It’s one thing to make easy meals, but it’s also important to be cost-effective in the foods you choose to eat. You’ll find in supermarkets that some foods are much cheaper than others, and some you can bulk buy to help reduce overall costs. Here’s a list of items that will help minimise your spending:
Pasta bake is a perfect example of a batch cook. Fill your ovenproof dish with as much pasta as you can! To get things started, boil your choice of pasta and start frying your choice of ingredients. It could be tomatoes, onions, courgettes, garlic, or broccoli. If you’re adding meat, make sure you cook this too before adding it to the ovenproof dish. Add your sauce to the frying pan and let it simmer for 20 minutes, then pour everything into the ovenproof dish and give it a big stir. Place in the oven for 30-40 minutes, add some cheese, and there you have a pasta bake!
To make an easy chilli con carne, start by browning ground beef (or plant-based mince if you prefer). Add onions and garlic, canned chopped tomatoes, and kidney beans (drained). Season the mixture with chilli powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper if you have them on hand. Let the mixture simmer for about 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally then serve with rice. Enjoy!
This meal can easily be meat-free by simply supplementing beef with Quorn mince! Cook off the meat (whether it’s plant-based or not), then stir in a can of chopped tomatoes, adding garlic (granules if you don’t want to use cloves) and mixed herbs. Stir occasionally while you cook the spaghetti, and then serve once both are done.
A British classic. Crack some eggs into a frying pan and get whisking. Salt and pepper can make a big difference with this recipe so don’t be shy about adding them. Toast and butter your bread and then consider adding small bits of bacon or sausage to elevate the meal. Facon (fake bacon!) works just as well with this too.
If you’re a fan of Greek gyros, this one’s for you. This meal can be as simple and as quick as you like by first frying some halloumi in a frying pan, adding paprika, salt and pepper. Add in some peppers and onions if you want to make it interesting. Chips are also a great side for this dish, or a salad if you fancy some greens. Garlic sauce or tzatziki works incredibly well with this wrap, so be sure to grab a tub of this if you really want it to hit your tastebuds.
This meal is as easy as placing some fish fingers in the oven, buttering some fresh bread, and adding some lettuce if you fancy. Push the boat out a bit and throw some oven chips in, or if you’re up to it, cut up some potatoes and place them on the tray with your fish fingers; season with salt and rosemary.
If not the simplest of them all, pesto pasta is a classic student dish. Boil your choice of pasta, drain it, and spoon in red or green pesto. If you want to add meat, go for it. A plant-based alternative could be soya beans, lentils, or Quorn. You could even add a sprinkle of cheese and perhaps add a side of garlic bread.
Batch cooking is where you cook your meals in bulk, saving you precious time when it comes to meal times each day. How about choosing your favourite meal or comfort food and making ten portions of it? Section it up into your ideal portion sizes and save them in the fridge and freezer. Then, when the next day rolls around, grab it out of the fridge, warm it up and you’re ready to go!
Not only does this save you time every day, but it also costs you less money from bulk buying the ingredients.
When you’re juggling studies, social life, and daily living expenses, managing your finances as a student can sometimes be tricky. That’s where Split The Bills come in. We make it easy for students living in privately rented accommodation to handle their household bills stress-free.
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Get a monthly price for your household bills today or take a look at our bills packages to see how easy student life with Split The Bills can be.
The move from first to second year at university often comes with a lot of change as most students will have to start paying bills for the first time. In this feature we discuss how you can keep your finances organised and pay bills responsibly.
The move from first to second year at university often comes with a lot of change as most students will have to start paying bills for the first time. In this feature we discuss how you can keep your finances organised and pay bills responsibly.
As a student, it’s crucial that you spend your money in the most effective ways possible, and one of the best ways to do this is by finding student discounts wherever you can.