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

@ConsuelaHammock I think the OP is at such a level that she doesn't know how to roast a chicken, or make a curry or stir fry.

She needs a really simple guide like

How to roast a chicken
How to make a casserole
How to make a pasta sauce
How to make cheese sauce
How to cook a piece of fish
How to make shepherds pie/curry/risotto/stir fry etc.

It’s enough and you’ll be ok.
If you’re not confident with cooking have a look online for simple meals. Buy in season. Buy the cheaper fruit and veg. Carrots, parsnips, cabbage, apples, oranges bananas. Buy a large chicken to roast and have it with veg and potatoes. Then use the chicken to make a curry or stir fry. You can freeze it for another time or use in sandwiches. There are lots of delicious vegetarian and vegan recipes online too. I’d buy a slow cooker in your situation and have a look at slow cooker recipes- you essentially just brown the meat and bung everything in. It’s not difficult and the more you do it the more confident you will become. Have a look at Bored of lunch on instagram.
Use half the washing liquid for your clothes - avoid the tabs as they are too expensive, you need softener either. Only put on a full load of washing. Change bedding every fortnight and use towels more than once. Shampoo is shampoo and can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be. Use a good conditioner instead. If toddler is old enough start toilet training as you’ll save on nappies. Have a look through wardrobes / toybox and sell stuff you don’t need. If you’re not sure where to start it’s incredibly easy to feel completely overwhelmed and just stick to what you know and what is easiest. Get a notebook and plan the next few days meals. Take it one step at a time. You’ll be ok.

I wasn’t looking down my nose at someone who hasn’t learned how to cook. I didn’t know how to cook until well into my 20’s and I started doing things like googling “how to make bolognese”.

The OP isn’t at a massive disadvantage because she wasn’t taught. Most people aren’t taught. We use the internet to figure it out. It is very easy to find simple recipes and loads of “how to’s” on the internet.

BRANDED dishwasher tablets are. What sort do you buy?

When you were a child, did your parents never cook?

Did you never watch and learn?

Please don't let your DD follow in your footsteps.

Learn to cook and show DD how to as well.

Unfortunately i never learned how to cook so I have no confidence with it especially for dd.

But you're not too old to learn are you?

Toddlers can eat pretty much the same as adults.

Maybe give the vindaloo a miss but otherwise, whatever you're eating, she can.

I'm wondering where you got the idea that kids have different food?

Mine were eating a kiddies' portion of Xmas dinner at age 2.
Turkey, veg, gravy, etc.

I live off a lot less about £100 a month if that sometimes its less.

Yes, another vote from me for Taming Twins. She's brilliant and has great 'how to' videos

Nought wrong with pasta & sauce or toppings on toast OP, don't be so hard on yourself! Sure, variety is important, but meals don't have to be super complex to be balanced, enjoyable and expensive.

Looking down your nose at someone who hasn't learnt or sneering as some posters have done is never a great way to encourage people to try something new. Not everyone is as confident at new things for all kinds of reasons.

Fortunately there have been some really useful posts alongside the dross that I hope will help the OP and others who may similarly benefit from the thread.

Miguel Barclays ‘One Pound Meal’ books are great for nice but easy to make meals.

I agree mobiles and internet are needed, I try to keep mine to the bare minimum, but if you only have enough money for this or food then you would learn to live without the tech.

I just find it ridiculous that schools don't teach basics like how to cook and feed yourself and how to budget. Not everyone has parents who can teach them, some parents don't even know themselves.

I have spoken to class room assistants of reception classes who tell me there are 4 year olds who can use an ipad but are not toilet trained. I despair. This is two different people at different schools.

I can cook but I desperately need someone to help me navigate the smartphone/broadband prices and deals. Different generations, different problems. Maybe we should all get together and pool our individual skills. Any tips will be gratefully received.

I spend £75 on me, 18yo, 16yo & dog in Sainsburys deliveries on food then £20 a month in a home shop on cleaning/toiletries. I only ever buy milk and bread in between - corner shops are £££.

Make your own pack lunches, eat cheaper meals like beans on toast or jacket potatoes on some nights, make portions to freeze eggs Spag Bol costs under £5 and makes 4 portions.

Fair enough you never learnt to cook but it doesn't mean you can't now. You have a dd to feed so there is your incentive. Aside from the cookbooks people mentioned you can use YouTube to look up recipes and cook whilst watching someone else. That way if you are new to cooking you know what each stage of the meal should look like and you'll get tips on the way.

Don't be so hard on yourself but now is the time to make a change and go for it.

Can I put in a word for Delia Smith's online cookery school?

https://www.deliaonline.com/cookery-school

It takes you step by step through a lot of basic processes, including things like how to make a sauce.

OP, no one ever taught me how to use a computer. I just got a computer and got started back in the 90s. Cooking's the same. You just look for a recipe and off you go, following the instructions.

I also recommend BBC Good Food where you can enter a couple of ingredients and it will give you recipes. People comment on them, which is really helpful in helping to develop your confidence cooking. You don't need any experience to make a traybake, just a knife and a baking tray:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/traybake-dinner-recipes

I know it's a huge amount and if we wasted some I'd cut it down but it all gets used and eaten. Good idea I'll need a gardener friend for sure 😁

It's really difficult when you haven't learned how to cook, OP. I hope the recipes suggested are helpful for you.

You can batch cook things like baked potatoes, freeze them (just a ziplock bag is fine), and then reheat quickly when you want to eat them. They're excellent for a quick, nutritious meal, and you can do things like cheesy beans, egg mayonnaise, cheese & bacon, anything you like really. Then serve with salad vegetables like cucumber (usually around 60p each), tomatoes, etc.

Traybakes, like a PP suggested, are lovely and easy. I do things like chicken drumsticks, potatoes, carrots, onion all together in a tray, then serve with green beans. You can jazz them up with herbs and spices according to taste.

And! If you're feeling overwhelmed, just remember that it's like any other skill.

Little and often, building it up bit by bit. Master one meal at a time!

OP you can fix this, it’s not easy and it will take a few weeks, but you can learn how to cook basic meals which cost less. Sorry people are being nasty - a lot of people aren’t taught these skills and don’t have the kit, it’s a huge problem. I would start to research the following - one thing at once and then make a short list of what you want to try and start to try making things. Couple of tips, if you’re missing essential kit (pots / pans, grater etc, see if anyone locally has anything to give away via a local Facebook group. Also, dont expect DC to be grateful and love everything you make. It will be healthier and better long run, but your cooking will have less sugar and salt and if they’re used to ready meals it will be an adjustment (also children are brutal eaters as we know)!
Topics to research;
Easy, quick one pot / low equipment meals
Kitchen equipment - pans, slow cooker etc
Food storage guidelines
Budget cook influencers

P. S I spend less than £100 per week on a food shop for 3 adults and a cat. I make a list, plan meals, look in the reduced section. I try to buy stuff that isn't branded as own brands are cheaper and often almost the same. I would say we eat well. We eat fruit and veg regularly, 1 of my kids has coeliac disease and the other has ASD and is very fussy.
And maybe invest in a slow cooker. Great for winter.

£35 a week is a lot for fruit and veg,@Hopper123 but it has got very expensive. I suppose it's only £5 a day between five people though. I'd recommend you befriend someone with an allotment or a plum or apple tree!

Cooking - you can get really into it!

The secrets are the right mixtures of textures, and seasoning, and cooking slowly unless it's stir-fry - so that you can rescue it before it goes wrong.

I mentioned porridge, which probably sounds miserable. But think of porridge simmering slowly with a pinch of salt, half water and milk, until the oats ooze goodness. Add frozen raspberries and blueberries, a spoon of double cream, a sprinkling of toasted flaked almonds. It's heaven! And costs pennies.

For vegetables - I rely on a little butter, or a good dressing, to turn even the most boring into a gorgeous meal. Broccoli al dente with a lemon dressing & some parsley, chopped red onion or spring onion and a little red chilli sprinkled on top - really gorgeous. Broccoli bunged on a plate with boiled potatoes? Miserable, especially if they've been boiled to sludge.

Build up a stock of essential seasonings - white wine vinegar, ginger, garlic, lemon, black pepper, chilli powder, cumin, veggie stock cubes, mustard. A reasonable olive oil will do for cooking and making dressings.

One of my go-to meals now is egg fried rice (with peas and carrot), using rice frozen after an earlier meal - seasoned again with chilli and raw red onion, perhaps a little soy sauce if you have any in. It feels like junk food but is pretty healthy if you control the salt.

A tip for adding carrot to bolognese or veggie fried rice - chop it into tiny pieces and cook in shallow boiled water in the microwave for 3-4 minutes before adding (almost cooked) to the sauce or the rice.

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned supermarkets that specialise in South Asian food. You can get big bags of lentils and rice, and very cheap veg. They often sell containers for batch cooking too - foil containers with cardboard lids, or plastic boxes. Get a roll of stickers and a sharpie. Make the labels sound enticing, so that you have something on hand when you're tired and stressed, and desperate to go for an Uber Eats (£££££).

Another secret is the right level of variety, which depends on what you need yourself. But if you are eating cheaply and healthily most of the time, you will have a bit more money available for when you really need a steak. And the yellow-sticker food does throw up treats, so there is no need to feel deprived.

I budget £400 per month for food for two adults a pre teen DS who is permanently hungry and teen DD. This also covers some wine and a few extras. Rarely go over this and don’t feel stretched. We eat well and cook from scratch, but not huge amounts of meat. This also covers school lunches.

OP I've been thinking about this some more!
I think the way to go is to plan some meals that will last 2 day +
You can store the leftovers on a plate or in a bowl in your fridge covered with foil or clingfilm for 3 days generally.

Bbc good food is a fab free resource so I'd use it liberally.

Look up a recipe for bolognaise sauce for instance & you'll see tons come up - they're rated by users who've made that dish & give it a star rating. And also categorised by level of skill required so you could start with easy ones while you gain experience.

You could make a pot of bolognaise sauce. Use it with pasta the first night. Top with mash night too to make a cottage pie & put any excess sauce into a freezer bag & freeze for another night to top baked potatoes- 3 meals from 1 recipe.

You can do the same by making a chicken curry - rice one night, naan bread another etc you can also freeze leftover curry.

Unfortunately i never learned how to cook so I have no confidence with it especially for dd.

There is no shame in that. The shame will be if you don't try to change it. Is you mum (assuming she did the cooking in your home, if not your dad) still around to give you some advice, or another family member or a friend you can talk honestly to? Otherwise googling easy meals or maybe start new thread(s) saying I was never taught to cook/store food etc and COL is hitting hard and I am looking for very easy nutritious beginner meals ideas and storage instructions to start. Or a thread saying tell me about your easy, low cost chicken and pasta recipes etc.

Start small and learn through trial and error and before you know it you will be making meals, freezing portions, saving money, eating better, trying new tastes and modelling healthier eating and cooking skills to your dd.

Accept it will be difficult at first if you and your dd's palettes are tuned to the taste of ready meals, but it will be a change for the better.

This month, buy a small box of normal porridge oats instead of expensive cereals. Make it at breakfast with a banana or some chopped up frozen berries. If you are feeling adventurous google oat cookies and find a simple recipe and give it a go. A box of oats can last weeks.

When you are ready to try something else, buy a box of ham stock cubes - carrot, onions, leek, rinsed and soaked dried lentils or split peas and make soup (A hand blender is good for making a smooth soup, but a potato masher is ok too). Put it in a container in the fridge and you can eat it for 3-4 days. Or freeze portions for a couple of months.

Get a large chicken, roast it and remove every scrap of meat. For one adult and child it should be able to do 3-4 dinners/lunches (or more if you have smaller appetites). Cool meat quickly put in a container in the fridge and it will be ok to eat for the next 3-4 days - chicken and veg for dinner the first day you roast it, sandwiches/wraps, baked potato (with mayo and sweetcorn), on a cheap pizza base, with a curry sauce and rice are all simple. Plan your meals/lunches in advance so you use all of the chicken.

Any tins you open (sweetcorn etc) use half and store the rest in the fridge and plan to use the next day. Buy a lettuce and use a couple of leaves a day instead of preprepared salads, it will last longer.

You can do this!

Switch to Aldi or LIDL. Get a wok and make stir fry meals. Chicken breasts sliced , some finely chopped veg and a sauce with noodles make a great meal. The same with pasta and sauce. Make double the sauce, freeze half and use it later in the month. Do wraps with sliced chicken breasts, veg and salsa. There are lots of quick recipes available on BBC good food.