The headline in last weekend Sydney Morning Herald caught my attention when I was trying to remove its cling-wrap from the papers. Home delivered papers in Sydney usually come rolled and cling wrapped to protect it from the weather. It was reported that the Australian Government will slash the skilled migration intake for a second time in as many months in a clear signal it expects the jobless to keep rising. The Government believes this is an aberration and the budget which will be announced on the second Tuesday of the month in May will forecast an unemployment rate of well above 8 per cent for the next financial year, prompting the cut of migrant intake. What this headline means for many is as clear as daylight. An 8 per cent of unemployment rate is equivalent of 1 million people out of work and the stack human cost of doing nothing.
A supermarket advertisement “Feed your family under $10” last week, is another revealing sign of the dire economic consequences to come. I took a closer look at the advertisement and did a mental sum on the exact costing s of the entire recipes in the flyer. Indeed, they are under $10 each, to feed a family of 4. Inevitably food prices and everything else prices are up and income is the same, but surely feel like less. My goal with this blog wasn’t how cheap we go but how can we keep eating well for less. To be continued...
how about recipes under $10 from uncle phil??
ReplyDeleteHi By,
ReplyDeleteWe should invite everyone to contribute a under $10 recipe here. Let's start with you.
Cheers.
What's on sale (special offers) sometimes leads to what I cook i.e. recipe-for-the-day. I usually shop at Walmart. Eg: Minced beef $3.80/lb, carrots 70cts/pkt of about 7, capsicum 70cts ea, Roma tomatoes 1.22lb or about 5 of them, Onions 40cts ea, 1 bottle of Walmart pasta sauce, egg noodles 20cts each x 2pkts.
ReplyDeleteDice onions, fry till fragrant add beef & brown, add cubed/diced veggies and pasta sauce, simmer. When hungry, blanch egg noodles and top with sauce. Total is about USD$9 but it is enough for 2 meals for 2 persons. Walmart cheese is sprinkled but not all veggies are used up so that evens out the $ amount. USD9 for 4 meal portions. It's doable but tough to do every meal every day.
Hi Nonya Vin,
ReplyDeleteTerima Kaseh for starting the bola going. Noticed that the food prices in Florida are quite similar what we are paying here. Hmm..just wondering is there a conspiracy by the big players here. I think big Wal in coming here soon.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Uncle Phil,
ReplyDeleteNow that this subject has started, I'm actually noticing prices. Today, bought a roasted chicken for USD4.85 (Walmart of course lah!) and bag of "Veggie Lovers" salad for $2.85. Combined, they can make 4 meals. But chances are we will have chicken & salad for dinner tonight and chicken congee (+1 egg each) tomorrow. Definately cheaper than eating out and less than USD10 for 4 meals x 2 persons.
Hmmm... maybe I can save enough for airfare back to SG sooner than expected. :) Then indulge in laksa, charkwayteow, carrot cake, satay, yong tau fu ~ :( aiyoh, now craving for hawker food.
Nonya Vin,
ReplyDeleteWe are so pleased that you have come abroad to share your money saving tips with others here (especially with orang kampung kita). Of course, you are able to balek kampung soon and indulge in the hawker foods there. Do not forget to visit your kampung folks downunder the next time you heading home.
Cheers,
My under 10 dollar meal is steam pork with dong chai + rice..
ReplyDeleteHi Uncle Phil,
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a poor student, I'd buy only local seasonal fruits and vegetables that were on sale due to over supply and the cheapest cuts of meat. Not eating out, not buying pre-prepared or ready-to-eat foods also helped tremendously.
ange
Hi Uncle Phil,
ReplyDeleteI suddenly miss this Malay dish name "Mee Robus", do you have the recipe for this?
Cheers
Lim
Hi Lim,
ReplyDeleteWe do have the recipe somewhere at the back of our mind. Tell us when you can come to attend "Uncle Phil Cooking Class"? Haha.
Cheers,
Phil
Hi Ange,
ReplyDeleteYou were poor then but look how rich you are now. Nobody can take away your richness and experiences from you now. Thanks for sharing your richness with us.
Cheers,
Phil.
Hi Uncle Phil,
ReplyDeleteYou have made my day, I will be readily available any weekend for the Cooking Class.
Cheers
Lim
Hi Lim,
ReplyDeleteWe are doing barter trading here. You can mow the grass in exchange of free makan : D Onz?
Cheers,
Phil
you can find $2 meal in aldi now. hehe
ReplyDeleteHi BY,
ReplyDeleteTell us more.
Cheers
oh you go to ALDI and take the latest catalog dated 28 may while stocks last (The catalog at the exit one)
ReplyDeletelast page says ALDI's $2 meal deals
but after reading it says $1.88 or $1.20 per serve, serve 4. so actually is $4.80 for the cheapest one .. but still cheaper than coles's $10..
Hi BY,
ReplyDeleteIsn't that funny all their marketing departments are working and cashing in to get their shares even at this lean time.
Here in the UK, we have a leading supermarket running a series of recipe cards - Jamie Oliver does most of the them - How to feed your family for a fiver. :)
ReplyDeleteI find it quite easy (just the two of us at the moment, mind you), but even if we did have two children, I can imagine that it would be possible by growing your own veg, or buying what's in season or surplus, and going for cheaper cuts of meat.
Hi Sky,
ReplyDeleteJamie Oliver is also a very popular celebrity here in Australia. We would be pleased if you could post and share with us, some of his recipes.
I have visited your blog and thanks for for showing us that it is possible to harvest fresh homegrown vegies from a small gardening bed instead of buying them from the store.
Cheers,
Phil