This post is curated for tight budget or 月光族 working adults in CBD area. Not long ago when I was still with my previous employer, I didn't do up a post like this (due to laziness) so now I'm not going to let the chance go away. Because with this pandemic, everyone is trying to save as much as them can since we can't travel out of the country. By not depriving yourself from some of your cravings (at times), I diligently walked about during lunch time in search of 3 meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner in CBD area for just $10 in total a day. Is that even possible? Anything is possible. Don't need to envy others who can splurge on expensive food. You have those days too.
Key Points of this Budget Guide- Only drink water, coffee or tea from your office (cannot buy from outside);
- Mostly grab and go, so you can eat inside your office or pantry and still enjoy aircon;
- Applicable for a 5 days work week in CBD area (exclude PH);
- Fill up your tummy at least 60-70% full, so you won't get food coma;
- Buy at one go for breakfast and lunch, save time and all you need is heat up the food;
- The selection is based on my personal favourite (some actually);
- Choose one or two from the same shop, do your maths;
- I encourage you to inject fruits into your diet because for your own good;
- I encourage you to partial buy and partial cook for dinner, don't lose your skills;
- I encourage you to exercise because is free and won't get fat easily;
- I encourage you to support local businesses, if not we got nothing to eat;
- I encourage you to bring your own lunchbox/bottle for takeaway;
- Mix and match 3 meals from the selection that does not burst your $10 budget.
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| PAPAYA $0.90 | HONEYDEW $1.00 |
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| FRIED RICE FOR $3 (EXCLUDE HOMEMADE SALAD) |
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| 3+1 SINGLE FISH SET FOR $4 |
No doubt for their fried fish that was lightly battered on the outside with the crispiness and tender on the inside. Most importantly, it wasn't over-fried. The light golden brown made it appetizing.
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WEI NAN WANG HOCK KIAN LOR MEE #01-46
- Suitable for Anytime of the day -
Although it didn't really impressed me as compared to the one at Hong Lim, but I liked that it has lots of ingredients especially the amount of beansprouts. Decent bowl of noodles to fill you up. Now I know that I don't really like having my Lor Mee with minced garlic because of that charred/burnt taste. Just vinegar will do. You can choose between a $3 or $4 portion.
M&S Food Store ~ One Raffles Place #01-09/10
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| JAM DOUGHNUT $1.90 | ICED CHOCOLATE DOUGHNUT $1.90 |
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| MILK CHOCOLATE COOKIE $1.90 |
My choice at their bakery would be those priced at $1.90 each. There are doughnuts, cookies, and even palmier. Get 2 of those each for breakfast might be just nice to fill you up till lunchtime.
I liked the fact that their Jam Doughnut wasn't too sweet on the jam. To say the jam oozing out, it was okay and won't get you into a messy affair. Soft doughnut, okay pass! And the cookies were the soft and chewy type but a little too sweet for me. Early morning sweet treats.
Tip Top Curry Puff ~ One Raffles Place #B1-26
- Suitable anytime -
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| Beehoon with Katsu Cutlet for $3.80 (exclude fishballs) |
Umi Sushi ~ One Raffles Place #B1-24/25
- Suitable for Lunch or Dinner -
Dine-in available.
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| ASSORTED MAKI FOR $2.30 |
There are other choices priced $2.20 for 6, mostly same type of sushi each box. But I chose this box with 3 different sushi like tamago, cucumber and crabsticks. Not too boring and depending on your craving too. You can grab a Miso soup for $1.50 or Chawamushi at $2.50 if you don't wanna have sushi. Oh ya... no free soy sauce. Get a packet at $0.10.
Fun Toast ~ One Raffles Place #B1-02
- Suitable Breakfast and Teatime -
Dine-in available.
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| CHEE CHEONG FUN $2.40 |
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| SOFT BOILED EGGS $1.80 (FOR 2) |
There are a variety of dim sums to choose from and the price range about $1+ to $2.40. And also pre-packed beehoon/mee siam that costs $2.80 each and with a drink, will be $3.80. Quite reasonable.
Mr Teh Tarik ~ Raffles Xchange #B1-17/21/22
- Suitable anytime -
Dine-in available.
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| BEEHOON WITH FISH FILLET FOR $2.50 |
I enjoyed white beehoon more than dark ones. Although it didn't have much of that fragrance shallot taste, but it did captured my taste bud. So if there isn't any queue, I will grab for breakfast. Beehoon with Chicken Wing is only for $2.70 and both choices won't burst your budget of the day.
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| CURRY PUFFS FOR $1 EACH (SARDINE OR POTATO) |
If you don't want beehoon, then grab their curry puffs. The green dot is potato so the red dot will be sardine. Even if you grab 3 of them, won't burst your budget. But subject to availability. I went once in the morning, there isn't any but instead during lunch time. Probably I'm just too early.
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| BLUEBERRY WAFFLE $2.20 | POLO CHAR SIEW $1.70 |
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| BLUEBERRY WAFFLE $2.20 | POLO CHAR SIEW $1.70 |
Jollibean Singapore ~ Raffles Xchange #B1-42
- Suitable for Breakfast -
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| MEE CHIANG KUEH COMBO FOR $3.20 |
Dine-in available
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| 1 MEAT 1 VEG + RICE FOR $3.20 |
McDonald's Singapore #B1-01/10
- Suitable for Lunch or Dinner -
Dine-in available.
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| MCCHICKEN FOR $2 |
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| HAMBURGER FOR $2 |
Noodle King #01-10
- Suitable for Lunch or Dinner -
Dine-in available.
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| FRIED FISH DUMPLINGS NOODLES/HOR FUN FOR $4.50 |
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| FRIED FISH DUMPLINGS NOODLES/HOR FUN FOR $4.50 |
- Suitable anytime -
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| CEYLON BLACK TEA $3.10 ($0.60 FOR GRASS JELLY) |
Okay if you are those who like to add toppings like pearl and so on, then I suggest you choose from their Flavored Tea like Ceylon Black Tea, Jasmine Green Tea, Oolong Green Tea that are $2.50 for a Medium size. Their toppings like Pearl and Grass Jelly are priced at $0.60 each so if you get bored with Pearl, have Grass Jelly then. Honestly I really can replace a proper meal for bubble tea at times. Because you totally have no idea what you want to eat many a times.
Have you ever tried having all 3 meals from 7-11? Let me curate for you now. Cheap and decent. And local delicacies. I saw Youtubers having all 3 meals from 7-11. As compared to the 7-11 in US, our 7-11 is so much better. But Taiwan's 7-11 is still the best for sure and whoever been to Taiwan can vouch for that. Hehe...
- Suitable for Breakfast or Teatime -
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| LO MAI GAI $2.20 | CHWEE KUEH $2.20 |
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| CHWEE KUEH $2.20 |
Their Chwee Kueh with decent taste and the price for 4 pieces about the same at coffeeshops or food courts. I love my Chwee Kueh with lotsa Preserved Radish and bits of Ikan Bilis Chilli. Match with a cup of coffee or tea from your office pantry. Perfect. I think the money saving part will be coffee and tea. Office pantry have, just grab a cup then.
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| LO MAI GAI $2.20 |
Well... it wasn't that fantastic when you microwave it. Still felt that steaming it would be better with the moisture. If your office pantry does not have a steamer, put a small cup of water together with the food. That should do the trick.
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| CHICKEN CONGEE FOR $2.80 + SELECTED $1 DRINK |
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| CHICKEN CONGEE FOR $2.80 |
No doubt on the congee. Flavourful, thick and it has the essentials in one bowl: chicken breast meat, silver fish, ginger slices. Added the spring onions and pepper myself. In the office pantry, if there is pepper, add them in.
- Suitable for Lunch or Dinner -
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| MEE REBUS $2.90 + SELECTED $1 SNACK |
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| MEE REBUS $2.90 |
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| MEE REBUS $2.90 |
The gravy taste almost identical like those from hawker stalls. You can even smell it while microwaving. Oh ya... be careful of the 'egg explosion'. Even when I get cover the bowl with a kitchen roll, the microwave is still a mess.
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| MEE SIAM FOR $2.90 + SELECTED $1 DRINK |
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| MEE SIAM FOR $2.90 |
To be honest, you can easily find breakfast to dinner at 7-11 for the day. A variety of ready-meals in their stores to choose from. Decent meal at affordable price. The used to be expensive 7-11 now seems to be much price-friendly or pocket-friendly for us, especially with their $1 rack which is a to-go for. The food I chose were mostly Product of Singapore. Yes people! Support local products!
If you haven't watch that video of mine on my Youtube Channel, here it is. I did a $10 challenge and watch how much of stuff I bought from 7-11.
Mr Bean #B1-08 [[CLOSED]]
- Suitable anytime -
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| 3 IN 1 RICEBALLS FOR $2.80 |
There were about 5 riceballs at 50% sugar, served with warm beancurd. The riceballs with different flavours like peanuts and seasame. If you wanted something light for dinner, this is ideal. Totally no carbs dinner. Riceballs menu has 2 other sets like Oatmeal with Riceballs ($3.20) and Ginger Soup Riceballs with beancurd ($3.60). I suggest having the Ginger Soup on chilling weather like now.
Chin Sin Huan 振新园 #B1-13
- Suitable for Breakfast or Teatime -
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| BIG PORK PAU FOR $1.50 | SIEW MAI FOR $1.00 (2 PCS) |
Was expecting a big pau but looks like a small pau (luckily not mini pau size for that price). Choose between the other different paus priced between $0.60 (mini paus, min 2 pcs) to $1.50. Match with a cup of coffee or tea in your office.
Starbucks #01-15/16
- Suitable anytime -
Dine-in available.
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| BUTTERY CROISSANT FOR $3.50 |
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| COOKIE FOR $3.90 |
STEAM 蒸 Basement 1
- Suitable for Breakfast and Teatime-
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| FAN CHOY FOR $2.80 |
I feel a pinch for this small portion (not recommended) and the taste: mediocre. Saving grace will be not getting those uncooked rice grains. Got char siew and hardboiled egg (the standard).
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| SIEW MAI, HAR GAO, CARROT CAKE FROM $1.10 - $1.20 |
Paul Singapore #01-01
- Suitable for Breakfast and Teatime -
Dine-in available
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| CROISSANT FOR $3.10 | PAIN CHOCOLAT FOR $3.30 |
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| PAIN CHOCOLAT FOR $3.30 |
Old Chang Kee #B1-33
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| PEANUT PORRIDGE WITH YOUTIAO FOR $2.50 |
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| NASI LEMAK WITH OTAH FOR $3.50 |
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| FRIED CHICKEN WINGS FOR $1.80 EACH |
I suggest buying OCK's Fried Chicken Wings (at least 2 pcs) back home, cook a pot of rice, get ready some chilli and there you have it, Fried Chicken Rice (instead of the usual White/Roasted Chicken Rice) or Nasi Lemak. The rice will be just plain rice unless you have the Chicken Rice paste or Coconut Milk and Pandan Leaves (for Nasi Lemak) at home. Good idea, right? If by the time you reach home the chicken wings turn cold, throw into the airfryer and to warm up.
I realized Old Chang Kee is a good place to grab fried food to complement your homecooked plain rice with some chilli along. Sotong heads/meat, fishballs, gyoza and so on. That way you spend less time on cooking and cleaning. And can have more me-time before you hit the sack. Am I right or am I right?
In case you missed my previous post, read now on my Food Review | Top 6 Favourite Fast Food. You will know what I like from Old Chang Kee.
Let me curate a day's meal plan using the above selection for you to see if it works. Some of you may like to have something light in the day to a heavy meal at night, or vice versa, or even whole day light (or heavy) meals. Adding these elements for you too. Let's go!
1 Day Meal Plan ~ Light to HeavyBreakfast: Chin Sin Huan 振新园 ~ $2.50 (Pau + Siew Mai)
Lunch: Wei Nan Wang Hock Kian Lor Mee ~ $3.00 (Lor Mee)
Dinner: Dilys Creation ~ $3.20 (1 Meat + 1 Veg + Rice)
Total Cost: $8.70 (save $1.30)Note: Might have additional cost like takeaway box at $0.20 each.
1 Day Meal Plan ~ Heavy to LightBreakfast: Old Chang Kee ~ $3.50 (Nasi Lemak with Otah)
Lunch: McDonald's Singapore ~ $2.60 (Cheeseburger)
Dinner: Mr Bean ~ $3.20 (Oatmeal with Riceballs)
Total Cost: $9.30 (save $0.70)Breakfast: Fun Toast ~ $1.80 (Softboiled Eggs)
Lunch: Umi Sushi ~ $2.30 (Assorted Maki)
Dinner: Stick 'Em On ~ $1.90 (2 slices of fruits)
Total Cost: $6.00 (save $4.00)Note: Might have additional cost like soy sauce for sushi at $0.10 each pack.
1 Day Meal Plan ~ Heavy DayBreakfast: 7-11 ~ $2.90 (Mee Rebus)
Lunch: Johnson Western Food ~ $3.00 (Fried Rice)
Dinner: Tip Top Curry Puff ~ 3.80 (Beehoon with Katsu Cutlet)
Total Cost: $9.70 (save $0.30)Hope you enjoy this post. Will update here anytime when I find new places. Because I also want to keep them in my pocket list for survival. Pray hard they don't increase prices.
Remember people, nobody deserves to starve, even if you have little to no money or on tight budget. No one!
In case you missed my previous Budget Guide, read here on Budget Guide | Takeaways vs Cooking at Home. Bai Bai...
~ Thrifty is a virtue. Frugal meals doesn't mean you eat shabbily but just simple and less costly. ~