Living on a student budget in Birmingham doesn't mean you have to sacrifice good food. With a bit of savvy shopping, helpful tips and local know-how, you can keep your cupboards stocked and your meals satisfying while also keeping costs low.
Living on a student budget in Birmingham doesn't mean you have to sacrifice good food. With a bit of savvy shopping, helpful tips and local know-how, you can keep your cupboards stocked and your meals satisfying while also keeping costs low.
Here we have rounded up practical ways to make your food budget stretch further:
Freeze Smart
Using your freezer can help you waste and spend less. Whether that’s freezing leftovers for quick meals later, or buying things like meat, bread or cheese in bulk and freezing in portions, it’s a simple way to avoid wasting food and money. You can even freeze things like chopped herbs, milk, or fruit that are close to going off.
Batch Cook
Cooking in bulk saves time and keeps you from buying overpriced lunches or last-min takeaways. You can batch make pasta sauces, stews, curries, or rice dishes in larger portions and store in containers for the week or freeze some for later. It also helps to plan meals around a few core ingredients, so nothing goes to waste.
Use Food Rescue Apps
Apps like Too Good To Go let you buy unsold food from local cafes, restaurants, and shops for a lower price. You usually get a "surprise bag" of items near the end of the day and it’s an easy way to save money - and help reduce food waste.
Plan Your Meals
It doesn’t have to be a detailed spreadsheet, but having a rough plan for the week helps. Write down what meals you want to make, then check what you’ve already got before shopping and what you need to buy. Stick to your shopping list - it stops you picking up random extras you don’t really need, and this also helps cut down on food going off before you’ve used it.
Use the Community Cookbook
If you’re stuck for ideas, this Community Cookbook (created by the Community and Welfare Officer, Hope Aquilla) is a great place to start. It’s a free collection of 25 simple, budget-friendly recipes submitted by students and staff at the University. The cookbook is split into three sections: Brunch, Vegetarian, and Comfort Classics and is designed with student kitchens (and budgets) in mind!
Sourcing Cheap Food
When you’re watching your spending, you can save money by shopping at budget supermarkets, purchasing own brand ‘value’ products and comparing which supermarkets will give you the best value for money. There are also lots of markets around Birmingham which sell staple foods at affordable prices as well as zero-waste and surplus food shops. Remember, the Guild also has a Community Pantry for students who are struggling financially.
Overall, you don’t need to overhaul your entire routine to save money on food. A few small changes like freezing leftovers, planning ahead and using the right apps - can make a big difference over time.