To think it’s actually hard to live off this for the rest of the month?!

There are tons of cooking programmes on the tele. Some are very complicated like Masterchef, not for beginners, but others are more basic and give you the skills to make a decent meal. Learning to cook is like any other skill, you have to start at the bottom, then when you get more confident you can move up a level or two. I've been cooking for donkey's years but I can't chop veg like the pros, I'd end up with no fingers.

I'm in the unfortunate position of having to buy all my kitchen things again, from scratch, so yesterday I went shopping and bought a stock pot (non-stick) and a medium size (20cm) stainless steel saucepan and a sieve and colander. Plus a set of 3 different kitchen knives and a few basic utensils. Along with a chopping board (a set if you are a meat eater - you need different ones for veg, raw meat and cooked meat) you are set to go.

I use the stock pot for stews, curries etc and because it is non-stick you don't end up with burnt offerings on the bottom. Don't use metal utensils with non-stick. The st/st pan I use for veg, eg potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, peas and beans etc. A smaller non-stick pan is useful if you heat up soups and baked beans. A lot of things you can do on the hob without bothering with the oven at all. If you like sausages and burgers then you will need a frying pan, but if you buy a lidded saute pan you can use it for frying/sauteing and stir-frying.

As your repertoire grows you will add more gizmos but you don't need much more than these. You probably have most of the above but are afraid to use them. Don't be. Have a go and you might surprise yourself.

@munnyya do you have anyone that can show you a few basic cooking skills? Learning to cook is very important, teaching your dd is too. I grew up knowing basics, but very poor (money poor) & old school northern cooking basics, so lots of stewed to death food. My other cooking skills I learnt myself throughout adulthood.

Just start with a couple of basics, read up on how to cook meat, what seasoning goes with what food then when you have a day to experiment give it a go. I was once given a book which showed me how to cut meat, store food, how to pair foods, it was amazing. Charity shops are full of cook books.

@twopercent but if she already has a dishwasher buying a box of Aldi dishwasher tablets isn't going to be expensive, and running a full dishwasher is actually cheaper than washing up by hand several times a day. I'm in the fortunate position of being able to bulk buy items like this, but tablets really aren't expensive.
Would you suggest that she washes clothes by hand too? ( I have a relative who would not allow his wife to have a washing machine as he considered it to be unnecessary. She now has an automatic and can't believe how much easier life is)

@munnyya how are you doing today?

Nosh is an excellent book

400 pound does my family of 6 (2 adults, 14, 13, 2 and 4 months for a month. It's only been like this for a while though, we started buying essentials for the cupboards (spices, seasonings different pastas ect) and building them up. We go to the butchers for all our meat and sack of potatoes and do the cupboard/fridge/freezer stuff from aldi. This also includes shower gels shampoos ect from places like home bargains. Plus nappies, wipes and baby milk.

I'll just add my partners a chef so for example we buy 5kg tub of chicken and we get breasts and tenders from each one as he knows how to break them down, some months were left with extra meat and we just buy the same as the month before so now we have a freezer of meat building up too.

We meal plan every month, write it down put it on the whiteboard and stick to it.

Have you considered a house boy to do it for you?

Has to be the fairy. The counter top would have to go above washing machine blocking half the window lol

The only other alternative is a table or counter top one, they generally take 6 place settings. Failing this a bottle of fairy and a pair of marigolds.

Dd can eat the same meals as you, doesn't need their own separate special toddler food!

Jacket potatoes and pasta are cheap, easy meals that aren't really cooking.

How is it nasty to point out that you don't need to use the dishwasher? You have come on here saying you find it hard to manage on what is actually a very reasonable amount of money, and we have given you some pointers as to why.

i know you don't see a dishwasher as a luxury! That is the issue, isn't it. You are taking luxuries for granted.

And learn to cook, it isn't difficult of expensive to do, your daughter will benefit from fresh home cooked food instead of UHP ready meals, which are likely to lead to obesity, and all its complications.

Also on instagram there are loads of money saving people that show you how to feed a family for a fiver etc… maybe take a look at that

It's not space it's the fact the wall where the washing machine and sink are goes from the back door to the wall. on. The corner there is then a 30cm cupboard with 60 cm cooker next to it then drawers. Then the entrance door.

You can get a 45cm slimline one if space is tight, unfortunately they are still about the same price as a 60cm.

The dishwasher needs to be full for it to work out cheaper.

I don't but merely because the set up of my kitchen and doesnt allow for one. Id either gave to remove washing machine, block up back door or move cooker and gas pipe

I genuinely don't know anyone who doesn't have a dishwasher....I know a lot who have 2 (and I do myself!).

I've lived in so many houses and I've never had a dishwasher and only known a couple of people who have how strange! I'm clearly missing out!

PS we had a dishwasher in the 1970s.

If DD is not still creating pooey clothes, you can get an Eco ball (and if she is, powder is much better and can be a lot cheaper). I think it's the clothes washing tablets people are wondering about.

Aldi dishwasher tablets are the best we've found.
I'm not sure if you have a car but if you don't, a shopping trolley will help you to get to the supermarket (though maybe walking with the buggy and shopping under the buggy will be easier).

You definitely do need to learn to cook from scratch, though. Some things are cheaper ready made (breaded fish, or chicken) or frozen (veg are way cheaper frozen) but so many things are cheaper made from scratch. Simple things though like baked potatoes, potato wedges if the oven is on for fish fingers, pasta sauce from tinned tomatoes and an onion not from a jar.

And not being taught to cook is a bummer, but it really doesnt have to define you moving forward

Ignore the nastiness, we havent all had the same lives, I mean I HAD to learn to cook because I grew up in a very abusive household, didn't learn - didn't eat - simple

Learn just one thing, I could cook a roast dinner aged 14, but ask for scrambled eggs and it was something I had to learn

Actually learning how to make an omelette will be a great start. Learn how to make an omelette, you then learn how to make quiche and pancakes and frittata and scrambled eggs - cheap and nutritious are eggs, and they take flavour from everything so an egg can actually be a beautiful meal . Even an egg mashed in a cup with a few fingers of toast can be pure ambrosia when compared to a ready meal.

Stop beating yourself up, get through this month, start looking at different cooks online, think about what it is you like to eat, find that one recipe that has what you already have in, and give it a go

If you need a hand hold, my inbox is open. Its not easy, life is never easy. Saving on the supermarket shop will make things just a tad easier

I live on a tiny pension and a 16 hrs NMW job so Im used to cutting costs from the food shop so I can afford a 3 monthly hair cut and save so we get a few days away. Its getting harder for sure but I do what I have to do. I still need to live so learning and cooking differently allows us to still eat well ( and healthy ) and I can still put a wee bit aside

Honestly I love my dishwasher with all my heart and soul! I've HATED it whenever I've lived in properties without one

And I imagine it’s a fair bit higher than 49% now.
I’ve had a dishwasher in every house I’ve lived in since moving out of home, and I’ve lived in some dives!

There's so much dishwasher judgement on this thread.

49% of households in the UK have dishwashers, and they are more cost efficient than washing up by hand due to the amount of hot water used. They're not an unusual item to own and buying dishwasher tablets is a normal thing to do if you own a dishwasher.

Whatever you think about whether they are a luxury, OP has one, and is using it - which is actually the cheaper method of washing dishes!

If OP washed up by hand it would cost her MORE.

If you fill your dishwasher before running it they are supposedly more efficient than washing up as they use less hot water.