I’m a 31-Year-Old Baker Living in Washington D.C. — I Spent Only $38 on an Entire Week’s Worth of Groceries

Name: Jill 
Location: Washington, D.C.
Number of people in household: 2
Age: 31
Occupation: Professional Baker (self-employed) and Recipe Developer
Where you shopped: Trader Joe’s, Safeway
Weekly food budget: N/A
Amount spent: $37.92

I live two blocks from a great Safeway, and shop there often. I also love walking to Eastern Market, a historic marketplace in Capitol Hill, to browse the fresh produce stands and local butchers. There’s a Trader Joe’s nearby as well. This week, I didn’t have time to visit the weekend farm stands at Eastern Market, so I did all my shopping at Safeway and Trader Joe’s.

I usually start with protein. I keep a list of what’s in my freezer and plan ahead to thaw things at the right time. I also clip digital coupons from the Safeway app to catch sales, and use that to help shape my grocery list.

I work long hours in the kitchen, so I don’t have time for complicated meals. This week, with my spouse out of town and a heavy work schedule, I focused on making larger quantities of dishes I enjoy eating on repeat. I’m generally not a fan of traditional meal prepping because I find it gets boring quickly, but I make it work in a way that keeps things interesting.

For sides, I prepare quick vegetable dishes that hold up well in the fridge. This week, I blanch bean sprouts and season them with sesame oil and salt, make a container of smashed cucumber with chili oil, and rely on a three-pound tub of kimchi I always keep on hand. Assembling rice bowls from this mix of proteins and veggies (topped with a fried egg if I’m feeling fancy) is my ultimate meal prep hack. It’s fast, satisfying, and never boring.

• 2 beef skewers, $4.61 (after 50% off coupon)
• Boneless skinless chicken thighs, $6.70 (after 50% off coupon)
• Green bell pepper, $1.69
• Bean sprouts, $2.49
• 4 kiwis, $5.49 

Total: $20.98

• Chicken & black truffle pâté, $5.99
• Parsley, $1.99
• Rice crackers, $2.69
• Carrots, $0.99
• Shallots, $2.79
• Garlic, $2.49

Total: $16.94

I don’t eat elaborate breakfasts in the morning, so I start my day with a Vanilla Pure Protein Shake (that I buy in bulk on Amazon) and a cup of homemade cold brew with a splash of oat milk.

Monday is my Sunday, so I finish cleaning the kitchen, catch up on emails, and order the special combo pho from a local Pho spot from Uber Eats (which comes out to be about $22 with tip). Pho is my go-to comfort food, and I order this bowl at least once a week.

Monday is also my day of rest, so I skip grocery shopping and cooking. For dinner, I reheat leftover purple rice with sesame soy beef and kimchi.

I start the morning with another Pure Protein shake, then head to Safeway for the week’s groceries. My spouse is traveling for work, so the list is shorter than usual. I always start in the meat section and work my way around the store, planning meals as I go. I love grocery shopping — seeing seasonal produce arrive and browsing the ice cream aisle brings me a lot of joy.

Knowing my work schedule this week, I pick up beef skewers, chicken thighs, and some vegetables to make a few versions of rice bowls for busy days. I can eat rice bowls for every meal because they’re filling, flexible, reheat well, and never feel repetitive, thanks to the variety of sauces, proteins, and side dishes I can add to them. 

I cook the three beef skewers right away because the “best by” date is for today (they’re half off for that reason). I whisk a quick sesame soy sauce to coat them and save two for later. I also make a big batch of purple rice for the week. For lunch, I assemble a bowl with one skewer, extra sauce, plenty of kimchi, and smashed cucumber left over from the weekend. A spoonful of Lao Gan Ma Chili Crisp (the best chili crisp!) ties it all together.

For dinner, I meet a friend at a local spot I’ve been going to for more than 10 years. We order sashimi, hamachi collar, fried oysters, grilled mackerel, agedashi tofu, and butter mushrooms, and split an ice cream for dessert. The bill comes to $100 per person with tip. 

I eat a more filling breakfast today because I’m spending the day in the kitchen. I have two hard-boiled eggs with a protein shake and drink a little too much cold brew.

For lunch, I eat another rice bowl with smashed cucumbers and a beef skewer I cooked yesterday.

As a professional baker, I’m surrounded by baked goods all day, so I don’t usually reach for them outside of work — but I have a weakness for warm baguettes. My last meal on Earth is likely a freshly baked baguette with salted Kerrygold butter and some jam. As we finish up, my assistant and I split one up and slather on butter and some fig jam I made with fruits from my backyard. 

For dinner, I make another rice bowl with the last beef skewer, some kimchi, and smashed cucumber.

I treat myself first thing to a matcha latte from a local coffee shop. Living near a food hall is so convenient, but so dangerous for my wallet. Today is my admin day, but I also plan some time to do some work on the birthday and wedding cakes for this weekend. 

I lose track of time answering emails and realize that I only have 5 minutes before I have to leave for an appointment, so I microwave a frozen gimbap. I got it last week at Costco, and it is great to have on hand for a quick snack. It is ready in three minutes, and the tuna and mayo filling is not too fishy and the vegetables are wonderfully crunchy.

I find some time in the afternoon to run to Trader Joe’s for some staples. I live in a close-knit neighborhood, and we often do block parties or have dinners together — especially for special occasions. My Ukrainian neighbor is smoking a brisket to celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day this Saturday, so I volunteer to make pampushky, Ukrainian garlic bread made with soft dinner rolls and plenty of parsley. I also pick up pâté for my baguette, a bag of rice crackers, and some carrots and shallots to make curry with the chicken thighs I bought on Tuesday. 

For dinner I need a break from eating rice bowls, so I check out a sushi spot with a friend. For my job it’s important to dine out often. I always make a note on what the place does well, and remember the interesting flavor combinations that I want to try later. 

We both opt for the premium all-you-can-eat option, and everything is delicious. My favorite bites are the crispy rice trio with spicy shrimp, and spicy octopus crispy taco. You may be able to tell at this point that I love crunch. I’m friendly with the chef and, while he couldn’t be there, he called in and gave us a 50% discount; my half of the check was $53.62 (I left a $45 cash tip). 

My very first thought this morning is about the chicken thighs I bought on Tuesday, so I skip my protein shake and coffee and immediately start cooking before heading into work. Unfortunately the chicken went bad, which is a bummer, because I was looking forward to making Japanese chicken curry to eat with rice. 

Good thing I find a bag of shrimp in the freezer. I make a big batch of shrimp fried rice with carrots, peas, eggs, the last of the bean sprouts, and edamame and eat a bowl for lunch. I have to bust out my wok to fit everything in. 

Before starting work, I make the dough for the pampushky for Saturday. I plan to bake it when I get home and reheat on Saturday to save time.

For dinner I come home early and reheat some shrimp fried rice in the wok, knowing that I won’t have time to do that for the rest of the week. The fried rice is fine when reheated in the microwave, but I love a bit of charred crunchy rice when the wok is properly hot. 

I treat myself to an espresso lemonade from a local coffee shop. This drink order may sound unusual, but it is so perfect for this time of year.

For lunch, I ate another shrimp fried rice bowl, and finish off the baguette from Wednesday with Trader Joe’s truffle pâté. My favorite way of reheating old bread is to spray it with water and bake in the oven at 400°F for 10 minutes because I do not have a toaster.

For dinner, I warm the dinner rolls and brush with garlic parsley butter. My neighbor smokes a beautiful wagyu brisket and makes coleslaw, creamed spinach, and a little salad. A dozen of us hang out on the porch with our plates and our dogs. It was a perfect night.

I have to work all day today, so besides my usual protein shake I pull a freshly baked cardamom bun off the tray and split it with my assistant. Pastries are at their best within the hour they are baked, and eating a warm cardamom bun is so satisfying.

I quickly eat a bowl of shrimp fried rice for lunch, and feel grateful that this is the very last of it. 

My neighbors call me over for some wine and snacks as I walk home, and I end up eating two smoked chicken lollipops. They are super juicy and delicious. 

For dinner, I order naem khao (crispy rice salad with fermented pork sausage) and grilled pork shoulder with toasted rice powder from a local spot on Uber Eats. I want something light but filling, as I am exhausted from work. The total is $30.47.

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