Here are some suggestions for budget-friendly meals you can cook at home in Singapore.
Try making fried rice with leftover vegetables, eggs, and a bit of soy sauce. It’s quick, filling, and customizable with whatever you have on hand. Another easy option is chicken porridge (congee), which uses simple ingredients like rice, chicken, and ginger.
You can also prepare stir-fried noodles using instant noodles, mixed vegetables, and a protein such as tofu or sliced fishcake. For something heartier, consider curry potato stew — just potatoes, carrots, onions, and a packet of curry paste served with rice.
Egg omelette with tomatoes or bitter gourd is another affordable dish packed with flavour. Lastly, don’t forget classic economical bee hoon (fried vermicelli) with cabbage and a side of luncheon meat or fishballs. These dishes are easy to make, require minimal ingredients, and are kind on your wallet.
Meals from the Reddit Discussion
1. Indomee Survival Kit
Cost per serving: ~S$0.50
- Ingredients: 1 packet Indomee, 1/3 cucumber, slice of bread, Milo powder
- Instructions:
- Cook Indomee according to package directions
- Slice cucumber thinly, eat 1/3 with the noodles
- Have bread as side or save for later
- Mix Milo with water for drink
- Tips: Stretch cucumber across 3 meals, save seasoning packets to flavor other dishes
2. Rice, Egg & Soy Sauce Classic
Cost per serving: ~S$0.80
- Ingredients: 1 cup cooked rice, 1 egg, 1 tbsp soy sauce, optional: chili garlic oil
- Instructions:
- Cook rice (make large batch to last days)
- Scramble egg or fry sunny-side up
- Mix rice with soy sauce
- Top with egg
- Upgrade: Add luncheon meat slice if budget allows (+S$0.30)
3. Protein-Rice-Vegetable Trinity
Cost per serving: ~S$1.40 (S$10 for 7 servings)
- Ingredients: 100g chicken thigh/drumstick, 1 cup rice, handful lettuce/cabbage
- Instructions:
- Buy cheapest chicken parts in bulk
- Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder
- Pan-fry or boil chicken
- Serve with rice and raw/blanched vegetables
- Storage: Cook chicken in batches, refrigerate portions
4. Cabbage Potato Survival Soup
Cost per serving: ~S$0.60
- Ingredients: 1 medium potato, 2 cups chopped cabbage, salt, pepper, water
- Instructions:
- Dice potato, boil until tender
- Add chopped cabbage, cook 5 minutes
- Season with salt and pepper
- Serve with rice to bulk up
- Upgrade: Add egg or milk if available
5. Red Bean Bun Strategy
Cost per serving: ~S$0.30
- Ingredients: 6-pack red bean buns (S$1.80-2.00)
- Instructions:
- Eat 3 buns per day maximum
- Drink lots of water to feel fuller
- Save remaining buns properly
- Warning: Not nutritionally complete, use only short-term
Additional Ultra-Budget Meal Ideas
6. Congee Base
Cost per serving: ~S$0.40
- Ingredients: 1/2 cup rice, 4 cups water, salt, optional egg
- Instructions:
- Rinse rice until water runs clear
- Bring 4 cups water to boil, add rice
- Reduce heat to low, simmer 45-60 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes
- When rice breaks down into porridge consistency, season with salt
- For egg version: Beat 1 egg, slowly pour into hot congee while stirring
- Variations: Add soy sauce, preserved vegetables, or any leftover protein
- Storage: Keeps 3 days refrigerated, add water when reheating
7. Bread & Peanut Butter Power
Cost per serving: ~S$0.50
- Ingredients: 2 slices bread, 1 tbsp peanut butter
- Instructions:
- Toast bread if possible (saves peanut butter from soaking in)
- Spread peanut butter thinly but evenly
- Cut into smaller pieces to eat slowly
- Drink water throughout to help with satiety
- Upgrade: Add banana slices if available (+S$0.20)
- Why it works: Protein and carbs for sustained energy
8. Instant Noodle Upgrade
Cost per serving: ~S$0.70
- Ingredients: 1 packet instant noodles, 1 egg, handful of cabbage/bean sprouts
- Instructions:
- Boil 2 cups water in pot
- Add chopped vegetables first, cook 2 minutes
- Add noodles (break in half for easier eating)
- Cook 2 minutes, add seasoning packet
- Crack egg directly into soup, don’t stir immediately
- Let egg cook 1 minute, then gently stir to create egg ribbons
- Pro tip: Save half the seasoning packet for flavoring rice later
9. Banana Pancakes (2-Ingredient)
Cost per serving: ~S$0.60
- Ingredients: 1 very ripe banana, 1 egg, pinch of salt
- Instructions:
- Mash banana completely with fork (no lumps)
- Beat egg separately, then mix into banana
- Add tiny pinch of salt
- Let mixture rest 5 minutes
- Heat pan on medium-low (no oil needed if non-stick)
- Pour small portions, cook 2 minutes per side
- Flip when edges look set
- Tips: Overripe bananas work best, makes 4-6 small pancakes
10. Lentil Power Soup (Makes 4 servings)
Cost per serving: ~S$0.80
- Ingredients: 1 cup dried red lentils, 1 onion, 4 cups water, salt, pepper
- Instructions:
- Rinse lentils until water runs clear
- Dice onion finely
- Boil water, add lentils and onion
- Simmer 20-25 minutes until lentils break down
- Stir occasionally, add more water if needed
- Season with salt and pepper to taste
- Mash partially with spoon for thicker consistency
- Serving: Eat with rice or bread for complete protein
11. Egg Drop Soup
Cost per serving: ~S$0.45
- Ingredients: 2 cups water, 1 egg, 1 tsp soy sauce, pinch of salt, cornstarch (optional)
- Instructions:
- Boil water in pot
- Add soy sauce and salt
- Beat egg in bowl
- Slowly drizzle beaten egg into boiling water while stirring
- Creates silky egg ribbons
- Optional: Mix 1 tsp cornstarch with cold water, add for thickness
- Bulk it up: Add any leftover vegetables or serve over rice
12. Sweet Potato Mash
Cost per serving: ~S$0.65
- Ingredients: 1 medium sweet potato, salt, tiny bit of butter/oil if available
- Instructions:
- Wash sweet potato, poke holes with fork
- Microwave 5-7 minutes until soft, or boil 15 minutes
- Let cool, peel skin off
- Mash with fork, add pinch of salt
- Add tiny amount of butter/oil if available
- Why it’s great: High in vitamins, naturally sweet, very filling
13. Cabbage Rolls (Budget Version)
Cost per serving: ~S$0.85
- Ingredients: 4 large cabbage leaves, 1/2 cup cooked rice, 1 egg, soy sauce
- Instructions:
- Blanch cabbage leaves in boiling water 2 minutes
- Mix cooked rice with beaten egg and soy sauce
- Place rice mixture on cabbage leaf
- Roll up tightly, secure with toothpick if needed
- Steam 10 minutes or pan-fry gently
- Makes: 4 rolls, very filling
14. Oat Porridge
Cost per serving: ~S$0.35
- Ingredients: 1/2 cup rolled oats, 1 cup water, pinch of salt, sugar if available
- Instructions:
- Boil water with pinch of salt
- Add oats, reduce heat to low
- Simmer 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally
- Add sugar to taste if available
- Serve hot
- Upgrade: Add banana, peanut butter, or milk if budget allows
15. Tomato Rice
Cost per serving: ~S$0.90
- Ingredients: 1 cup rice, 1 can crushed tomatoes (cheapest), salt, pepper, garlic powder
- Instructions:
- Cook rice with slightly less water than usual
- Heat crushed tomatoes in pan
- Season tomatoes with salt, pepper, garlic powder
- Mix hot rice with tomato sauce
- Let flavors meld for 5 minutes
- Bulk cooking: Makes 3-4 servings, improves next day
16. Bean Sprout Stir-Fry
Cost per serving: ~S$0.55
- Ingredients: 200g bean sprouts, 1 egg, soy sauce, garlic powder
- Instructions:
- Heat pan (use minimal oil or water)
- Add bean sprouts, stir-fry 3 minutes
- Push sprouts to one side
- Scramble egg in empty side of pan
- Mix together, season with soy sauce and garlic powder
- Tips: Bean sprouts are very cheap and add crunch and nutrition
Shopping Strategy for Maximum Stretch
S$10 Weekly Shopping List:
- 5kg rice: S$3.50
- 12 eggs: S$2.50
- 1kg chicken drumsticks: S$2.00
- 1 whole cabbage: S$1.00
- Soy sauce/salt/basic seasonings: S$1.00
Sample Week Menu:
- Breakfast: Congee with egg (3 days), Banana pancakes (2 days), Oat porridge (2 days)
- Lunch: Rice with chicken and cabbage (4 days), Lentil soup (3 days)
- Dinner: Instant noodle upgrade (3 days), Cabbage potato soup (4 days)
S$5 Emergency Weekly List:
- 2kg rice: S$1.50
- 6 eggs: S$1.25
- 1 packet instant noodles (10-pack): S$2.00
- Basic seasonings: S$0.25
Emergency Week Menu:
- Breakfast: Rice with egg and soy sauce
- Lunch: Instant noodles with egg
- Dinner: Rice congee with salt
Survival Tips
Cooking Hacks:
- Batch cook: Make large portions, eat over 2-3 days
- Rice cooker: If you have one, it’s your best friend for hands-off cooking
- Season smartly: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and soy sauce go far
- Save cooking water: Use noodle/vegetable water for soup base
Nutritional Survival:
- Eggs are gold: Cheapest complete protein source
- Don’t skip vegetables: Even cheap cabbage prevents deficiencies
- Drink lots of water: Helps with hunger and health
- Take any free vitamins: If available from health centers
Psychological Tips:
- Eat slowly: Makes you feel fuller
- Stay busy: Distraction from hunger
- Early bedtime: Saves on dinner and utilities
- Free activities: Walking, library visits instead of spending money
Emergency Resources:
- Community centers: Sometimes have free meal programs
- Religious organizations: Many offer assistance regardless of faith
- Food banks: Available in Singapore for those in genuine need
- Soup kitchens: Free meals at various locations
Important Health Notes
⚠️ These are survival measures, not long-term solutions:
- Seek help from social services if struggling long-term
- Watch for signs of malnutrition (fatigue, hair loss, mood changes)
- Prioritize protein and vegetables when possible
- Don’t skip meals entirely – small portions are better than nothing
Remember: These situations are temporary. Focus on getting through the immediate crisis while working toward better financial stability.
Smart Shopping
- Buy vegetables from wet markets (30-40% cheaper)
- Purchase meat in bulk, freeze in portions
- Use frozen vegetables (nutritious, no waste)
- Shop at wholesale stores for staples]
Meal Prep Strategies
- Cook grains in bulk (rice, pasta, quinoa)
- Prepare proteins in batches
- Pre-cut vegetables on weekends
- Make soups/stews in large quantities
Waste Reduction
- Plan meals around similar ingredients
- Use vegetable scraps for stock
- Freeze herbs in oil for later use
- Repurpose leftovers creatively
Break-Even Timeline
- Month 1-2: Higher costs due to initial investment
- Month 3-4: Approaching break-even point
- Month 5+: Real savings begin (S$100-200/month potential savings)
When Meal Prep Makes Sense
✅ You work regular hours with predictable schedule ✅ You enjoy cooking and trying new recipes ✅ You have dietary restrictions/health goals ✅ You want portion control ✅ You have adequate kitchen space and equipment
When to Skip Meal Prep
❌ Irregular schedule/frequent travel ❌ Tiny kitchen with limited equipment ❌ Strong preference for variety ❌ Social lunch culture at workplace ❌ Time is more valuable than money saved
Food Delivery Options:
- Limited Information: Most establishments appear to be dine-in focused
- Takeaway Available: Several hawker stalls and coffee shops
- No Delivery Mentioned: For most locations
Tourist Accessibility:
- Highest Value: Maxwell Food Centre, Tong Ah Eating House, Original Katong Laksa, Atlas Bar
- Moderate Accessibility: Most hawker centres and established restaurants
- Advance Planning Required: The Ampang Kitchen, Burnt Ends reservations
Cultural Significance:
- Historical: Tong Ah (1939), Singapore Zam Zam (1908), Song Fa (1969)
- Heritage Preservation: Kim Choo Kueh Chang, Tan’s Tu Tu Coconut Cake
- Modern Innovation: Burnt Ends, Cloudstreet, % Arabica
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