The cost of living is incessantly on the rise. Unfortunately, the price of food items don’t ever decrease and your salary never increases to match inflation. How often do you walk out of a grocery store with one bag that sets you back more than R300? In that bag are ingredients for one meal, with the hope of leftovers for lunch the next day. Two-minute noodles not included.

There is always that one week of your month when you wish you didn’t have to adult so hard. We’ve thought long and hard about how to give you a break from cooking, thinking about what to cook and shopping for the ingredients that you don’t have in your fridge. You can thank us later.

Five days, R832 and leave the rest to Mr D.

Meatless Monday – Bin Rashied
The less indecisions you have on a Monday, the better it turns out. Get home, kick-off your shoes, click on the MR D app, tell your partner supper is sorted and switch on your favourite Netflix show. Bin Rashied has a special on magherita pizzas that you can’t ignore – order the Hungerhero which is 2 x larger margherita or 2 x large garlic chitas or 1 x margherita & 1 x garlic chita for R149.90. Yes, that means lunch for the next day too.

Spicy Tuesdays – Simply Asia
Yes, it’s as simple as this. Tuesdays are such non-days. You can’t be angry because it’s not a Monday, and you can’t be happy because it’s not close enough to Friday. The solution is to eat well and give your Tuesday some meaning. The number 514 is a firm favourite (roasted chilli paste and cashew nut noodles with beef) will keep you looking forward to Tuesdays. And it only costs R94 each – R188 for two.

Pasta Wednesdays – Bella Italia
Humpday is all about the celebrations. A good tip is to place your Mr D order as you are leaving work, because timing is everything. Get home, take delivery, eat well and sprawl out on the couch until you have to Thursday. Pasta and Wednesdays go hand-in-hand. Why? Because they do. An Alfredo Pasta with a creamy sauce of ham and mushroom will cost R105,00 for one, and R210 for a couple. Just do it!

Thursday – Pizza Hut
After the Wednesday splurge, it’s time to get more bang for your buck. Lucky for you, Pizza Hut has a special on and a Boss Pizza with a 200ml cooldrink will only cost you R32.90 and to eat in for two, only R65.80. You can also choose this option every  day and spend only R329 for dinner for two on all 5 work night meals.

Friday – The Poke Co
The weekend has finally arrived which means you can look forward to either a night out or a leisurely Saturday morning sleep in, or both. We celebrate this auspicious day with a delicious bowl of goodness in the form of a poke bowl. At The Poke Co, the Charlie Tuna has a little of everything you don’t think you need, but so deserve. Sashimi, mango or papaya, salsa and sticky rice will cost you R218 for two portions or R109 for one.

The workweek is done and you’ve managed to catch up on your Netflix, maybe a little leftover work and even conversed with your significant other in-between all your chill time. The most daunting decision is what to cook, and whether you have the ingredients to prepare it. This means another trip to the grocery store and another R300 packet on at least 4 days of the week. Or you can connect, order and take some time for you. You’re welcome!

Pssstttt… one more tip: Mr D celebrates Happy Hour on weekdays between 4pm-6pm where you get 2-4-1 deals and tasty discounts off popular neighbourhood restaurants. You could bring this total down to R600 for a couple if you source the right deals for you. Happy eating.

Pictures: Supplied

Article written by

Nidha Narrandes is a food-obsessed travel addict with 21 years of journalism experience. Her motto - Travel. Eat. Repeat. She is happiest on a road to nowhere without a plan. A masterchef at home, she can't do without chilli - because chilli makes the world a tastier place.