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To ask you how to make £30 last

330 replies

tearsandtiaras · 10/01/2025 20:02

I have £30 to last until Wednesday
Im ok for petrol for work
My DD needs £8-10 on Monday
I have £22 to make meals from tomorrow - Tuesday night and one packed lunch Wednesday

Please help. I have porridge, brown rice , eggs, and a little bit of pasta

OP posts:
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6
bridgetreilly · 10/01/2025 22:36

For four days, I wouldn’t worry too much about super-healthy food. But have a look at frozen/tinned veg rather than fresh. Cheap veg and lentils make a really good, filling soup.

Itsallgonesideways · 10/01/2025 22:35

tearsandtiaras · 10/01/2025 22:19

I don't have a credit card or any access to credit. Could borrow from a friend but too embarrassed.

I couldn't ask for a raise as I work for the council and too embarrassed Im a children's social worker. Unfortunately my rent is too high for my salary so its like this every month. A couple of days I have eaten free food at the office to tide me over.

The too good to go was morrisons. Pretty good for £3.30 Im glad I went to get it

@tearsandtiaras can you sell some stuff going forward as this is going to be an on going issue. How old is dd? Can you pick up an evening shift in the local pub or restaurant or similar? Or ad hoc remote admin shift on people per hour to supplement your income.

https://www.peopleperhour.com/services/business/administration-assistance

As a long term plan, changing jobs to a higher paid one is the way forward to get you out of this rut. I did a quick search for a bank support social worker, are there similar in your area?

https://www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/social-interest-group/relief-bank-support-mentor-luton/1001059?tsId=6

Have you claimed universal credit?

Starsandall · 10/01/2025 22:35

I would think tinned food is the answer tuna, chopped tomatoes, tinned fruit, soup, I would avoid meat as it’s pricy, buy frozen veg for dinners and frozen fruit for porridge.
breakfast porridge/toast
lunch soup/sandwiches
dunner batch cook tuna pasta/paneer curry/vegetable bake so you have enough for two nights of dinners.
definitely consider the community fridge option I have a friend that uses one.

dawngreen · 10/01/2025 22:34

Bag of potatoes, cans of soup, pasta, eggs. Go to a food bank you can get food, and budgeting advice .

Cakeandusername · 10/01/2025 22:34

Are you in a union Op? Some offer hardship payments if you are finding yourself in this position regularly.
www.unison.org.uk/get-help/services-support/there-for-you/financial-assistance/

Shityshitybangbang · 10/01/2025 22:34

Get yourself to Aldi
veg for a pot of soup
basic frozen pizza.
tinned potatoes, shove in the air fryer are lovely
cheap bread
pasta

or Iceland.
I think you can get 10 items for a tenner.

Been there myself.

tearsandtiaras · 10/01/2025 22:32

Itsallgonesideways · 10/01/2025 21:37

Have a look around your house & see if there's anything you can sell to supplement your income. Old toys, books, household items etc. My neighbour sold her broken washing machine for £50, the guy bought it for parts.

I'd also join olio & see if there's a free community kitchen to stretch my fridge budget. See if you can pick up a remote admin job or a pub /restaurant/supermarket shift as a way to supplement your income in tue long term.

https://olioapp.com/en/

I already work 50 plus hours a week, and earn a good wage. Its just my rent and bills are sky high i am on the breadline. And Im a sole earner with no £ or involvement from DD's father.

They are good tips 👍

OP posts:
ConfusedBear · 10/01/2025 22:31

AIBot · 10/01/2025 22:23

Shopping list for gluten free diet (used Morrisons but prices are likely similar or a little cheaper at Lidl).

4pt Milk £1.45
Pack frozen juicing fruit £2
Gluten free flour £1.95
1Kg natural yoghurt £2
1Kg brown onions £0.99
1Kg frozen veg £1.19
Chicken Stock cubes £1.20
1 pack mushrooms £1.19
Garlic £0.45
Gluten free bread £1.90
Savers margarine spread £1.71
400g mature cheddar £2.69
Own label mayonnaise £0.95
Potatoes £0.79

Total 🟰 £21.61

Breakfasts / snacks:
Hot porridge, overnight oats or yoghurt with berries
Toast and margarine spread

Lunch ideas:
Vegetable soup (onion, garlic, frozen veg, stock cubes)
Egg mayo sandwiches

Dinner ideas:
Mushroom stroganoff (melt tablespoon of margarine, fry chopped onion, 1 clove garlic and 1/2 mushrooms; add crumbled stock cube, 1 tablespoon flour, yoghurt to make a sauce, salt & pepper). Serve with rice.

Mac n veg cheese (melt 1 table spoon margarine, fry 1 chopped onion, add 1 tablespoon flour and mix, gradually add 1/2 pint milk, stirring constantly, grated cheese, cooked pasta, thawed frozen veg)

Pancakes with garlic mushrooms. Mix 115g flour with 250ml milk and 1 egg. Fry 1 onion, 1/2 pack mushrooms chopped, in margarine.

Jacket potatoes with margarine and cheese, with steamed frozen veg. Basic to finish, but will keep you both going, and it’s pay day tomorrow🌷

This is amazing! A lot of posters haven't realised how quickly the requirement to be gluten free reduces choice and pushes up the price. Most of the suggested 'cheap' meals are really expensive as gf options.

tearsandtiaras · 10/01/2025 22:30

This reply has been deleted

Hi, we've taken this down to avoid any encouragement to send funds.

I don't need any funds thanks. I could jeopardise my job so please don't offer any if anyone did I would report them

I am just looking for help budgeting which people have kindly been doing

OP posts:
MobilityCat · 10/01/2025 22:29

Delphiniumandlupins · 10/01/2025 20:56

Join the Olio app. If there is anyone active in your area you will be able to get plenty bread for free, and hopefully other stuff. Any veg can make soup. Bread will give you toast - with beans or cheese or scrambled eggs. Toasted sandwiches, pizza bases (from baguettes or wraps). Baked potatoes are filling - again with cheese or beans. Too Good to Go bags are another option - find out which are good ones in your area before signing up. Do you have a community shop/food pantry locally - ours offer a bag of basic items for about £1.50

I have been using Olio for two years I can get the basics every day and a few days a week some ready meals, puddings, etc and my fridge freezer is always filled with free food collected locally.

BlueSky2024 · 10/01/2025 22:28

AhBiscuits · 10/01/2025 22:08

Surely you can put a £50 shop on a credit card until Wednesday.

She should be able to manage on the money she has, the first port of call should not be ‘put it on the credit card’, this how people get into debt, you need to live within your means,
With a bit of thought she should have enough to last her till wednesday

Hedgerowdragon · 10/01/2025 22:27

Potato for mash/ jackets and wedges. Buy a cheap chicken roast then make stock and with rice noodles. Make broth/soup
Carrots/swede/parsnips/onion are cheap . Chopped tomatoes/onions with eggs(Shakshuka). Lentil curry with boiled eggs (Delia has a excellent recipe)

AIBot · 10/01/2025 22:26

tearsandtiaras · 10/01/2025 22:24

Thank you 👍👍👍 this is very helpful!

You’ve also got ingredients to make a bit of garlic bread there 🍞

tearsandtiaras · 10/01/2025 22:25

ShelfyElfy25 · 10/01/2025 20:13

Do you have a "too good to go" shop near you? My mum often gets lovely bits in those, although it's a bit pot luck what you get it might help?

Thank you I just used this advice

OP posts:
tearsandtiaras · 10/01/2025 22:24

AIBot · 10/01/2025 22:23

Shopping list for gluten free diet (used Morrisons but prices are likely similar or a little cheaper at Lidl).

4pt Milk £1.45
Pack frozen juicing fruit £2
Gluten free flour £1.95
1Kg natural yoghurt £2
1Kg brown onions £0.99
1Kg frozen veg £1.19
Chicken Stock cubes £1.20
1 pack mushrooms £1.19
Garlic £0.45
Gluten free bread £1.90
Savers margarine spread £1.71
400g mature cheddar £2.69
Own label mayonnaise £0.95
Potatoes £0.79

Total 🟰 £21.61

Breakfasts / snacks:
Hot porridge, overnight oats or yoghurt with berries
Toast and margarine spread

Lunch ideas:
Vegetable soup (onion, garlic, frozen veg, stock cubes)
Egg mayo sandwiches

Dinner ideas:
Mushroom stroganoff (melt tablespoon of margarine, fry chopped onion, 1 clove garlic and 1/2 mushrooms; add crumbled stock cube, 1 tablespoon flour, yoghurt to make a sauce, salt & pepper). Serve with rice.

Mac n veg cheese (melt 1 table spoon margarine, fry 1 chopped onion, add 1 tablespoon flour and mix, gradually add 1/2 pint milk, stirring constantly, grated cheese, cooked pasta, thawed frozen veg)

Pancakes with garlic mushrooms. Mix 115g flour with 250ml milk and 1 egg. Fry 1 onion, 1/2 pack mushrooms chopped, in margarine.

Jacket potatoes with margarine and cheese, with steamed frozen veg. Basic to finish, but will keep you both going, and it’s pay day tomorrow🌷

Thank you 👍👍👍 this is very helpful!

OP posts:
tearsandtiaras · 10/01/2025 22:23

Sunshineandoranges · 10/01/2025 22:20

Where do you live

London

OP posts:
AIBot · 10/01/2025 22:23

Shopping list for gluten free diet (used Morrisons but prices are likely similar or a little cheaper at Lidl).

4pt Milk £1.45
Pack frozen juicing fruit £2
Gluten free flour £1.95
1Kg natural yoghurt £2
1Kg brown onions £0.99
1Kg frozen veg £1.19
Chicken Stock cubes £1.20
1 pack mushrooms £1.19
Garlic £0.45
Gluten free bread £1.90
Savers margarine spread £1.71
400g mature cheddar £2.69
Own label mayonnaise £0.95
Potatoes £0.79

Total 🟰 £21.61

Breakfasts / snacks:
Hot porridge, overnight oats or yoghurt with berries
Toast and margarine spread

Lunch ideas:
Vegetable soup (onion, garlic, frozen veg, stock cubes)
Egg mayo sandwiches

Dinner ideas:
Mushroom stroganoff (melt tablespoon of margarine, fry chopped onion, 1 clove garlic and 1/2 mushrooms; add crumbled stock cube, 1 tablespoon flour, yoghurt to make a sauce, salt & pepper). Serve with rice.

Mac n veg cheese (melt 1 table spoon margarine, fry 1 chopped onion, add 1 tablespoon flour and mix, gradually add 1/2 pint milk, stirring constantly, grated cheese, cooked pasta, thawed frozen veg)

Pancakes with garlic mushrooms. Mix 115g flour with 250ml milk and 1 egg. Fry 1 onion, 1/2 pack mushrooms chopped, in margarine.

Jacket potatoes with margarine and cheese, with steamed frozen veg. Basic to finish, but will keep you both going, and it’s pay day tomorrow🌷

tearsandtiaras · 10/01/2025 22:23

I can't re quote- someone said" you can't afford for her to go on the trip'

Why? Who says? She is being taken somewhere on a Inset day by another parent whilst I work full time in a different borough on child protection visits. I would prefer that she was supervised in the 12 hours I will be away from home rather than alone all day on a screen with little food ! Shes a young teen for her age

OP posts:
Water41 · 10/01/2025 22:22

tearsandtiaras · 10/01/2025 20:52

Sorry Im not used to having this little money. Im trying to eat some veg and i have none.

I can't eat wheat,
Cumber is £1 here in lidl

Lidl sells gluten free pasta and it's actually really nice and not madly expensive (about £1 a box iirc)

KnightsTemplar00 · 10/01/2025 22:21

FrangipaniBlue · 10/01/2025 22:19

This might come as a bit of a shock...... but not everyone has a credit card Shock

same here not worth the debt

Flopsy145 · 10/01/2025 22:20

Hit the frozen aisle in Lidl. Frozen veg and chicken and then a stock pot, make a big stew or two that will go with rice. Frozen fruit for your porridge, if you simmer it with a splash of water it's a very easy and healthy homemade jam that will keep in the fridge.
Are there any food banks locally?

Sunshineandoranges · 10/01/2025 22:20

Where do you live

FrangipaniBlue · 10/01/2025 22:19

AhBiscuits · 10/01/2025 22:08

Surely you can put a £50 shop on a credit card until Wednesday.

This might come as a bit of a shock...... but not everyone has a credit card Shock

Kitkatcatflap · 10/01/2025 22:19

What's bin your Olio bag OP?

tearsandtiaras · 10/01/2025 22:19

I don't have a credit card or any access to credit. Could borrow from a friend but too embarrassed.

I couldn't ask for a raise as I work for the council and too embarrassed Im a children's social worker. Unfortunately my rent is too high for my salary so its like this every month. A couple of days I have eaten free food at the office to tide me over.

The too good to go was morrisons. Pretty good for £3.30 Im glad I went to get it

OP posts:
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