AIBU to think £200 is enough?

[Pauuuuuuline]

AIBU to think that £200 a month on groceries is enough?

As of next month, as a family, we'll have £200 a month left over after essential outgoings to spend on our shop.

This £200 will need to accommodate two adults, a toddler, two cats. Will also include four teens EOW.

Can currently spend (and often do) roughly £400-500 a month, so for us, £200 seems quite small but it's doable right?

Any thoughts and tips on how to do it would be much appreciated.

Also, those with cats, is dry food alone enough nutritionally? I know dry food is a lot cheaper. The cats currently have the tinned wet food from Aldi. Luckily they aren't fussy cats.

Why should the teens' quality of life be compromised by the 2nd relationship and prescence of toddler half sibling ? OP is an adult she chose to take on these commitmants the teens didnt.

OP can hardly send the toddler back, can she?! What are you suggesting - that the teens stop seeing their father because they might have to eat lentils when they stay with him? Is never seeing their dad again better than eating cheap food a few days a month? You're being completely ridiculous.

I willingly eat lentils and porridge on a regular basis and I assure you I've never accidentally mistaken my kitchen for a Victorian workhouse.

It is doable, I used to shop 20 pound a fortnight for 1 adult and 1 toddler. It was pretty and we used to eat leftovers. Roast a chicken have curry and then make a soup. Spag bowl is good and there's normally enough to freeze. Aldi is great. Tomato sauce is easy to make from scratch and its about 23p for a tin of chopped Tom's.
Look at your meals you cook and just cook simpler things with out the ingredients that some meals have as you won't be able to afford anything exciting or exotic. It's doable, 500sounds excessive

Ouch that's tight! But doable... you need to make things that are filling and will do two days. Shepherds pie bulked out with lentils and frozen veg, carrot mixed in with potatoes. Frozen mince or pork mince is cheaper than beef.

Pasta with pasta and veg, make sure you have herbs and spices. You could add a tin of chopped tomatoes too.

Make vegetable ragou/ratatouille type dishes which can be served with rice or pasta.

Mayflower curry sauce tastes like the Chinese curry (it's a pound and the powder makes 9 portions) and is great with leftover chicken, onions and peas. Makes a cheap and filling "fakesway" when the teens are over.

Smoked salmon trimmings are cheap and go a long way for flavour to make quiches (crustless) with eggs, quark and broccoli. A big quiche which would do 8 slabs would cost about 2.50. That could be lunches or would work with salad and home made chips when the teens are over.

Shop at the end of the day and get reduced sticker food. Lots can be frozen and stuff gets reduced to pennies.

I get fresh fruit from our local market...blueberries are 2 punnets for a pound, strawberries the same and blackberries are 3 for a pound! My boys love berries and I add them to their lunch boxes.

Homebargains do cheap lunchbox "treats" and cereal bars etc.

Also...jacket potatoes are very filling and I forget how tasty they are until I have one!! Even with butter and a bit of grated cheese!

Are they healthy cats, OP? Do you have insurance for them in case of a kitty emergency in the next 5 months? Or at least a nearby PDSA?

Also, those with cats, is dry food alone enough nutritionally?

Yes, it's fine - but some brands are more nutritionally complete than others. You want a brand with as high a % of meat and veg as you can afford, not own with a high cereal or grain content. It might be cheaper to order this in bulk online than get it from a supermarket.

It is unreasonable to assume. You're just constructing your own scenario then that probably has no basis in reality. The op's posts actually read like someone who is responsible and plans well - she talks about applying for lots of jobs, she's already planned for the worst by stocking up the cupboards and even put money aside for Xmas. There's nothing in her posts to suggest she's a feckless idiot popping out a second family while her husband is unable to provide for the first. They have found themselves in changed circumstances, like plenty of people do.

This is ridiculous.

I've been back at work since the beginning of May, after Maternity Leave, so no, this isn't me choosing to be a SAHM after Mat Leave. I loved my job.

No, the teens didn't chose this 2nd family or the presence of their toddler sibling. However, they are all very happy, lovely, kind, well rounded individuals. They adore and love their toddler sibling and do not see the toddler as a half sibling but just another sibling. They love coming to us. My toddler adores them. I adore them. Their quality of life hasn't been compromised and I have no intentions of it becoming so. It'll be DH and I who make the sacrifices and feel the pressure, not them.

It is doable, I used to shop 20 pound a fortnight for 1 adult and 1 toddler

I’m impressed. What year was this?

We have one cat and buy a 10kg bag of James well beloved that lats 5/6 months. If that helps at all.

@hopefulhalf I am fully aware it is not the same budget as the op is working to, but we fed 4 adults every day of the week on that. The op is feeding two adults a baby and a cat. Then some teens 4 days a month. I mentioned in my post it didn't include toiletries etc. It is definitely doable op if you are careful and plan it all.

Ahh OP but you're a stepmum. So everyone knows you'll just feed the teens beans on toast while the toddler and the cats will have roast dinner every night.

And that you ofc deliberately planned all this to actually make them stop visiting and have contact with their father.

@Butchyrestingface the cats are healthy. They are three years old. We rescued them as kittens. No, I don't have insurance for them but if they need any kind of treatment they will reciece it. I have a family member who would be able to help out in the event of the cats needing any kind of emergency medical treatment.

@Redken24 Thank you! Will look it up.

Will have a look at dry cat food then going forward and see what's available online.

Toiletries don't have to be expensive - shampoo bars for hair are cheap and last a long time, no need for conditioner unless you have really dry hair. Just use normal soap bars for washing hands etc, much better in terms of saving plastic use too and last for months. Use an eco egg or similar for washing clothes rather than laundry powder - I've been using one for years and must have saved hundreds in that time! Basic washing up liquid and washable cloths are all you need to clean most things.

In terms of food, I think it's funny that people are referring to porridge and lentil daal as workhouse food - that's what I eat most of the time because I like it!

I have a family member who would be able to help out in the event of the cats needing any kind of emergency medical treatment.

Well, that’s good. One less thing for you to worry about.

It is possible but you will have to buy a lot of own brands of things and add up as you go round.

We managed it when there was 2 adults and toddler but now there is 2 adults a 3 yo and baby we spend about 70£ a week that doesn't include top ups during the week of essentials like bread and milk.

The cats will be fine on dry food, if you have a good pet supplies place then again bulk buying the cat food will be loads cheaper - think we spend about £15 a month on 2 cats maximum. They get “un fussy” pretty quick when they realise there’s no alternative!

My toddler must already live in workhouse conditions because he has porridge for breakfast most days whilst the teens have aldi own cereal. (-:

Okay, research and bulk up on dry food for the cats. I'll add that to the list. Thank you!

Must all look into this eco egg.

Good luck op.

Porridge and lentils and cheap pasta meals are a staple here and not because can't afford something else.

In fact I served pasta and a jar of sauce for supper last night (a mumsnet horror to cook on holiday I know!) and no one liked it. I told the kids thst sometimes food is about a full tummy not a delighted gastronomic delight and they got on and ate it. It's a life lesson for the children isn't it? Not everything is rosy at all times.

21st century bollocks

OP I would reconsider dry food for your cats. Carbs are not good for them plus the low moisture content can lead to kidney problems. The majority of cats can't drink enough water to counteract the dry food. Cats are desert animals and get most of their moisture from their food.

It's not so much the nutritional value more the moisture content.

It is doable because it has to be. Good luck with the job hunting! I always fed my cats on dry food, it is better for their teeth I'm sure and any leftovers. Aldi super 6 is good for fruit and veg. A small mince can be bulked out with cauliflower rice, homemade or frozen and chopped celery, carrot and onion to make a big batch of spag, shepherds pies, or lasagna.

Chicken thighs can be cheap and the bones can be used to make stock after, to cook soup or rice or noodles, if the bones have been cooked down to make stock then I would feed them to the cats. veg stock with the peelings or trimmings too. Toad in the hole makes a good alternative to a Sunday roast and is always popular. Veg soup is easy with whatever is on offer, aldi frozen broccoli etc is cheap. Aldi also has very cheap frozen pizza for a treat, can always add toppings. Peanut butter can be cheap and filling. Bacon off cuts, often smoked can add flavor to rice and veg dishes. Lentil shepherds pie can be really tasty. Homemade bread is lovely, but also pitta/bread can be cheap and freeze any that is being sold off because of date, can take a slice out and put straight in the toaster for breakfast. Baked beans make a meal and veg curry can be done in bulk as well. If you have any old Chinese take away containers or similar I use these to freeze portions of stock, curry, mince. Again Aldi and Lidl are good for washing powder/liquid, shampoo and soap. Goodluck!

@IsobelRae23 but do you really need all those things? Kitchen spray and bathroom spray are more or less the same thing and a cheap brand works just as well. One bottle lasts ages. Floor cleaner is not necessary. I either use washing up liquid or a squirt of the spray cleaner in the bucket of water. Bleach is not really necessary either and not good for the environment.

Clingfilm and foil can be bought in big sizes and they should last ages. A big dispenser of foil probably lasts me nearly a year. Sandwich bags can be washed and reused. I always do this and any small plastic bags I get from a supermarket with, say, fruit, veg, bakery items in I wash out and use again and again.

Painkillers you can buy in the £ shops usually 3 packs for £1. Kitchen cloths - I use the J cloth type ones and, again, wash and reuse.

Toothpaste, toilet rolls, deodorant, shaving gel etc can all be bought in places like Home Bargains, £ stores, Wilkinson etc and should last a fair amount of time. I pay £1 for toothpaste and it lasts me and DH ages.