TIPS FOR HAVING NO MONEY

[BellaElla99]

Hi,

I need help with money as everything is getting so expensive, as a single parent, I am extremely overwhelmed. I can’t afford to top up my pre-payment meter and I can’t afford any new clothes to keep my children warm in the house this winter.

I am struggling so please be kind. If you’ve been poor/are poor or just extremely frugal, please give me your best tips to cope with this winter? Anything from tips to keep warm, tips to keep the kids warm, cheap meal options (have £10 per week left for shopping for December). We will be going to the local church for Christmas dinner and we can watch Christmas films with Christmas shaped toast for breakfast. Kids are young so they won’t know the difference but I need advice for leading up to this!

Thanks so much :)

[Keepitonthedownlow]

Bump

[Patapouf]

Short term, get a referral to a good bank and take a good look at your budget to see where you can make cut backs.

Medium-long term see what you can do about improving your income, there's a very good earn £10 a day thread on Mumsnet 😊

[ArblemarchTFruitbat]

tips to keep warm

Hot water bottles instead of electric blanket/having the heating on.

[Luredbyapomegranate]

Do you use money saving expert? There will be good tips on there. Also someone asked a question about very low cost Christmas for kid on here quite recently so look for that thread. There are lots of threads for low cost meals.

I’m sure people with more knowledge will be along in the morning. But, The Salvation Army and Action for Children do present collections, so get in touch with them. Contact your local food bank if you haven’t. Contact citizens advice
to check you are claiming all the grants you should. Your local church should be able to put you in touch with clothing charities. Check in your local library for free kids events - and again, check your local church for that too. If you end up feeling really overwhelmed do also go and see your GP.

Pull in all the help you can. I do hope things gradually improve, but in the meantime you sound like a lovely mum and I bet your kids will have a great Christmas.

[Mabelface]

Contact your energy supplier. You might get some credit. Definitely get a food bank referral.

[Puffalicious]

Oh love,

Can the church refer you to a charity that provide some gifts for the kids? In my city there's a huge drive where people take a child (anonymously) and provide a present. Do you think there's one like that near you?

We also have a fabulous clothes bank where you can choose warm clothes for you and the kids. Is there one nearby?

Can you get a referral to a food bank for some extra items over the Christmas period?

Are they in school? Schools, surprisingly, can help with good 2nd hand school wear/ outdoor coats and shoes.

I'm thinking of you and sending Christmas warmth to you.

[MoreRainbowsPlease]

We have had periods of being really skint. We got through them by just spreading everything out. All bottles of shower gel, washing up liquid, hand soap etc got watered down once they got to the end to get every last drop out. Meals could be very random as we used up whatever was left in the cupboards and freezer until pay day.

I found my slow cooker cheaper to use than the oven or hob so did lots of meals in that. The kids regularly had a hot chocolate drink to warm them up (we always had the cheapest essentials supermarket stuff). We had a couple of sleeping bags in the living room to sit in to keep warm. When my kids were really small they would sleep in bed with us which kept us all warmer.

Meals wise I did lots of slow cooker stews and casseroles. I would be the cheap vegetables and was often lucky in that I used to go to Lidl in the evening and buy their reduced meat. They used to have a couple of nights a week when there seemed to be lots of meat reduced so I would buy as much as I could and freeze it.

We used to have a bath to warm up although all 4 of us used the same bath water which lots of people on here would be disgusted by. Before my kids went to school we went to as many toddler and parent groups that were free as possible. They were generally somewhere warm and often they did snacks for the kids so that helped. I was also lucky in that my mum quite often had us round for dinner once a fortnight.

Sorry you are in this position. It is really horrible having no money. Things are a bit better for us now, but both DP and I are always worried about being as poor as we were 10 years ago.

[Hairyfriend]

I'm currently living my 2nd winter in a static van with only single glazing and absolutely no insulation at all.

• Bubble wrap on windows helps with insulation
• Exclude any draughts getting underdoors. A wrapped up towel works as well as a draught excluder.
• Only heating the lounge area- or space you all spend time in
• I agree with speaking to GP/Social worker about referral to a food bank
• Frozen veg often have more nutrients than fresh so stock up on frozen peas/corn/carrots when you can
• Lidl give you £10 off if you spend £100 a month there
• Baked potatoes can be filling and cheap. I scrub and cook in the microwave for 10mins before crisping in the oven. Fillings can be tinned tuna/frozen sweetcorn and mayonnaise, bacon/pineapple/spring onions or just cheese and bakes beans.
• Olio is good for local, free food and household items.

[NotJustACigar]

Download the Olio app and look for free food near you and other items on there. You can also request items on the app and I suggest requesting fleeces the kids can wear in the house if they don't already have them. Oversized is fine, they don't have to be kids fleeces.

[amsadandconfused]

We live in a village that has a food larder every Friday. £2 to fill up a bag and the food is fresh and tasty.

[SleepingStandingUp]

Can you go e some more detail so people can go e some broader advice @BellaElla99? How odl are the kids? Are you working? What benefits are you getting? Is their Dad contributing? Are the kids in school?

Charity shops for presents and clothes, esp good if you can get to a posher part of town as the donations are better.
Oats are cheap, make with water and some own brand jam, will help warm you up and fill everyone up.
We had many a hair wash as kids with washing up liquid when the shampoo ran out.
Extr layers on the bed (coats, jackets etc) will help keep you warm.

[HalfShrunkMoreToGo]

Pick a room to hang out in, A few years ago when the boiler clapped out and we couldn't afford to fix it straight away DD and I would hang out in my room watching films, reading, playing games, doing drawing etc in bed. Tucked up in the duvet with a hot water bottle it felt cosy and warm.

If you have any friends or family with older kids, do they have any outgrown kids clothes they could hand down?

I'd buy the cheap big cartons of apple juice and we'd have that or squash warm so DD was having lots of warm drinks too, as well as cheap filling, hot food like porridge and vegetable soup/casserole.

If you have any points on loyalty cards you can use those for a bit of shopping.

Look up to make sure you are getting all benefits you are entitled to, I think there's some kind of warm home discount to help with heating costs for people on certain benefits, there may also be holiday schemes in your area to help with kids food and activities fir you are low income.

[BlankTimes]

This will help you to see where your money is going OP
www.stoozing.com/soa.php

You may be able to make some changes.

[Angliski]

Our children’s centre has free secondhand clothes on a rail in the entrance. Are there any near you that might do the same? I also buy warm clothes off eBay for as little as a pound for a coat. Search for what you need eg winter coat, then filter by auction then sort by lowest price first and bid on the item that’s going to end soon.

[MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry]

@BlankTimes

This will help you to see where your money is going OP
www.stoozing.com/soa.php

You may be able to make some changes.

I’m certain OP knows exactly where her money goes! When you have very little you watch every penny. How condescending.

[Kippersfortea]

Food bank, some can give fuel vouchers.
Local schemes for those on low income, some have schemes for fuel poverty too.

Do you have a microwave? They use a lot less energy than a conventional oven to cook, and also if you can get those microwave weight bags they are great to keep warm (and no spill risk unlike hot water bottles, although those are also great ofc).

Can you afford energy for hot water? If not there are savings to be had by sharing baths, having shallower baths/quicker showers, bucket baths or strip washes. I can go a few days without putting the hot water on at all if I use kettle water to make one bowl for dishes, and fill another to wash with.

Food wise potatoes, other root veg try and find the ones called wonky or imperfect in the supermarket you get a lot more for your money. Meat or fish wise, frozen or tinned it cheaper than fresh, but you can also get some great bargains if you work out when the discounted items go on sale (it varies from shop to shop and so does the amount of discount and whether there will be people fighting you for it or not). Beans and pulses are really cheap and filling. Stew is great, if you have a slow cooker they are often cheaper to run than a hob. Once cooked, you can have stew or thick soup for days, just pop what you need in the microwave and serve with lots of cheap bread, buttered. Eggs are a brilliant source of protein. If you are struggling to afford milk, you can water down 'blue' milk 50:50 full fat milk to water tastes much the same as semi skimmed, you can use the unwatered down half for the kids to drink, and the rest for hot drinks and to cook with. Porridge can be cooked with water, but tastes much more luxurious with milk. If you can't afford milk, soaking the oats over night in water will turn the water into a kind of oat milk anyway, though. Hot drinks are great because they warm you from the inside. Clothes wise, layer up. They don't need to be particularly warm clothes in themselves, actually older thinner clothes which are softer and more worn can work better for layering and keep you just as warm.

When I was in a bad financial situation I went to the food bank and they got me in contact with other agencies who delivered all kinds for my kids including nappies, wipes, formula milk, extra blankets, second hand clothes bundles, and even some toys and treats. They even bought some treats for me too, just some smellies and socks but lifted me at a time when I needed it!

Going to the church for Christmas dinner sounds great, are there other church actives toil could do? Some churches offer Sunday breakfast or lunch, after school clubs for older kids and activities during the day for younger ones, and other community things like that. Also depending on the church they might do a whip around to get some old toys and clothes donated. They might have access for church funds for times of hardship. It is always worth asking.

I hope your money stretches far and your Christmas is magical

[Kippersfortea]

I remember being advised to go on a budgeting course when I had no money too! I responded that there was no point as I already knew how to budget I just didn't have any money to budget with.

[Femwitch]

For keeping warm in the house, clothing layers are really important. Polar fleece- even the really cheap stuff - is exceptional insulation. If you wear a fleece with another close-knit or woven layer over the top (eg sweatshirt, shirt, windbreaker, hoodie) it will be heaps warmer than the fleece by itself, as the outer layer helps trap the warm air in the fleece so it stays next to your body . Sleeping bags work like this. If you have a sleeping bag it will be a really warm lap/sofa blanket.

[MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry]

@Kippersfortea

I remember being advised to go on a budgeting course when I had no money too! I responded that there was no point as I already knew how to budget I just didn't have any money to budget with.

Exactly this! I get so sick of seeing stuff like “take lunch from home instead of buying it out” well fucking DUH!!! I’m not skint because I’ve been in Nando’s every day, I’m skint because the cost of petrol, home heating oil, food and electric have soared!

[Femwitch]

Sorry posted too soon meant to say polar fleece is a good example but any layers will work - multiple layers creates the heat pockets that keep the warmth in so you can use whatever you have. If you have some extra layers the kids can put a sweatshirt of yours over whatever they have on and it will help enormously.
Beanie hats in the house also really help as a lot of heat is lost through the head.

[Unsure1983]

Gumtree free stuff in your area for the kids clothes. You can post that you are looking for kids clothes and might get a good response.

[ShineySparkleyChrissmassy]

This is more for the future because it requires some initial outlay.

Blankets and hot water bottle when you're sat on the sofa. Cheapest is to find a pile of second hand blankets on Facebook from someone who's had a clear out. Check the size before agreeing price in case they're tiny baby blankets.

Hoodies and a scarf makes a lot of difference to being warm, humans lose a lot of heat through their heads. Outgrown jumpers make good woolly vests if you cut the sleeves off and cut a slit to make a V at the front so their head fits through easier. Looks rubbish but you can't see with another jumper on top. Long sleeve shirt or t-shirt under jumper as well as vest. If you have tights or leggings wear them under trousers or jeans for an extra layer. Thin socks topped with thick socks, then slippers or keep your trainers on if no slippers.

Sleep in your bathrobe with the hood up as well as pyjamas and socks if it's freezing. Add your hot water bottle and the blankets from the sofa.

Rice pudding (amount per person): half cup rice, one cup milk, two cups water. Bring to the boil in a saucepan, then simmer while constantly stirring, keep tasting and when the rice is soft, drain off water and serve, with a teaspoon of sugar and a big spoonful of jam mixed in per person. Fills you up for ages and is a sweet treat for DC.

Porridge is filling too, the own brand bags of it at the supermarket are cheapest, half cup each of porridge, water and milk, microwave for a couple minutes.

Massive box of eggs, they'll keep at least 3 weeks in the fridge and a few days after they've been cooked too. Boil them on the job or poach them in the microwave (bowl of water, crack open an egg, 6min on half power) or make scrambled egg on toast.

Pasta (can be done in the microwave, half power 8min) with cheese, tinned tomatoes, vegetables, tomato soup (as a sauce) all mixed in with pepper to season.

Banana is filling.

Bread with jam.

Tins of soup with bread.

Own brand digestive biscuits.

Own brand squash juice, cup of water, microwave 1 1/2 mins to save boiling the kettle.

Casserole: water, any vegetables and meat, stock cube, bones (remove before eating), pearl barley (near the pasta etc in the shop), dollop of Bovril, boil then simmer (or oven) until hot and cooked/soft.

Spaghetti mixed with baked beans.

Beans on toast.

Cheese and tomato sandwiches.

If you run out of washing powder put whatever you've got in the machine. A squirt of washing up liquid, shampoo or floor cleaner will work just as well.

Flour and water mixed into a paste for glue and rip up magazines to make paper chains to decorate the room. Use clothes pegs to hold the loops together until dry.

Visit the library, it's warm, dry and free.

[OmaSwims]

Olio app, as already mentioned. Different people do pickups at different times so it's always worth trying to find out when things are likely to be posted.
Is there a local community fridge? Churches are often really good at knowing about things like that.
The town where I live has a community help group, based on facebook, where anyone can ask for help/food/clothes. Is there something similar where you are?
It's hard to ask sometimes, but I bet you'd help a friend, if you could. Strangers are just people you haven't met yet.
Good luck

[Unsure1983]

For meals:
Kidney beans 30p x 8 = 2.40 (stew in oil, water, tomato puree and spices and eat with mash, rice, potatoes)
500g red lentils = 1.15 (10-15 portions)
Reduced bread and freeze it
Sunflower spread = 0.79
Cheap sandwich spreads x4 = 1.80 (15-20 servings)
15 eggs = 1.20
Tomato puree x4 = 1.50
1kg pasta x2 = 2.80 (40 servings)
1kg rice x2 = 2.40 (40 servings)
Oil x2 = 2.30
2.5kg potatoes x2 = 2.00
1 large chicken = 4.00
20 frozen sausages = 1.00
10 burgers = 1.62
8x baked beans = 2.00
Ketchup = 0.65
Hot chocolate = 1.00
Sugar = 0.54
Cake = 1.00

Leaves you with about £10 spare. You can get some decent frozen meat and fish and veg for under a quid each and just have with rice/potatoes/pasta.

[TheBabyBoo]

You can ask your energy supplier to move you off a prepayment meter, unless you are paying off a debt to them.

If you are in debt to them, a lot of the supplier have trust who can award you a grant to pay off the debt so you can then move off the prepayment meter, and it’s much cheaper that way. You might need a credit check or deposit to move though.

If you are in rented accommodation your landlord doesn’t need to give permission for the change, although hey can withhold deposit money if you don’t change it back when you move out.

If it dips below 0 where you live for seven days and you are on certain benefits you can get a cold weather payment.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/your-energy-meter/get-your-prepayment-meter-replaced-with-a-normal-meter/

fuelpovertyresource.org.uk/focus-on/fuel-debt-and-trust-funds/

www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment

www.nea.org.uk/wash-advice/

If you’re in Scotland, North or England or NI and you have ScotMid shops nearby, if you become a member it costs £1 and they give you £10 in vouchers for their shops. It takes a few weeks to come through they. I think they also own Lakes and Dales Co-op so if you are in their area worth checking if they have the same deal.