The R88 emergency grocery list every pensioner must know

Some months, the days between old age pension dates will be longer.

August was one such month.

But December is shaping up to be another.

In these instances, pensioners should be able to buy a handful of groceries that help their money go further.

The Three Item Emergency Grocery List

The go-to when pensioners run out of money is to buy a loaf of bread and eat it with whatever spread you have in the house.

It’s an easy and affordable option. Depending on what bread you’re buying, this can be a R15 one-item list.

But bread can only keep for a few days before it goes stale.

Besides, bread on its own isn’t very filling.

This list should give pensioners enough food for at least three days.

With some creativity and a helping of other products in your cupboards, fridge, or vegetable basket, these three ingredients will make filling meals for breakfast, lunch and supper.

Maize meal 2.5kg (R35)

You can use maize meal to make breakfast and supper.

In the morning, you’ll add some butter, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla (if you have them in your cupboard) to make a delicious porridge.

In the evening, make it a stiffer consistency and eat it with the cheapest protein you can afford.

Self-raising flour 1kg (R25)

Self-raising flour is the best ingredient to keep in your cupboards if you want a quick and cheap bread alternative.

The recipe for poverty fritters dates back to the depression-era, when families had very little to subsist.

In a bowl, mix self-raising flour, a pinch of salt, and water until you reach a doughy consistency.

Separate this dough into balls, flatten them slightly and fry in a pan with some oil to make buns.

Serve with butter, jam, or peanut butter and eat it like you would a scone.

Legumes 500 grams (R28)

Every pensioner should keep a bag of their favourite legume in the cupboard for an emergency meal.

Brown or black lentils should be the first choice because they’re versatile and cook in 30 minutes.

Split peas should be the next option.

Pensioners can buy a 500-gram bag of split peas for R22 at most shops, and they cook in about 45 minutes.

For a simple soup, add a little bit of soup mix in the last minutes of cooking.

Beans make the largest quantity of food among legumes, but they also take at least 4 hours to cook.

Only choose beans if you’re willing to spend the time and electricity.

Cheap Supper Options

If you only need supper, these are your options for a cheap and filling meal that should feed two.

You don’t need to buy everything on this list.

The secret to an emergency meal is to start with what you have in your cupboards and work from there.

• 5-piece chicken + Lentils 500g + Carrots 1kg = R88
• Rice 2kg + 5-Piece Chicken + Baked Beans 400g = R88
• Pork or Beef Bangers + Potatoes 2kg + Mixed veg 250g = R95
• Pasta 500g + Ground Beef + Canned Tomatoes 400g = R95
• Flour 2.5kg + Yeast 10g + Soya mince 200g or Pilchards 400g or Tuna 170g = R66