One of the biggest problems when you’re cooking just for yourself is that recipes are rarely designed for one. That means you’re probably going to be stuck eating the same thing for the next four nights until you finish it, or you end up chucking it. This is where the freezer becomes your best friend!

Divide your leftovers into single-sized portions before you freeze them and you’ve got an instant ready meal next time you can’t be bothered cooking. The same trick can be used if you spot a good deal on bacon, sausage, chicken, or even mince. Wrap it in portion sizes that you can use, and then freeze two rashers of bacon, a handful or mince, or single chicken breasts. Made a big pot of bolognese? Now’s the time to make use of all those mini yogurt tubs – freeze it in small portions and you can defrost them one at a time for your tea.

If you haven’t got a freezer, try buying just what you’ll need to avoid having to throw loads out. Fruit and veg shops are great for this – only need two carrots? No problem. You could also try setting up a dinner group with some friends – this works really well if you’re living in halls. You cook for three or four friends one night and they return the favour. You get company, no leftovers, and a night off chef duty.

What to Make?

When it comes to cooking on a budget, there are a few obvious things to know. Meat can be expensive while pasta is generally cheap. Basing meals on starchy foods and using beans and pulses instead of or as well as meat can make meals go further. Buying fruit and vegetables that are in season are cheaper than ones that aren’t. Ready meals aren’t the best value, and aren’t really that good for you -but you know that already.

If you’re looking for ideas for dinner, there are loads of recipes online. Check out our Recipes page for some ideas of where to look.  If you’re a beginner cook, you might want to follow them and if you’re more experienced you can just use them for inspiration.

You’ll figure most of it out as you go along, and you’ll get used to recognising a good deal. You might never make a shopping list and cut out coupons, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll know how to make a good shop. And finally, speaking of shopping…

Shopping

Depending on where you are, you’re going to have different options. You might have loads of discount supermarkets near you, or you might have to rely only on small, private shops. Both have their pros and cons. Supermarkets tend to be cheaper and have a wider selection, but you might not know where the stock has come from. Corner stores might have fewer options and be more expensive, but they may also source local produce.

Shop around, and learn what stores stock what. And don’t forget that if you have internet access, a lot of the bigger chains will deliver your groceries to you, saving you time and the fun of lugging the bags home.