to wonder what the fuck to do now? (Immediate financial problem)

[Margaritte]

We are on a very tight budget for the next couple of months. We know this, and have got advice from StepChange & I posted a thread on here for recipe /shopping advice.

However, today our card declined trying to pay for £22 or so worth of shopping. We were not expecting that, and now I am very worried and starting to panic

We have some food in for dinners. No packed lunch food though, for ds1 & 2 and dh. We have no milk (well, enough for a bottle tonight for dd) and are down to 3 nappies.

Payday isn't until end of next week, so have to do something until then.

Ive sent you a pm margaritte

I've only just seen this thread. I am in Kent and would like to help. I will PM you.

Don't be embarrassed, you have no need to. It's not a crime to be hard up. I am comfortably off because I have been very lucky. When I was a child my parents were really, really hard up but they were also absolutely brilliant, hardworking people.
I hope you feel able to accept more offers of help. I'm sure I speak for others when I say that it makes me very happy to be able to help someone else. I feel grateful that I can.

Some of you ladies' posts are just so upsetting.

It just shouldn't be like this. We live in a rich country.

Heartbreaking.

I'm glad you are sorted for now Magaritte and I hope next month doesn't see you in the same position.

My dad when he retired became a JP as well as as a red cross volunteer. He said some really sad cases would come up before him. Single mothers who were hauled before the court for not buying a tv licence. He hated having to fine them ( but had to stick to the law) so always made sure that they only paid the smallest fine which was £25 at the time. He hated doing that. He used to say , the tv was their only source of pleasure and entertainment.

That was 20 years ago. How sad he would be if he were here to see how much worse things are now!

I'm so sorry I haven't replied to everyone yet, either on here or PM. I promise I will catch up tomorrow.

I just wanted to quickly post up on here what I had in food wise, I keep saying I will & have written all down to put up on here.

So I have some bits in the cupboards anyway, and some food that was sorted for me today, by a couple of lovely MNetters.

So I'm not sure the best way, so will just list..

Carrots
Peas
Potatoes
Cabbage
Broccoli
Swede
Butternut squash
Leek
Cauliflower

Lettuce
Cucumber
Tomatoes

Whole chicken
Minced beef
Sausages
Fish fingers
Hotdog sausages
Tinned tuna

Eggs
Cheese slices
Cheese triangles
Cheese spread
Cheese block

Baked beans
Red lentils
Chopped tomatoes
Kidney beans
Pasta
Spaghetti
Rice
Korma sauce
Pasta sauce
Chilli sauce

I have a few other bits, although they are obvious, and will be used for breakfast & lunches (cereal /porridge /spreads /fruit/ bread/ juice etc)

I roasted the chicken earlier already, and made a curry with the Korma sauce, broccoli & rice. I put the carcass and a quarter of the chicken aside into the fridge (another dinner?)

OP you could make a lovely chicken soup with the carcass don't ask me how though, I can't cook for toffee, however, I am sure that somebody else will come along with a chicken soup recipe! I stuck you something in the post today, hopefully will arrive tomorrow. Also my DD makes a lovely pasta sauce with tinned tomatoes, bit of garlic if you have it, bit of puree if you have it and just lightly coats spaghetti and grates on cheese. Simple but delicious and filling. Blimey, I am starting to sound like Delia now...!

This could work for the left over chicken carcass? Obv adapt to what you have
www.noreciperequired.com/recipe/homemade-chicken-soup#

Break the carcass up a bit so it fits in a saucepan, cover with cold water. Add the end bits of a couple of carrots, ends of the leeks (save the edible middle bits) add salt and pepper, bring to the boil and simmer for about 40 minutes with the lid on. Drain and reserve the stock. You could use the stock to cook some rice in then add the chopped chicken and some peas or use it as a soup base adding chopped veg, potato, lentils really what ever takes your fancy.
If you have a bit of flour you could make a well seasoned white sauce and add the chopped chicken along with some sauted onion or leak and a handful of peas, serve with rice or mash.
Make the mince go further by adding some lentils then you can do spag vol, chilli etc.
It will be tough and time consuming but you can do it.

This might be helpful. It's got all money saving experts meal planning ideas, budget recipes and so on.

My own advice, if you have herbs and spices use them to flavour everything up. If not, buy some value stock cubes. I think you can get a box for about 19p. They add loads of flavour to mince/lentil dishes.

Please don't feel bad op. Thanks to my lovely dad my mum was in your position when I was younger. She had all the children and none of the money and she really struggled although I didn't know it back then. I count my blessings all the time that I'm lucky enough to not have to worry about money atm, but I know it might not always be that way. You're going through a shit time atm, but it won't always be that way for you either.

I haven't read all replies but just wanted to say tescos/sainsbury's sell nappies for £1.40 a pack size 4 and 5. If it's a smaller baby get size 4 and pull it tight! I use these nappies and they are great just as good in my opinion.

You have probably had lots of recipe advice but you could try...

Minced beef, chopped tomatoes, kidney beans and chilli sauce = chilli con carne. Serve with rice. Add lentils to make into two meals.

Cooked chicken, rice, peas = risotto

I'd turn the sausages into meatballs and serve in the pasta sauce with spaghetti. Just skin the sausages and roll the meat into balls using damp hands.

Boil the chicken carcass with carrot and a bit of leek. Drain and keep the stock. Strip the carcass of all the loose meat and add to the stock with more carrot and leek. Add some sticks of spaghetti broken up into inch long pieces and cook through until everything is tender for chicken noodle soup.

Tomatoes, carrot, leek, cabbage, peas and pasta in soup = minestrone soup (I use water, stock cubes and a pinch of mixed herbs for flavour)

Tuna with baked potatoes and salad.

Cheese and pasta = macaroni cheese. Serve with the cut up hot dog sausages stirred through for another meal.

Cut potatoes into wedges and toss in a little bit of oil. Cook in the oven and serve with omelettes made from your eggs.

Fish finger sandwiches are the food of the gods. Serve with wedges and any leftover salad to bulk out.

Thank you for all the recipe links & suggestions. Chicken carcass in a pan with a carrot, the leek ends & an onion. Its been in for a couple of hours, is that long enough?

I was clearing in the kitchen earlier, and I realised I had stuff in there that I can sell. (I'm not sure why I had looked in every room, and forgot the kitchen . I wondered if anyone could help me with prices to sell for please? I have a Tassimo, a lovely little coffee cup set, an air fryer (have the box too) microwave. All are in good condition. I also am selling an ikea Toy storage system (have 2) My wedding dress (where best to do this?)

I decided to put the DVD's on musicmagpie (because of petrol & parking to get to CEX) Has anyone sold to them?

Glad it's looking up OP! How old is DD? I have some clothes too...depends on her age of course.xxx

Yes, they are, MrsNextDoor. My DD is 2yrs..

Sorry, came away from the computer for a minute, and the page had gone back one, I forwarded back and it had posted I hadn't finished.

MrsNextDoor My DD is 2yrs.. not sure if that's the same size clothing you have? Thank you Should I PM you?

Ah she's a bit young...my DD is eleven. :) Bother.

Glad you're coming out of this bottleneck, OP, and this thread has been brilliant! Deffo MN at its best!

Going forward, if you have to be careful for a while, I'd invest in a slow cooker if possible - I think you can get smaller models for £20-30 or so. You can then build up a store cupboard of dried pulses etc etc so you can eat cheaply - both in terms of food costs and in cooking costs - by making bean stews and so on. There's gazillions of recipes and you'll have a bit of comfort from knowing that food is taken care of if you find yourself in a tight pinch like this one again.

I second making some stock from a chicken carcass as well - I do this and then freeze it in ice cube bags so I've always got some for soups etc etc. My slow cooker gets a lot of use and I've grown very fond of it!

All the best for the future, OP.

Watch MusicMagpie took them nearly 8 weeks to pay us. As for prices you can search on ebay for Completed items, so search for what you have, then select used condition, then completed items, to give you an equivalent idea of what to price them up as. It's also worth looking at local FB selling pages, don't get quite so much money but don't lose anywhere near as much to fees, plus it's cash directly in your hand.

As to wedding dress they seem to go for so little it may not be worth your while . .

I absoluto agree with what VelvetRose said. And I am also grateful when I can help someone. Currently I can't offer any practical help but I'm glad others have.

margaritte my post office was closed due to an electrical problem but I've just posted them off today, hope they arrive soon :)

There are lots of lovely people on this thread, so nice to see

Margaritte could you pm me your address? I'm having a sort out of dds clothes, she's 3 and a half, so there should be some things I can post to you x

MN at its best :)

I am glad you got so much help OP. It is heartwarming to see.

Margaritte, I'm finding this thread most affecting, you are being so brave. Mumsnet at its best.

It is reminding me of a time when I had zero money to last for some three months. At the time, several people seemingly from nowhere to help, for which i shall for every be grateful.

There are a few small things here which I think might be useful here, if you PM i would love to pay it forward. xx

Margaritte the parcel I posted has got stock cubes in if things are a bit bland, so don't bother buying any! It should arrive tomorrow

eBay isn't that great if you need money quickly, they can hold it for 21 days in PayPal if you haven't sold over 100 things I think and you have to pay an invoice of how much you've sold. Best bet is Facebook groups or exchange.

Tassimo's are always popular, I'd stick that up on Facebook for at least £20-£25. They're going new on eBay for £40.

If there's anything I can send that would help you please pm me