I tried living off $50 a week on food, here’s what I found out. (2024)

The cost of food has gone through a staggering increase in recent times – there is a lived experience that I cannot fully capture however a recent RNZ report (1 May 2023) reflects these challenges by the numbers.

“The cost of living has risen 7.7 percent in the past year, new figures show, with high-spending households hit hardest thanks to rising interest rates… All groups were hit by rising food prices - 12 percent, with fruit and vegetables up a whopping 21 percent.

Māori households and the lowest-spending households bore the brunt of higher food prices - fruit and vegetable prices alone jumped by 21 percent for both groups and grocery prices increased 12 and 13 percent respectively.”

Initially, I decided to plan for 9 weeks of groceries. However, I later decided to add a challenge by putting a cap of no more than $50 per week on food for the entire 9 weeks (totaling $450). I attempted this challenge while staying in Christchurch from February to April. The idea was pretty simple: don’t break the cap and get the rest of the groceries elsewhere. However, the challenge wasn’t just to be on a budget, as I’ve done that before, like many others. I wanted to consider how being on a budget could have broader impacts, such as on health or social cohesion.

Other rules I set for the challenge included allowing free meals, such as those provided by work or at events. If you hosted a meal at your home, you had to provide kai, and the same applied if you were being hosted. You were expected to be a good guest, even if it meant giving what little you had.

One may wonder what kind of food can be purchased for $50 a week. I’ve included my receipts to give an overview. Basically, if you are a bargain hunter, it is possible to eat well and avoid starvation. Having come from Christchurch, I knew where to find good deals and spots to forage and fish.

The food I purchased was from various sources, including Hellers Food Factory (Kaipoi), the Food Factory (Richmond), French Bakery (Port Hills), PaknSave Moorhouse, and Countdown Amberley.

Protein was surprisingly cheap, however, it was heavily processed. It is Hellers after all. From corned beef for $4 per kilo to $7 for two kilos of bier sticks, to $20 for five kilos of pork sausages, it was a bargain for sure. As the Uruh-kai once said, "Meat was back on the table!" Personally, I find that meat takes up a healthy chunk of the grocery bill. However, there are many alternatives.

Vegetables were certainly limited to canned and frozen vegetables, and produce from the Sunday Market in Wellington was also limited. Foraging helped fill the rest, so I did not just eat processed meat and carbohydrates.

Foraging, or more specifically, mahika kai - a customary harvest of kai, came to the rescue. The food that I gathered included tuna (eel), watercress, blackboy peaches, venison, pātiki (flounder), mullet, supplejack, koura (crayfish), trout, perch, apples, chickweed, and pears. Going back home, I knew the spots.

Below are a few current prices from the Paknsave online shop as of 8/5/2023, to gauge where prices are at. To view more, use the online checker.

·Rise N Shine Size 7 eggs 12 pk $8.39

·Potatoes 10 kg $19.99

·Indomine Mi Goreng 10pk $7.29

·Tararua Butter $4.99

·Carrots $1.99 per kilo

·Tegal Chicken Breast $13.69 (drumsticks $5.99)

·Pams Colby Cheese $12.99 (Mainland Tasty Cheese $18.49)

·Salmon Fillets $45.49 per kilo (Skate wings $13.99)

·Value Standard 2L $3.69 (Anchor 2L milk $5.39)

·Lamb Leg Roast kg - $21.49 per kilo

·Port Royal Original Tobacco 50g $128.90

While food costs will vary per person and household but as a reference point, my weekly food budget would be approximately $70-$85, excluding any eating out. The $50 challenge is essentially a 1/3 of my typical groceries being cut.

So, did I survive on $50 a week of food? Ultimately, yes. The receipts are at the bottom. However, I had the privilege of getting various free food from work events. I also relied heavily on my food gathering of mahika kai. Often, that got eaten first as it tasted better and fresher. I know I saved money, but what cost did it really have?

As we know, purchasing a lower cost may not mean a bargain but an externality. For example, lat elast year I bought a 15-pack of eggs for $4.5 now I do not have to remember the branding to know they were caged eggs. Now you'd be looking at least twice that. Similarly, with fertilizers and low-wage labour for cheap fruit and produce. However, I did read a great article about cost comparisons between vegetable boxes and supermarkets for people to consider organics. As fuel prices go up, it impacts other dependencies, i.e., fertilizer production and transport costs.

Low prices don't just mean negative externalities. In fact, many of the low prices were from factory shops and often food that would not be sold otherwise, i.e., old or out of specification, such as a deformed shape.

Social cohesion: whilst I did have to say no to the coffee or dining out, bought coffees were scraped. I did notice that I had more shared kai than what I would usually either host or be hosted. It was a pleasant change to connect with friends and family and certainly not eat on the go.

Connection to te taiao: I noticed my appreciation of food and my relationship with the te taiao was more prominent. For example, for bought food, I remembered how much it cost and from where. For foraged kai, I remembered where I got it from and how, as it is also seasonal dependent. I was fortunate to hear Tāme Iti speak about tino rangatiratanga, of which a quote stood out: "How much of your fridge is Ngāi Tūhoe," meaning what is gathered in your own takiwā. For me, it also alludes to those who are more reliant on mahika kai, knowing their rohe and how te taiao changes.

Whilst I did this as a social experiment, I had a choice, and I want to acknowledge those who do not have a choice and are doing it tough. The Food Price Index from Stats NZ is released on 11 May; I am sure the media will provide updates shortly after the release.

Finally, I’ve summarised a few tips to save money for those of interest.

·Plan your grocery shopping at least for the week if not two and have fewer stops at the supermarket where you may buy unnecessary food.

·Don’t just settle for supermarkets I’ve highlighted a few in Christchurch, for Wellington my go-to is the Sunday Markets, Reduced to Clear Porirua, and Moore Wilsons bulk food.

·Alternative proteins such as lentils and chickpeas are cheaper, and kinder to the planet.

Receipts