How to live on £300 per month? Or raise extra cash tips please ?

[frazzled74]

Or both? It's only a short term financial dip due to a cut in pay and a few big unexpected bills but really want to get back on track. Is £300 a month for family of 5, food and toiletries etc doable for a few months? Any good tips for raising extra cash? Don't think I have much to eBay! Any suggestions appreciated.

[SugarMiceInTheRain]

Definitely doable for food toiletries etc. £75 a week is what I spend for a family of 4 (well, 5 now, but youngest is only 2 weeks old!) without being particularly careful.

My main tip would be to meal plan - make sure nothing is being wasted, you don't impulse buy, but stick to your list. Also do not shop when hungry.

Cut down on the amount of meat/ chicken etc in meals and bulk things out using pulses, rice, pasta etc.

Do your main shop at Aldi or Lidl, buy bread/ milk etc from Farmfoods - these things make a big difference - if I'm skint I can probably save £20 on each weekly shop by going to these places instead of Asda or Tesco.

Car booting can raise the odd extra £50, particularly if you have unwanted Christmas gifts, toys children have grown out of etc. Though it's not the best weather for car boot sales right now!