sell ( $7.50 ) could have made it into the $20 budget, but long term this is a milk game changer for me.

Also you had no pasta on your list - 50 cents for 500g at The Reject Shop as well.

For long term frugals use frozen veg in your stirfrys - beans $2 a kilo, peas $2 a kilo, corn $2.80 kg.

Fresh carrots and onions you can always get cheap ( Coles have that odd bunch range).

But for the purpose of $10 for 5 days just for myself

I would have selected:

Pasta 50c 500g

S/r flour $1 kg (damper - unsweetened)

Rice $1.40 kg

Dried lentils 375g $1.70

1.5 kg odd bunch carrots $2

Peanut butter $1.85 (2 jars for my fats)

Water (free)

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Whats interesting is that I have to shop frugally and I would have picked NOTHING on your list for my $10 challenge.

I guess it's because we all have different food tastes.

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I'm sure you mean well with this comment, Heather, but Serina has actually gone to the trouble of listing where she bought her ingredients and the meals she prepared.

You've said two jars of peanut butter for $1.85 each. The cheapest peanut butter at Woolworths is $2.40 each, so I'm interested to know where you got each of your ingredients.

The Woolworths Odd Bunch carrots are $1.90 per kilo, not $2 per $1.5kg as you've listed.

You criticised Serina for buying instant noodles but they do come with a flavour sachet. You've suggested rice instead but how would you season it? (Under the challenge rules, you cannot use pantry items you already have.)

I think Serina's done a great job here. I'd be interested to see how other people take on the challenge but only if they share a comprehensive ingredient/price list and meal plan for the week.

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There is a shop called Aldi that is where you can get Peanut butter for $1.85 for 375g container.

Aldi.

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You were experiencing weight loss as well as migraines and hunger.

Did you calculate your caloric intake? If it was too low you'll be on a crash diet with the symptoms you experienced.

Calories per dollar is what you should aim for in these $2 per day challenges. That means focusing on the nutrition food offers compared to the unit price.

5 peanut butter sandwiches and 75g of reconstituted full cream milk will give you 2053 calories with 90 grams protein, 97g fat, 177g carbohydrates for $1.98 per day.

Aldi

$1.85 Peanut butter 375g (150g per day)

$1.49 Multigrain Bread 650g (295g per day)

$7.49 Full Cream Milk Powder 1000g (75g per day)

$1.98 per day. 2053 calories.

If you substitute 1 peanut butter sandwich for 200g of rice you can have 2442 calories for only $1.97. 89g protein, 82g fat, 308g carbohydrate. No wonder rice is popular.

So final thoughts.

It sucks that Full Cream Milk powder has jumped to $7.49 per KG that means my diet needs another look. Damn inflation!

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I was puzzled when I spotted "wine" in your list of "everyday ingredients"; then again, it's likely just because I don't drink, so I'd have an easier time doing this challenge comfortably than you might.

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