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.

good luck with it all OP, there’s so much good advice here.

Also I wouldn’t worry too much about the teens, you say they live coming, they are only there EOW, so ignore those saying they won’t come if the food isn’t up to their usual standards. I think they’re old enough to be gently told that for a few months things will be tight, but everything will be fine after Xmas.

Maybe involve them and ask them to suggest some cheap meals they would like?

Is everyone who's saying that it's not doable missing the fact that the OP has stocked up to prepare for the time they won't have a lot of money, so it's not really the same as someone who is trying to budget on that amount long term, with no store cupboard to add to the money they will have to spend?

Obviously they aren't going to be living on blueberries, salmon and asparagus, but I think the suggestions of needing the foodbank are a little over the top.

We spend more than that on me (pregnant and average hungry), husband dieting but eating a lot of fresh food, and nearly 13 year old. That's a Tesco shop rather than Waitrose. Dog and 2xcat stuff is on top of that.

Thank you for all the really helpful replies. Have had some really good ideas here!

I've got lots of planning, organizing and research to do - lots of food for thought from this thread!

Plenty of people have said it's not doable or likely to be miserable and no fun. This could well be the case but it's likely to be my reality for the next few months so I'm trying to embrace it and see it as a challenge because really, what's the alternative?

I'm trying, with my last pay packet, (I also have a few items I'm going to try and sell for some extra cash), to create a bit of a buffer and stock up as best as possible, particularly in regards to toiletries, cleaning products and cat food to see us through a few months that way my £200 per month can be used solely for food.

No, I'm not giving up my cats. No, I don't want to leave the EU and, yes, I'm incredibly worried about Brexit.

I also think it's doubtful the teens will stop coming because our budget is tight. They don't just come for food, you know. They want to see and spend time with their Dad and sibling.

I also think it's doubtful the teens will stop coming because our budget is tight. They don't just come for food, you know. They want to see and spend time with their Dad and sibling.

If course they do OP, ignore those saying otherwise.

*of course

£5 off a £25 Lidl shop voucher in some newspapers today.
www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/lidl/#51831

Comes up fairly regularly. You could get £20 of food and £5 of cleaning/toiletries and the latter would be free.

Oh, that Lidl voucher is really helpful, thank you.

Does anyone have any recommendations for Shampoo and Conditioner that I can stock up on?

Am currently looking into bar soap and think we will use this instead of shower gel.

@Pauuuuuuline, Personally I don't buy into expensive shampoo being better than cheaper ones. I think they are, on the whole pretty much the same. When I was very hard up years ago (when the mortgage rate went up and up) I washed my hair with washing up liquid for around a year. Bearing in mind that I wash my hair every day, I did not notice any difference in it at all.

I buy big containers of shampoo and conditioner in Home Bargains. Sorry I can't remember the name and am too lazy to go upstairs to look! If you want it I will let you know. Can't remember how much they are but only a couple of pounds each. I fill 2 smaller bottles with them to make it easier to take into the shower.

Even washing and conditioning my hair every day they last absolutely ages. I do have very short hair though.

I did switch to bar soap in the shower but couldn't get on with it. I use either Original Source (buy when on offer at 99p or £1) or Superdrug's own make. You don't need that much gel if you use a flannel or a scrunchie thing and one lasts me and DH weeks

Can you post a full statement of affairs either on here or money saving expert (which may well be kinder to you)? It does sound incredibly tight. How much does your husband earn and are you sure you’re not entitled to anything else? There will be people on here that are knowledgable on this area and can help see if you should be able to access anything else.

Hopefully Christmas might mean there is demand for temporary jobs. But, if you’re applying for jobs daily are you actually putting in the right time to tailor them effectively or are you scatter gunning. I’ve applied for one role this week and I’ve spent at least 6 hours on the application.

I’m think you do have to have a conservation with the mother of the children. If I was in the same situation, I’d rather send some treats or extras with them than having them live on toast. Obviously if the relationship is tricky then this would be harder.

On food, you won’t have any wiggle room for waste. I’d only get frozen veg like peas. If you aren’t going veggie, you’re going to need small amounts of things like bacon for flavour. I don’t think you’ll have enough to make meat or fish a main part of a meal.

mydog might be referring to Tresemme. I agree about shampoo and conditioner. Just get whatever's on offer or supermarket own brand, a bottle of each should last a few weeks if not more, so trivial cost and if you're using it faster than that, you're using more than you need to.

They do a couple of scents and it's currently half price, same with the shampoo
https://www.superdrug.com/Superdrug/Fruity-Coconut-Conditioner-535ml/p/778174

I just want to add, I said I spend £200. I actually spend £160pm on food, £20pm on cleaning supplies (I really research deals and stock up here!) and £20pm on my daughters allergy milk!

Good luck op, you'll be fine, you are organised and practical and you've stocked up a bit. Of course it won't be a breeze but you'll all make it work. I say that as the mum of dc 17,20 and 21 so I know how hungry they can be. Make 19 out of 20 meals vegetarian.

Hi Op. we used bar soap on holiday this year instead of shower gel for the first time and I actually preferred it. We did however get through a bar a week between 3 of us which was a surprise!

Agree the Olio app is brilliant especially if you're close enough to places like Pret as they often give she'd loads away late evening after closing!

Definitely look on those "Earn £10 a day" threads previous posters have referred to. I've started doing some survey websites and in 4months of basically faffing on my phone for an hour a day I've made about £120 in PayPal cash and M & S vouchers- you could get some Christmas treats with that. And compared to what other MNers on those threads are doing , trust me that's chump change!

Red Wigwam May have some temporary job opportunities that fit round family life too.

What a brilliant thread this is. I think it's really heartwarming how much thought Mumsnetters have put into coming up with suggestions to help the OP. I'm in the lucky position of having a bigger food budget but I'm learning a lot from this thread so thank you!

I've looked at the shampoo and conditioner and its Dead Sea Minerals. They are pretty large containers (forgot to look at actually weight) and cost in the region of £3/£4 each. They also do a body wash at the same price.

I also agree with looking at the earn £10 a day thread. I was already doing a few of the things they suggest but it gave me more ideas.

I have 2 apps on my phone to scan any receipts - receipthog and shopprize. I am lucky in that DH gets lots and lots of receipts (he is self employed and has to buy materials) but it all adds up.

I also do Prolific surveys and Qmee which can add up.

I think it's tight but doable.

It may help to focus on your bulk buys, as with £200 a month, you'll be able to take in big sacks of things.

My main tips:

• go semi veggie
• reduce the amount of meat portions (butchers do big family meat packs that seem to suggest a huge portion at every meal for a week, but are a good deal)
• butterbeans, lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans etc are all pretty filling
• bulk buy anything you can
• try and have large portions of cheaper foods

I also like 'don't matter' days. Where beans on toast, noodles, and a salad would be fine. I much prefer to stint myself for the odd day and have better meals on others than permanently be trimming the fat.

It does you no harm at all to have the odd day of nutritionally bunk meals.

It is doable OP, and with the right choices you may even have a tiny bit left over each month.

Cats - they will survive perfectly well on dry food for 6 months.

Toiletries - realistically, you only NEED cheap shampoo (doubles as body wash) and cheap conditioner / moisturiser. Buy the cheapest in the shops. Job done.

Cleaning products - don't waste a fortune on cleaning sprays, wipes etc - hot water and re-usable cloths does perfectly well for 95% of clean ups. A bottle of dettol will last forever and covers any child / cat related accidents.

Cheap laundry powder works just as well as branded.

Food - though you may not want to go vegetarian, you may just have to. Some meat substitutes are surprisingly economical - making a big batch of chilli / pasta sauce with soy mince and veg, passata etc is filling, tasty and goes a long way. Even ASDA soy mince is £1.50 for a big bag that can easily be bulked out with veg / pasta / rice.

Don't be scared to go into M&S 15 mins before closing time - they do amazing mark downs - not so long ago i bought 2 x 2 packs of wheat free cod fishcakes (they were just what was reduced) and 500g of lamb mince for a grand total of 60p. (10p per pack of fishcakes and 40p for the lamb). I was tempted by a big cake of some description that was 15p, but decided against it.

Forgot to add under food - learn a few basic recipes that utilise pulses. Lentils are honestly a really good alternative in lots of mince based dishes. Tinned green lentils or dried red.

Bulk chillies out with kidney beans and curries with chick peas.

Nothing more to add but good luck OP, when needs must- you can do anything. It’s not forever and you’re looking for work now so hopefully you’ll be sorted sooner than you’re planning for.
Why do people think you should give up the cats? That’s bloody selfish behaviour and no wonder so many pets end up in adoption centres. The OP is making allowances so no need to get rid of her pets for a matter of months hardship. I bloody hate that mentality that you must surrender your animals at the first sign of trouble.

I second the M&S suggestion, if you have one nearby then hang around probably an hour before closing to pick up some good bargains, make sure it’s ok to freeze. Also start using my supermarket.com to compare prices on branded items for the odd luxury, only buy on offers.

I don’t want to make light of your situation because you have no choice but it sounds like a challenge and if you look on the plus side it will make you value your shopping budget even more once you’re back to normal finances in the near future.

The Aldi versions of Tresemme shampoo and conditioner are pretty good, and a lot cheaper.

Also, my best shop for yellow sticker goods is my Morrison local (the small shops), yesterday I got a bag of 5 oranges for 6p (!), a bag of new potatoes for 21p, a bunch of spring onions for 21p. All in perfectly good condition, should last for a few days.

I don't think it's possible and it will take a huge amount of time to get anywhere near this budget.

I think you should concentrate on increasing your income. How about temp work or restaurant/bar Work/retail/cleaning ironing etc. Is there any reason why you can't work to raise your income?