HOW I SPEND ONLY £15 A WEEK ON GROCERIES AS A STUDENT LIVING IN LONDON || a food shop & my meal plan

Hello everyone, welcome back/to my channel!
I really hope this video is somewhat useful to any students out there - where I show you guys how I manage to spend only £15 a week on food. I take you guys around Morrisons with me, fill my cupboards, fridge and freezer and then show you how I turn all of those groceries into a two week meal plan.
Music by Naomi - Saturday Light - thmatc.co/?l=E...
Thank you for watching!
Instagram and TIKTOK: ‪@itsjxylxn‬
XOXO Jaylan

[@nyxsahiner6239]

Your friend is so funny. "29p? Im gettin two!" Honestly SUCH A MOOD

[@itsjxylxn]

She’s a nightmare with stuff like that 😂 but tbf a sale is a sale!!

[@nyxsahiner6239]

@@itsjxylxn exactly! A sale is a sale! I can't lie girl I'm exactly the same 🤣🤣

[@HoudalothAli]

LIDL, own brand foods. Also freeze your vegetables so they don't go to waste. Bread can also be frozen and defrosted.

[@itsjxylxn]

I’ve been to Lidl before - some food is cheaper than Morrisons and some is more expensive so it averages out. Plus, there’s more variety as a vegetarian. I freeze my bread too once my freezer has more space.

[@akanimagerman7301]

Moving to the UK from South Africa for uni and this has been the most helpful and realistic video of its kind I’ve come across so far. Thank you ☺️

[@Loon3y.y]

when you move can you please break down the prices in rands and how expensive things are compared to SA😭😭

[@Dana-ml7sy]

If you freeze sliced onions in zip bags , they don’t take up much room & when frozen you can break them up while in the bag to save chopping! Bags, washed & dried are reusable. If you buy sliced garlic bread, not the baguettes you can freeze & pull out slices as you need them.

[@itsjxylxn]

Ooo zip bags is such a good idea - I’d definitely be able to fit more in so thank you. The baguettes are cut but I do struggle trying to snap them off so sliced garlic bread does sound a lot better!

[@BeYourself12360]

I love how you use a suitcase! It’s so clever. My brother is in uni and uses one of those granny strollers for shopping and it’s so funny

[@itsjxylxn]

Omg thank you! I can imagine you just giggling at the thought of him going round with his little granny stroller 😂

[@KristinaMorrison]

This is so incredibly helpful! I am moving to London from the US for uni and I can't express how inexpensive food is in London compared to the US. My food shop for two weeks costs $300 which is £239 and is pretty much the amount you purchased, so I was honestly shocked when I first heard how inexpensive food was in the UK I think I almost passed out from excitement. London is basically the exact same price as any other city in the United States once it all is added up though with rent, bills, food, etc, so it's just a penny here and a penny there or pence I mean. lol Thank you for such a helpful video!

[@itsjxylxn]

Oh wow - it’s so great to hear the video genuinely helped you! I can’t believe how expensive your food shop is in America - I hope you’re able to cut down a lot when you move to London.

[@serotonin14]

As an international student I'm really struggling with what to buy and where to buy and what to make right now. This video was really helpful. Many thanks ❤

[@itsjxylxn]

I’m so so happy I could help!! Thank you so much 🩷

[@daphnetilling6034]

2 years late but I would of suggested buying a packet of lettuce and rocket seeds, save tins/ pot noodle typ pots/the tubs grapes come in. Wash the tubs/tins/pots and poke holes in the ones that don't have them then fill with soil (eith bought or sneaked from some land) plant the seeds and water regularly and you will have a constant supply of lettuce/rocket (can also do with your most used herbs though you can do them from either cuttings from a pot fo herbs or by seperating the individual plants from an her pot), would also add that you can convert a spag bol into a sloppy joe and chilli (just add eithe some fresh chilli's and kidney beans or some chilli powder and the kidney beans). Aside from a few tips that you learn as you get older you did amazingly well, in fact I know many grown arsed old farts that have less grip on their food budget than you have.

[@itsjxylxn]

Wow thank you so so much for the advice! That sounds ideal and super handy. It means so much to me - no matter how long the video has been up for! Thank you for your kind words :)

[@daphnetilling6034]

@@itsjxylxn I started doing hhydroponics and the seedlings that I can not add to the hydro resovoirs I have done exactly that using old cat food tins etc. Btw you wanna try the laziest gardening google/youtube Kratky Hydroponics method for growing (literally stick seedlings in a vessel of water with nutrients in, provide light and then just wait) I have peppers growing and various herbs, am just limited by the amount of grow lights I have atm but is an amazing way easy way to grow things without worrying about watering as all the effort is at the start and thats it really. And you are most welcome, I enjoed your vid :)

[@tracysimpkin5347]

What a great video! You taking a suitcase to Morrisons is adorable. Love that your neat issues spill into how you pack your shopping 🤣 Well done Jaylan - great budgeting and planning x

[@itsjxylxn]

Adorable and efficient! Thank you very much :) x

[@m0zkiii]

all the americans and canadians in the comments saying how cheap our food is fail to take into account that we also earn just over half of what they do on average, and pay literally double for fuel (just looked it up) . swings and roundabouts my friends

[@akanimagerman7301]

Lmao I read that as “we eat just over half what they do”

[@amyrosehall]

moving to uni in two weeks, this is so helpful, thank you!! x

[@itsjxylxn]

Awhh I’m so glad! Thank you so much :))

[@DreadfulUtopia]

The key is definitely to stick to whole foods, for sure. The difference in your grocery budget when you compare a week buying processed stuff to a week where you don't is astronomical. I no longer buy stuff like fizzy drinks, chocolates, crisps, junk food etc. Or I buy healthier alternatives. I'd say my grocery budget is roughly the same as yours, maybe a little more because of inflation. Cheap fresh fruit like Bananas and Easy Peelers and grapes definitely come in clutch when you're craving a sweet treat on a budget, plus they're way healthier than demolishing a pack of haribo or something haha.

[@hillarykrofchak2489]

This is just showing me how expensive food is in Canada wow,,, great video! I gotta move to the UK 😅

[@itsjxylxn]

Haha! Thank you so much :)

[@toobaparvez]

very helpful video with lots of meal ideas! I am usually too concerned about my 5 a day but hopefully I will be able to add some more fruits and veggies to my shopping and still not be spending huge amounts!

[@itsjxylxn]

Oh thank you so much! I wish you the best on incorporating more of your 5 a day - I hope it doesn’t get too expensive 😩

[@BeYourself12360]

Omg! I’m vegetarian too so this is cool to see someone buy the things I would

[@itsjxylxn]

Oh how wonderful! I’m so glad :)

[@makennasandidge4645]

“i know thirty pounds sounds expensive but…” jesus living in southern california i cannot imagine ever getting to grocery shop for this little and being able to feed myself for more than a week max

[@itsjxylxn]

It is crazy how different everywhere is and what’s considered inexpensive and expensive… since I’ve made this video and the cost of living prices have risen I would say now that £30 is amazing!😂

[@djedaverhoog7028]

£30 a week sounds like a dreammmm. easily 50 euros here in the Netherlands as a student, often more

[@itsjxylxn]

Oh wow!! It’s always so crazy to compare different prices in different places!!

[@this_username_is_taken7004]

Similar here in Ireland, my spend is between €40-€50 a week (though it would be a little cheaper for students that go to Lidl or Aldi, I personally don't frequent those shops)

[@kal5157]

I really enjoy your vlogs, very helpful with no exaggerations. Btw can you tell me what app do you use for writing your notes?

[@itsjxylxn]

Thank you so much - that means a lot to me! I use an app/website called notion :)

[@Jujuky6]

Ngl as soon as I heard vegetarian I understood how it was under £30. I mean good for you though I’ll still watch the video

[@itsjxylxn]

Haha really?! I thought vegetarian food was quite expensive! Thank you for watching anyway :)

[@Jujuky6]

@@itsjxylxn i think vegetarian food has definitely gone up in price over the years but meat has gotten crraaazy expensive. I spend about £25-30 on groceries a week and around £15 of it is just meat for dinner. Anyways, thanks for the video I did enjoy it :)

[@mariadocarmo6933]

thanks for the video! I'm moving to uni in two weeks and am preparing everything 😄

[@itsjxylxn]

Thank you!! I wish you the best of luck :)

[@izzyem2956]

how do you make your fresh food (i.e. lettuce) last 2 weeks? mine always goes off after a week so I end up having to buy more! thank you for this video it's so helpful ❤❤

[@itsjxylxn]

Honestly I completely get what you mean, I’d say mine only lasts a week and a half! I always keep it in its original cellophane and re-wrap after each use. Thank you so much for your comment! 🩷

[@aprianiduka6175]

OMG!! thank you so much, this video is so helpful for me and may i know what the app you use to making your weekly meal plan?

[@itsjxylxn]

Awhhh awesome!! I’m so happy I could help 😊 I used an app / website called ‘Notion’

[@jazzmp4]

Im a college student and my parents are away so I've had to figure out how to do meal prep and grocery shopping! This video was super helpful so thank you! Just some questions: what app or website are you using to organise everything? And why do you go to Morrisons specifically over other supermarkets?

[@itsjxylxn]

Thank you so so much! I’m so happy this video was helpful. I used an app/website called Notion and in terms of using Morrisons - it’s the closest affordable supermarket to where I live and also it’s something that I’m used to as my family shop there for affordability and accessibility to vegetarian alternatives :)

[@jazzmp4]

@@itsjxylxn Thanks for the reply! I'm checking out the website. Also subscribed :)

[@itsjxylxn]

@@jazzmp4 No worries! It can be a bit complicated at first / difficult to know where to start so definitely check out some KZbin videos on ways to use notion or stick with the templates they provide at first! Thank you so much for subscribing :)

[@Xspyro_]

what are you using for the weekly shopping list and meal plan on?

[@itsjxylxn]

This website / app called Notion!

[@Tamara-gl5vk]

We always have popcorn for movienight.

[@itsjxylxn]

Awh that’s a nice idea!

[@sumavarshinii]

hi thank you for this! what is the app you used on weekly plan?

[@itsjxylxn]

Of course! It’s called ‘Notion’

[@imsachalevyofficial]

idk how im doing . I only eat pasta and sauce but I still have no money left after. I tried to cook carbonara but it cost me 15£

[@itsjxylxn]

What’s your weekly budget?

[@imsachalevyofficial]

@@itsjxylxn maybe around 25-30 max

[@Ash_lee133]

What is the app/program called that you do all your planning etc on? I’ve never needed anything more! X

[@itsjxylxn]

It’s called Notion! It can be a bit confusing at first so definitely watch some tutorials to make it all pretty. It’s a life saver!!

[@Jennacka]

I wish I could buy all of that in Canada for just 15 pounds = $22 its so annoying. $22 will take me through half a week cause everything is so expensive.

[@itsjxylxn]

Oh wow - that difference is crazy! I feel your frustration!

[@gemmaaa2781]

we have much lower salaries in the UK though so that's why our food is 'cheaper'

[@Xelenteontae_]

Buy off branded food

[@zainabkhan159]

What app do you use to write your list?

[@itsjxylxn]

Notion :)

[@rosedavis6549]

What computer app do you use for your weekly meal plan?

[@itsjxylxn]

It’s called ‘Notion’ - it’s a website / app

[@odarahanthony9194]

Very impressive 👌👍👏

[@itsjxylxn]

Thank you! 😊

[@Martin.chapman]

I've been doing this for about a month now got louds of meat and stuff with bits saved each four night 😂

[@exxarts_]

Quick question how do you separate food in the kitchen or live with your student accommodation mates? Do they take or touch your stuff without asking?

[@itsjxylxn]

In the kitchen everyone has their own designated cupboard space and their own shelf in the fridge so no one mixes up their food with anyone else’s or their kitchen stuff with anyone else’s. I had an issue with a flatmate (I didn’t know who) randomly moving my stuff. I sent a message in the group chat and it stopped. I also had to label my milk once as someone had used it because they got confused with their own (because milk sits in the side doors that everyone puts stuff in). It really depends on your flatmates more than anything. I’ve not heard of any issues with any of my friends in other flats - as long as you wash and put your stuff away and put it away in your own space, you should be okay!

[@styleprism_anupriya]

This is a really helpful video indeed! Thank your bf for suggesting this!

[@itsjxylxn]

I am so happy that it helped! I’ll thank him :)

[@faithkilabo848]

her living in Stratford whilst I move out bcz I can't stand it

[@itsjxylxn]

Omg really?? How come?

[@daviddaviedavidson]

I know, 30 pounds sounds expensive 😂 good joke 😅

[@Sumabrero]

Nice maths 3+2

[@itsjxylxn]

Thank you😏 quick maths

[@Tamara-gl5vk]

What do you eat for breakfast?

[@itsjxylxn]

Sometimes I have weetabix, anything on toast (including avocados, toast spreads, beans etc), croissants or bagels

[@Xelenteontae_]

​@@itsjxylxnWhere do you get the Pasteries from?

[@itsjxylxn]

@@Xelenteontae_ Morrisons :)

[@exxarts_]

Do you really have to add that you have a bf

[@itsjxylxn]

Yes. He suggested the video idea so I wanted to give full credit to him

[@HashimAziz1]

Lmao imagine being this much of an incel

[@tanatswataruvinga]

@@HashimAziz1 right, lately social media is infested with them💀

[@gwenhunter8454]

I find with Halloumi (I’m also lactose intolerant) if I get the one that has goat/sheep milk it’s ok for my lactose intolerance….. it’s the cow dairy that f**ks me up 🫣😂

[@itsjxylxn]

Omg yes I’ve heard that recently - I need to experiment with my diary intake to make note of which animal it comes from and see if I’m intolerant to specific ones too!! Thank you!

[@liligalambos7189]

Now imagine someone trying to do this with an allergy. 🥲

[@itsjxylxn]

Omg that must be so difficult and frustrating😔 What are you allergic to if you don’t mind me asking?

[@liligalambos7189]

@@itsjxylxnits gluten. It feels like supermarkets are treating it as a “trend” so they can charge much more than normal products. Some of us actually cannot eat gluten we arent trying to be trendy and healthy haha