preparing inexpensive meals
My mother would approach me every night before going to bed and ask what I wanted for morning. Though it looked like a foolish inquiry, it also showed that she had planned ahead to prepare meals for a family of five, each of whom had their own preferences. Now that I’m in my twenties, living alone, and attempting to take care of things on my own, I can relate to Amma’s stress. I still don’t know how she manages to accomplish it though, every day.
A few days after your income is deposited, every meal is usually a feast. Then there are the times when you have to regularly check your bank balance. When the month comes to a close, parle-G and Maggi become a person’s go-to meals. Expense management stress is a part of growing up. The majority of young people CE spoke with concur, pointing out that the most intimidating aspect is the cost of food. Delivery platforms are in operation, satisfying late-night desires and often increasing expenses. What then can we do to manage our budget and eat healthily?
Monitoring the money
Without a doubt, digital transactions are beneficial. However, according to student Riya Joseph, one drawback of delivery platforms and payment methods might be that we don’t maintain track of our expenditures. This is where our parents’ methods of meticulously documenting every cent, akin to an accountant, and using the pooled funds to purchase food might be beneficial.
Rahel is a poet and mental health educator. She says, “My parents were extremely conscious of their spending since they were having financial difficulties for a time. Even after their financial situation improved, I observed them maintaining their disciplined lifestyle. Examples included monitoring their bills, creating a monthly budget, traveling to different parts of the city to purchase grains and pulses at the best prices, scheduling special occasions for spending extra money, and preparing budget-friendly meals. Journalist Nithya, who works in the city, quotes her parents as saying, “Every week, my parents go to the Saturday market to get vegetables and provisions for the coming week.” Every Sunday, I purchase veggies and I do the same.
Budget allocation for it might be challenging, but it’s essential. Rahel claims that because we work so hard to support our families and ourselves, she doesn’t think it makes sense to set aside money for meals. “I make sure I don’t spend more than Rs 2,000 on food that I order,” the woman states. While Nithya budgets Rs 3,500 for meals, Sri Loganathan says he records his spending by the middle of the month at the latest.
Finding your rhythm
Children’s resistance to making dietary compromises, as well as the challenges of living alone or budgeting for food, have encouraged them to experiment with new dishes and diet plans. The most challenging thing, according to Rahel, was finding the stores in the neighborhood. When living alone, energy management is essential. I’ve had to learn little things over time, including how to store food differently and what inexpensive goods I can use to create meals, particularly when I’m on a tight budget at the end of the month. She continues by saying that learning to purchase and prepare meals for one person was a skill that required a lot of time to master. “Trying to juggle bills, work, hobbies, personal life, mental health, and cooking is insane,” they add. One of these things is compromised most of the time. Meal prep and speedy dinners have freed me up to concentrate on my career and other responsibilities. Essentially, it’s about survival.
Swachchatoya, the PR professional, found it challenging to manage her time while cooking. “I used to underestimate a lot and thought cooking a meal would only take ten to fifteen minutes, but in reality, it would take me around thirty minutes, by which time I would be quite exhausted. With the passage of time, both my competence and assessment have improved. I can now multitask while cooking without squandering any time.
Food cravings at home have an impact on budget fluctuations as well. When Nithya misses home, she has a habit of ordering dosa and kadala curry from Nandini Sweets, which is close to the T Nagar depot. I like Nandi because it provides real South Tamil Nadu food, and I’m from Theni. To ensure he doesn’t miss home cuisine, Sri Loganathan often purchases pickles, podi, ginger-garlic paste, and chutneys when in the city.
Many people prefer local establishments since they find that most things on internet platforms are pricey. However, Swachchatoya states, “I find it too hectic as a young working adult to go to the local stores after work to get the groceries.” I often have a tendency to forget some of the items I was meant to purchase. On the other hand, we get incentives for large purchases when we shop online. In addition, the fruits and veggies are quite fresh, saving me the trouble of selecting five quality tomatoes out of a five kilogram bag. Rahel likes local shops over Swachchatoya. Before I purchase anything, I must be able to touch, feel, and see the quality of the item. But I use Instagram Mart when I’m very exhausted.
Attempts and mistakes
A great deal of trial and error is required to realize how to regulate a diet and eat healthfully. However, cooking at home is generally agreed upon as a cost-saving measure. “I used to cook three times a day at first. All three meals are now prepared once, according to Sri Loganathan. Rahel thinks it’s amusing having to eat the same meal three times when you live alone, even if he seems to have broken the secret. Dinesh, on the other hand, wakes up around noon every day in order to save money on one meal.
These young people have also come up with simpler, often harmful, solutions in an effort to save money. While Adalene says that the best course of action is to keep hydrated throughout the day by fasting, Sri Loganathan thinks that breaking into an unmarked marriage hall is a viable alternative. Sneha learned how to make spaghetti and sambhar in a kettle out of need! Sneha’s diet consists of wheat noodles, soya curries, bread omelets, sandwiches, and upma, while Nithya always orders nenthrapazham. “They are very filling and very cheap,” explains Nithya. Boiled eggs, milk, and Marie Gold cookies are all included on the list. Swachchatoya gathers all the ketchup packets that accompany the meals she gets online and substitutes them for tomatoes in her recipes.
There is no longer a gender difference in cooking. It’s become a necessary ability for everyone to have as more and more individuals move away from their homes. Organizing expenditures, however, takes time. No one is perfect, but the majority of them say that the hints and techniques are what keep them continuing. Determine the products’ general market rate. In mandis, you may obtain rice, lentils, vegetables, and fruits for lower prices. I used to spend a lot of money on Swiggy, which prevented me from using that money for other things like vacation. A daily regimen of one fruit, one vegetable, and one protein-based meal is recommended. One-pot dinners and rice with gravy are a lifesaver. I tell myself that skipping a meal plan once or twice a week is OK. Living alone may make days unpredictable, as well as your physical and emotional well-being. Rahel concludes, “It’s OK to have desires, to sometimes not want to be healthy, and to ask for help while cooking.
