Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you could make £400 last 2 weeks?

108 replies

FreshStrawberries97 · 08/07/2025 21:05

For 1 child, 1 adult. Any meal ideas? Rent and bills paid already.

OP posts:
mrlistersgelfbride · 08/07/2025 23:46

Mealwise:

For breakfast I’d buy some porridge oats and add some yoghurt and frozen berries,overnight oats is easy and a nice breakfast for you.
Cereal/toast and fruit for your child.

Lunch, child is sorted, sandwiches/soup/meal leftovers.

Evening meal: usual stuff say spag bol and other pasta dishes, wraps with protein and veg, curry, burgers with salad, even omelettes , the list is endless really!

Iloveburgerswaymorethanishould · 08/07/2025 23:43

To be fair these sort of things give me anxiety… I have roughly £500 a week AFTER all bills and food and still sit up at night panicking… I think sometimes our little heads overthink. Deep down I KNOW I’m fine, but still worry. Maybe the OP is the same? Especially if she’s been skint before.

mrlistersgelfbride · 08/07/2025 23:37

Well when I was young and not a parent, if my rent and bills were paid, I could make £30 last 2 weeks.
Add a child or two’s food on top of that and I think you’ll be fine 👌

Okiedokie123 · 08/07/2025 23:33

Outings? Just go to the park surely. All the parks. And any local museums that are free that have kids stuff. Why would you spend on outings if money is tight?
And take picnics/packed lunches. Dont buy food or drinks out.

Petrol - save that mostly for essential trips.

£400 for two weeks is a lot of money if bills, rent and even school meals are already sorted. That could easily last 4-6 weeks.

PyongyangKipperbang · 08/07/2025 23:29

OK I will bite.

Why on earth do you think you might not?

What has changed that has made you question whether it will be enough? What would you normally spend? What would you normally spend it on?

PickAChew · 08/07/2025 23:29

Why don't you just do the sums? If your little one has school meals then they can't be needing that many outings in 2 weeks. The weather is good and the park is free.

foodtoorder · 08/07/2025 23:26

Definitely more than enough!

Lins77 · 08/07/2025 23:20

Yes, it's plenty, including petrol and activities, unless you're planning any particularly long trips or pricey activities.

Original poster
FreshStrawberries97 · 08/07/2025 23:16

DD is. 5 and has school meals.

OP posts:
OohhhhhBigStretch · 08/07/2025 23:15

Yes we could

Original poster
FreshStrawberries97 · 08/07/2025 23:12

Sorry. I didn’t explain enough. Bills and rent paid. But it has to last for food, petrol. Any sort of outings with my little one, etc.

OP posts:
SummerCanDoOne · 08/07/2025 22:29

Oh God are you that twat that posts on social media packing his 7yo wagyu fillet and caviar for lunch?

Makingpeace · 08/07/2025 22:19

DorothyStorm · 08/07/2025 22:14

I bet you waste a huge amount of food generally.

"I've made duck l'orange but oh you've changed your mind? Ok then let's bin it and start again, pass the Wagyu steaks..."

Morgenrot25 · 08/07/2025 22:16

FreshStrawberries97 · 08/07/2025 21:05

For 1 child, 1 adult. Any meal ideas? Rent and bills paid already.

Of course, unless there's going to be a drip feed about costs you've not mentioned. That's loads.

ilovepixie · 08/07/2025 22:14

Darling my coffee costs £100 a bean! I couldn’t possibly cope on £400 for 2 weeks! I would have to book into The Connaught Hotel for a fortnight!

DorothyStorm · 08/07/2025 22:14

I bet you waste a huge amount of food generally.

BIossomtoes · 08/07/2025 22:14

Enigma53 · 08/07/2025 21:22

As long as you avoid Booths and shop
at farmfoods, all will be fine and dandy!

You wouldn’t even need to avoid Booths or Waitrose to make £400 do two weeks.

MalcolmMoo · 08/07/2025 22:03

Yes! We’ve got £195 to last us until 20th. Need to do one food shop with that and couple of train tickets. But it’s doable.

Family of 3 plus 2 dogs.

Asparagusandpotatoes · 08/07/2025 22:02

Ahhhh I think you’ll manage. I’m on way less than that per head and we mostly eat organic (vegetarian).

ninjahamster · 08/07/2025 21:58

£400? That’s more than my food budget for 4 of us (all adults) for a month…

CarpetKnees · 08/07/2025 21:47

Tbry24 · 08/07/2025 21:42

Did you mean £40?

That makes more sense, as a question

Tbry24 · 08/07/2025 21:42

Did you mean £40?

Modernme · 08/07/2025 21:40

Im single and live of a lot less.

RuthW · 08/07/2025 21:26

Would last the two of us at least a month, maybe 6 weeks.

Enigma53 · 08/07/2025 21:24

TheCurious0range · 08/07/2025 21:09

No, that wouldn't even buy enough caviar for the cat

Kitty caviar!! 🤣