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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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No idea how I'm going to do this

169 replies

Sugarhunnyicedtea · 21/09/2017 19:00

So, it's a week to payday and I have nothing in the house at all. Just cooking a dinner of chips and beans for my son - that's it. I have 62p in my purse and no petrol in the car.
We struggle every month but this month is particularly bad, zero hours contract and no childcare in the holidays so pay last month was short, uniform and shoes to buy after a growth spurt, it's never ending.
I know you're not miracle workers but any ideas anyone?? I can't believe I let it get to this, I think I've been in denial

OP posts:
BreakfastAtStephanies · 21/09/2017 21:19

Whose internet/wifi are you using ? Are you posting on someone else's phone/computer and someone else's wifi ? Could you reduce a monthly charge for that by just having a phone for emergencies only without internet. How can you not be able to feed yourself and your child but still have a device and internet. Or am I missing something?

RB68 · 21/09/2017 21:20

Eggy bread is a good one as a light tea if son is eating in day - beat up egg, add a slosh of milk to make it go a bit further if you can, salt and pepper and then literally smoosh bread in it to coat both sides and fry - you only need the tiniest bit of oil - a couple of drops and wipe around pan.

Frittata can be filling too - cook potatoes and a few veg chopped in cubes - into frying pan add beaten eggs to fill pan, cook on surface and grill to finish off the top

Soup - fry off onion add veg (carrots and swedes cheap or pot and leek) add preferred spices - I like carrot and coriander and just used dried stuff if no fresh avail.

We like hot pot type things too - onion fry off, add stock cube and water plus potatoes and any left over meat (we tend to cook the small hams at 3.30 from sains and use for a few different meals) beef, lamb, ham or chicken all work.

You have managed to scrape a few things together to be able to get some food. Some people don't have any idea what its like trying to have a life whilst income is all over the place. Cash flow sounds to be your problem. I try and keep a small cash fund somewhere - even if its just a tenner for such a time. But sometimes we do stick our heads in the sand and thats OK so long as we get them out again at some point.

We are at the end of our CC and currently living on a silly low wage from our business - its very tough at the moment. Did a shop tonight which was 10 quid more than I wanted it to be (but I know why) and managed to scrape the car...so need to find cash for that now too...hmmm its just endless slog.

susurration · 21/09/2017 21:21

If you can get to aldi you can get a few staples with the £3 you found. The cheapest pasta is 29p a bag and the beans are about 30p a can. You can also get cup a soup type stuff for about 30p. A loaf of wholemeal bread is 45p. They have 3 pack of peppers and a fairly big bag of white onions on the super six deal for veg this week at 65p a bag.

I'm utterly useless with recipes, but if you can get to an aldi you can get some of these staple foods for much cheaper than other supermarkets.

Talkingfrog · 21/09/2017 21:21

Hope you get sorted. This type of situation is what food banks are for so worth considering If you can find details of a local one. Worth an appointment with Cab incase you are entitled to anything else. When you are ready it is worth thinking about saving with a credit union. Doesn't gave to be much but all adds up and may mean you could access a loan when needed at better terms than a payday loan.

illustratednews · 21/09/2017 21:26

Why don't you get a credit card? Buy some jacket potatos and bean?

because you can get a credit card immediately ? It takes days if not weeks.

Sugarhunnyicedtea · 21/09/2017 21:32

BreakfastatStephanies I'm on a contract for my phone, it's not as easy as that unfortunately. I pay less than £10 a month. Using unlimited data, no wifi. I was open about the fact I've buried my head in the sand, I know what I should have done and next month will be better because it's not the school holidays and I've worked double the hours I did in August. I've managed to work out how to get through to payday thanks to some people on here who are thinking more clearly than I was. Sometimes all we need is a bit of advice. I must remember mumsnet is not the place for that

OP posts:
sourpatchkid · 21/09/2017 21:36

That's not right @Sugarhunnyicedtea - MN is the place for advice as you've said you'll survive now because of the advice. It's been a tough thread for you but actually you got what you needed for it

For the record I've been here 5 years, I've a young baby so I'm on about 2 hours a day. I haven't seen any begging threads. Not saying they don't exist, just saying you don't have to be new to have not seen them

AuntyEstablishment · 21/09/2017 21:44

OP,
If you want to simply ask advice then you would get less sceptical replies if you didn't post on AIBU. Also, it would probably help if you posted a more straightforward request for advice rather than a highly emotive 'heart wrenching' OP.

Also if you are that skint I don't think your should let 'pride' get in the way of asking friends and family.

MoneySavingExpert has great advice for cheap meals etc.

WineIsMyMainVice · 21/09/2017 21:44

Do you have any points on any loyalty cards you could use to buy some basics?
Good luck op.

Littledrummergirl · 21/09/2017 21:45

Glad to help. This link might help although I would use cheap flour and possibly just water.
www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/quick_flatbreads_43123

BreakfastAtStephanies · 21/09/2017 21:48

Oh right that's a really low monthly charge anyway. Yes you have been open about burying your head and it sounds like this is a cash flow/ timing problem. Have never been in the situation myself, I was thinking you could save a monthly charge but actually that's over-simplistic and would not help you now and next month sounds like it will be much better for you.

SuburbanRhonda · 21/09/2017 21:54

I wish schools gave budgeting advice and how to stretch loaves and fishes and a few eggs into a miracle meal.

I work closely with our local children's centre - they run a free course on cooking on a tight budget.

SuburbanRhonda · 21/09/2017 21:55

(I work in a primary school).

cinnamontoast · 21/09/2017 22:00

Sugar, please do get a food bank referral - go to the CAB or a health visitor, or phone/look on the website of your local food bank to see who can refer you. You have a child to feed and it's really important that you have food in the house. They will be really happy to help you at the food bank, and won't pry or ask you too many questions.

Then find out exactly which benefits you're entitled to and make sure you are getting them all; £10bn of benefits go unclaimed each year in the UK. School uniform is a nightmare, but it's worth checking if your school offers second-hand uniform; if not, get them to set it up (maybe offer to run it, if you have time).

I hope things improve soon. It's so horrible when you get to the end of the month and the money runs out.

Sugarhunnyicedtea · 21/09/2017 22:09

I've just realised I'm on AIBU (thanks Aunty). That explains the responses. I was reading a post from the daily email that gets sent out. I'm seriously not thinking straight. Well, that's a mistake I definitely won't make again. I get that my post was emotive, it's a horrible feeling. Lesson learnt

OP posts:
MrsPottsTeaCosy · 21/09/2017 22:09

Try salvation army and local churches for food parcels and meals.

Snugglepumpkin · 21/09/2017 22:14

Bag of frozen mash about £1, bag of SR flour about 50p, mix heated up mash(follow cooking instructions on bag) with flour until like a dough, roll out like scone dough & cut into rounds/squares/whatever takes your fancy, fry on a pan with a teaspoon of oil (if you have no oil you can still cook them but they just don't ever seem to go golden brown) - takes a few minutes so low energy costs to produce.
Hot, filling basic potato cakes & that much mash would do you 3 or 4 days if you had to.

You can add whatever you want to them if you have it, e.g. 1 slice of finely diced bacon would flavour them enough for a batch to feed 2 people.
Too much bacon actually spoils them.
You can grate cheese over them if you have any, or just dab butter/marge on the top - that's how we prefer them.
If you have something like a tin of irish stew (value one is about 75p)to dip them in you could serve them plain, otherwise a bit dry without a dab of butter/cheese sort of thing.
I use about a cereal bowl of frozen mash worth to make these for 2 people.

If you have instant gravy in the cupboard you could do mash with gravy another night & if you have any frozen bits of veg mix those in.

If you have spaghetti, cook it, crack an egg over it once drained & scramble them.
If you have a bit of bacon or ham, dice it up & throw it in - aka student carbonara.

Stuffing is also very filling - 25p for a small box in sainsburys - we do a meat free roast where we have the stuffing as the meat.
Alternatively, you could buy one sausage (about 50p) from the counter & mix it in the stuffing to give it a meat content if that's important to you.
You can also buy single pieces of bacon btw.

Pack of 6 eggs (value ones) will do omelettes for 2.

You just have to think outside the box, but you'll figure it out.
Hope next month goes better for you.

AuntyEstablishment · 21/09/2017 22:19

OP, you have family and friends. Ask them for help. Also, do you have a partner or husband? Or does your child have a Dad. I think you have to ask them for help.

HornyAsFuck · 21/09/2017 22:19

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AuntyEstablishment · 21/09/2017 22:20

Do you have a game system. They usually sell quick on gumtree or Facebook.

AllToadsLeadToHome · 21/09/2017 22:37

Freecycle or Freegle and ask for a bag of groceries, have seen this before and it was given.

Thewolvesarerunningagain · 21/09/2017 22:43

Are there any allotments near where you live? it might sound like odd advice but a lot of allotments holders will be harvesting all sorts around about now. You may be able to get some veggies and fruit if you ask

SuburbanRhonda · 22/09/2017 07:07

Will people please rtft?

Unless you have a child under 5 and not yet in school, you do not have a HV and you cannot just phone one and ask for a referral to the food bank.

Also, OP - please let me know which phone contract you're on which has unlimited data for under £10 a month!

PomonaPalace · 22/09/2017 07:30

OP, if Milk&More deliver to your area you can get bits delivered from them and pay when they bill you. Has been helpful in the past. m.milkandmore.co.uk/h5/index

HerOtherHalf · 22/09/2017 07:55

A lot of the cheap foods advised so far are good from an economy POV and filling stomachs but don't forget children especially need protein. Cheap sources of protein that spring to mind are eggs, milk (get full fat as it has a lot more calories and costs the same), tinned fish like pilchards, mackerel, sardines, cheap cuts of meat and poultry (eg chicken thighs instead of breast). Aside from protein, all those suggestions are also loaded with vitamins, minerals and healthy fats that your child needs.

Good luck OP and don't let the cynics get to you. Times are hard for a lot of people.

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