2024 was the year of mistakes and rebirth for me. It tested me in every way—financially, physically, and mentally—but as Friedrich Nietzsche famously said, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
It all began during the COVID-19 pandemic. I had just graduated when the lockdown was enforced, and the first two years of my career were spent working from home. In 2022, I was asked to return to the office. Remote work had allowed me to save significantly—no commuting costs, no frequent dining out, and an overall minimalist lifestyle.
But going back to working from the office refuelled my desire to fully embrace life. The excitement of seeing friends and colleagues again led to more outings, socialising, and spending without much financial planning.
By 2023, I had exhausted my savings and was living pay cheque to pay cheque. Reality hit hard when I realised I was broke and needed to get a loan quickly to cover my expenses. That was my wake-up call.
I Cut Corners To Pay My Debts
The payday loan did come to my rescue in my time of need, but my financial woes didn’t end there. When you get a loan for an emergency, it offers momentary relief. However, you’re constantly wondering how and when to pay it back, or you end up in more debt than before.
I had incurred huge credit card bills over the years. Due to interest and penalties for nonpayment and late payment, I owed more money than I had originally spent. I also had a student loan, which I had defaulted on a couple of times.
This is when the epiphany occurred: my salary wasn’t enough to pay for my loans while sustaining my current lifestyle. Like any responsible adult, I started doing the math. In addition to my rent and utilities, I was spending a quarter of my income on food and a staggering thirty percent on pointless shopping and eating out.
I started to feel anxious and began to cut corners to pay for my debt. As a result, I began making food compromises, either eating very little or skipping home meals. I thought that I had it figured out, but I turned out to be wrong.
The Wake-Up Call
Three months into my budget diet, I began to develop gastrointestinal issues and low blood pressure. After losing 22 pounds and appearing pale and malnourished, I eventually had to be admitted to the hospital.
Lying in a hospital bed with beeping monitors and tubes all over my body, I realised that giving up food and my health was not the way to a debt free life.
The parties and friends that I prioritised weren’t present. Because I was on extended leave, the loans I wanted to repay quickly were pushed back. Nothing was going as per plan. So, what did I achieve by cutting corners with my meals? Nothing.
Budget-friendly Meal Plans To The Rescue
With two weeks of bed rest, I made the most of my time. I consulted a nutritionist and created budget-friendly meal plans. These meals were nutritious and cost much less than takeaways.
Here are some of my thumb rules that I’ve been following for the last six months:
Start By Having a List
Make a grocery list and stick to it. Supermarkets are meant to be enticing, and we often end up buying things that aren’t required. Make a grocery list based on your weekly meal plan. This prevents wasting food and saves money. Moreover, shopping in the middle of the week allows you to avail some great discounts which might not be available during the weekend.
Buy What’s In Season
I only buy seasonal produce. Buying winter vegetables in the summer is expensive and also not healthy. The off-season fruits and vegetables are not fresh, and their shelf life is prolonged using chemicals. Eating seasonal produce is cheaper and healthier.
Cook in Advance
I’ve started to avoid processed foods like the plague. Whether it is soda, cookies or microwave meals, they contain preservatives and are expensive. It will impact the good bacteria in your gut and make you gain weight while depleting your bank account.
Instead, I buy whole foods and cook my meals in advance. Often after work, I’m too tired to cook. But when I have homecooked food in the fridge, I can simply warm it up. This has stopped me from ordering in or eating packaged food.
Rationing My Meat
Protein is very important for the body. However, if you’ve checked your grocery bill, you’ll find meat and fish are often the most expensive items on the list. Here’s what I do currently. I buy the cheaper cut of meat than the more expensive options. The nutrient value remains the same, yet the cost drops drastically.
I’ve started buying chuck steak, ground meat, poultry and pork top sirloin steak. I also buy in bulk and include it in my weekly meal prep; buying larger quantities is cheaper than buying smaller portions.
In addition to this, I am also going meat-free twice a week and supplementing my diet with plant-based proteins such as legumes, beans, tofu and others. This is a much healthier, cheaper and eco-friendly solution.
My Easy and Inexpensive Meal Plans
Are you looking for some inspiration? Here’s my week-long meal plan:
- Saturdays: Slow-cooked beef stew with a side of vegetables
- Sunday: Have the Saturday left over while changing the side
- Monday: Creamy mushroom pasta
- Tuesday: Beans and vegetables taco bowl
- Wednesday: Chicken casserole
- Thursday: Stir-fried noodles with vegetables and chicken
- Friday: Roast chicken leg with vegetables or mashed potatoes
In Summary…
You can eat cheap and clean with proper planning, research and basic cooking skills. I spend an average of £150 a month on my food. The value might appear to be less, but over the years I’ve experienced a lot of positive changes.
By following a healthy diet, I’m much more energetic, my skin and hair are better, and I’ve achieved an optimal BMI.
I had to be hospitalised to realise the worth of healthy eating habits. By sharing my journey with you, I hope to inspire others to take the right course of action before it’s too late.