I was mulling over individual meal costs earlier. They vary quite a lot. I made a fish curry on Sunday night, which involved cod, salmon, king prawns, curry spices, tamarind, coconut milk, plus pilau rice (basmati, peas, pilau spices, and turmeric). Totting that up, I think £8-9/pp. Plus some ready-made starters. I'd say about £10/pp.
I think that's probably the most expensive meal I usually make because the fish costs the better part of £15. It'd probably be cheaper if I got the fish from a fishmonger, but hey ho, the supermarkets killed that.
Inauthentic Hainanese chicken thing the other night – whole chicken, ginger, turmeric, garlic, rice, some stir-fried spring greens. The chicken was £10 (though I'll get another meal out of the legs in some fried rice tonight), but let's call it £7/pp.
Last night, duck curry – duck legs were £4 for two. Garlic, ginger, onions, some spices, chilli pepper, rice. Probably about £5/pp (and the best meal I ate this week).
Tonight will be cheap as it'll be whatever veg needs eating, rice, leftover chicken, and egg. I'm breaking with the lore of the Asbestos Palace and moving pie night to tomorrow in case those chicken legs reanimate.
That doesn't include the cooking costs, the duck curry had to sit on the hob for two hours (next time I'll try the slow cooker), the chicken an hour-and-a-half in the oven.
Generally, it'd be cheaper to eat cheap pub food in £5.99 deals. I don't really buy ready meals so I'm not sure how it compares. Meat makes up much of the cost.
Not sure what the rest of this weeks £200 grocery bill went on though.