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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Need to reduce my food bill

170 replies

HarleyQuinnRocks · 22/02/2020 19:00

Posting here for traffic.

I need to feed myself and 2 children.

What's the least amount you could spend in 1 month to feed all and what would you buy?

I'm struggling other than noodles and the really unhealthy basic cheap stuff.

OP posts:
Noodlenosefraggle · 23/02/2020 14:04

If the kids dont eat lentils on their own, they may not notice if it bulks out a bolognese or curry. Also, if you have a food processor, get a big bunch of celery, bag of onions and bag of carrots, grate and mix them all, bag in portions and freeze. Use a bag to bulk out everything- bolognese, chilli, curry etc. You can shove mushrooms in too.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 23/02/2020 14:06

Why are you so short of money? Can the root cause of the problem be tackled?

This is not a criticism. I am wondering if there is help you are entitled to that you are not getting?

HarleyQuinnRocks · 23/02/2020 14:25

I work full time on minimum wage and get universal credit top ups. I pay £500 a month just for childcare.
I had a car on finance as it was the only way to get my youngest to childcare as there are no places available for schools that are local to us. This also means I pay quite a bit on petrol.

My car insurance is as cheap as I can get it as I have a black box fitted. But I cannot save to buy a cheap car with no spare income.

Universal credit basically leave me with bugger all.

OP posts:
Ariela · 23/02/2020 14:27

Plant hanging baskets of cherry tomatoes. They're prolific fruiters and this will save you LOTS of money in the summer. Peppers grow well on windowsills too.

AnnaMagnani · 23/02/2020 14:39

In terms of trips out - what is going on where you live and how easy is it to travel? Are you going to be excluded by travel costs?

Local to us, all the museums have free family or child activities. Even just going round using the children's map. You can walk round town downloading a map from the tourist info which gives you info about the town. Even our local museum which is tiny and would only entertain for 5 minutes normally, has days on with re-enactors . The more I looked, the more I found.

Fizzysours · 23/02/2020 14:48

Harleyquinn lots of friends who are very knowledgeable about animals say cats should not need vaccination annually and it's a scam, these monthly vet plans. Also go to pets at home for wood based litter. Massive bags for 6.99 and you can compost it once de-pooey'd!!

Lunafortheloveogod · 23/02/2020 15:02

Could you put your name on waiting lists for childcare closer to you for the youngest? Double check there’s not a transport option if it’s through a school, might not be free but might be less than petrol.

We cook in bulk but also have a chest freezer so we can buy 5p yellow sticker meat n veg in bulk n freeze it all. Lentils in mince, grated carrot too I’m sure have been said.

Pasta doesn’t go off like potatoes will so 10kg sacks of rice n pasta (they won’t feel cheap at the time but if it’s a year of not buying cupboard essentials it works round)

Replant lettuce and spring onion ends, they’ll regrow fairly easily and could be kind of “project” depending on dc’s ages for a tub on the window type thing not necessarily a garden plant. Unless you’re a good grower don’t sink money on seeds n shit in the hope of a good crop.

Check any warm home schemes in your area incase they can do insulation to bring down heating bills a smidge more.

Would the garage your cars on hp from help you down grade to a cheaper car.. don’t ask you don’t know kind of thought.

What do you spend on shopping? And what is a typical shop n weeks dinners? That’d maybe make more practical suggestions easier too.

HarleyQuinnRocks · 23/02/2020 15:03

I do use a wood based cat litter. I shop about for the cheapest.

Nothing local to us for trips out. Petrol is probably cheaper than bus or train if go to places with free parking but still out of my budget.

I have no wiggle room for the kids needing clothes, school uniform, birthdays, emergencies. Just living day to day working and never doing anything enjoyable.

I feel so bad on my children as they often ask to go to the cinema or bowling or just a pizza out and I have to say no every single time.

OP posts:
Heismyopendoor · 23/02/2020 15:07

Cutting out meat and dairy will help. Dairy free does not need to be expensive, if you are then buying dairy free cheese and yogurts, these can be expensive but just the same as dairy. Dairy free ‘butter’ is pretty cheap and Lidl sells one litres of soy milk for 59p.

We are on a smallish budget, a family of five for around £60 a week. We eat things like Dahl, sweet potato and veg curry, chili, homemade pizza, homemade veggie pies and pasties, baked tortellini, toast and beans, veggie sausages with mash and veggies, Cajun rice and sweet potato bowls, vegan chili Mac and cheese, veggie fried rice and curry sauce, bean and veggie enchiladas, baked sandwiches and wedges, homemade soups, twice baked potatoes (freeze them in big batches and then microwave when needed) healthy muffins (they have hardly any sugar and lots of oats and frozen fruit! Great for breakfasts), simple cookies, protein balls, porridge, pancakes and homemade fruit sauces, etc.

We eat hardly any meat or dairy, instead opting for different beans (kidney, black, chickpeas, pinto, etc), lentils, yellow spilt peas and veggies. I usually only get meat when it’s on a really good offer or reduced. I batch cook and freeze when and what I can or even just making one batch of breakfast muffins will last for a few days (we normally get two days as bake in 12s so with five of us that’s all we get lol, with only three of you you would get more days obviously)

ActualHornist · 23/02/2020 15:11

I spend around £80-90 a week for five of us but could cut it down.

There’s a site called £20 a week dinners or similar, basically get the cheapest pasta, tinned tomatoes, milk and porridge as your basics. You can make a massive batch of tomato sauce for pasta for about the cost of 3 tins so long as you have some herbs and spices on hand. A big bag of red lentils is good for bulking it out.

curlsnotfrizz · 23/02/2020 15:15

can you tell us what comes in and what goes out?

do you get child maintainance?

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 23/02/2020 15:16

Are the DC’s schools far away from where you live? Would they qualify for free school transport? Would it make a difference if they did?

curlsnotfrizz · 23/02/2020 15:20

I had a car on finance as it was the only way to get my youngest to childcare as there are no places available for schools that are local to us. This also means I pay quite a bit on petrol.

how far away are the schools?

curlsnotfrizz · 23/02/2020 15:22

this is from a governmental website:

All children between 5 and 16 qualify for free school transport if they go to their nearest suitable school and live at least:

2 miles from the school if they’re under 8
3 miles from the school if they’re 8 or older

would this apply in your case?

Papiermachecat · 23/02/2020 15:39

Can you move closer to the school? Do you have family? Could they take them out? Second job (Sorry to suggest this, I know you're already snowed under). Family could do childcare in evenings? Weekends? People do bar work in similar circumstances. Or cleaning.
Maintenence?
New man? but expense is hardly worth it (Wish pp who always say LTB would realise that Smile)

How old are kids? Pp on here the other day were saying no childcare after age 10. Some said one day a week after school is OK from 8. I was bit shocked about that but it's changed my point of view for my 11yo.

I'm really sorry that this country is so shit now to single mums and wish you all the best Flowers

Also airbnb? A lodger? Some kind of art and craft or working from home money making thing? I'm sure an extra £200 pm would help a lot.

ivykaty44 · 23/02/2020 15:40

www.slimmingworld.co.uk/recipes/black-eyed-bean-and-vegetable-chilli-bowl

Double up quantities, I just put all ingredients in oven, no oil but add red pepper and cook for an hour - leave in Tupperware overnight in fridge, put half in freezer for next week, serve with rice

www.slimmingworld.co.uk/recipes/carrot-and-coconut-dhal

Double up all quantities apart from coconut milk ( no need to have two tins, one is fine) freeze half, serve rest with warm pitta bread ( but two packets and freeze the other) and rice

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/chickpeas-tomatoes-spinach

Make double, freeze half for next week and serve with homemade chapati & rice

realfood.tesco.com/recipes/pasta-puttanesca.html Great sauce, we never ever add capers. We use tinned anchovy’s and tinned olives. I stock up x4 if these from Aldi as they are much cheaper than elsewhere. I never make double 😊 but it’s good store cupboard food

I make homemade smoky apple beans, great with baked potato or on toast

But shortcrust pastry and a bag of onions and 6x eggs and make an onion flan, serve with baked beans and potatoes

HarleyQuinnRocks · 23/02/2020 15:48

It's 2.3 miles from our house. But I go 1 mile the opposite way first to drop eldest at high school, then to childcare for youngest, then back to near where I live for work. I repeat this in the evening.

Can't move as no money for deposit or moving costs. Plus we live near where I work and eldest high school. So will be easier in 2 year and rest of this year once youngest starts high school.

OP posts:
HarleyQuinnRocks · 23/02/2020 15:51

Also a second job would leave me in the same situation as then I'd just lose universal credit top ups and may then not be eligible for childcare help.

Only bills I pay that would be seen as a treat is broadband/TV, Netflix, kids xbox and ps subscription (20 per month for both). I am in contract for broadband/TV but will cancel TV aspect and see if can reduce cost when not.

I also pay 36 a month for a DMP so would prefer not to cancel anything that's in a contract and rack up more debt.

OP posts:
ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 23/02/2020 15:53

How long does the car finance have to run?

Can the eldest walk, at least some of the time, when the weather is better?

Baboutheocelot · 23/02/2020 16:00

I don’t have anything to add about the food budget I’m afraid, but I just wanted to suggest geocaching as a free activity.

HarleyQuinnRocks · 23/02/2020 16:01

Car finance is for another 50 months. Its very new.

Youngest is only 11. A summer baby so in first year of high school and a late bloomer. I would not feel comfortable him getting himself to school walking. He gets a bus home but that's easier as he cannot be late. He then spends a good few hours home alone which I dislike but there is no other option.

OP posts:
HarleyQuinnRocks · 23/02/2020 16:01

We have done all geocaching in our area and revisited them a few times. It's a great activity and if I could fund more petrol each month we would go further afield and do more of that.

OP posts:
jazzandh · 23/02/2020 16:05

Not a food option but check out the making £10 a day thread on the money matters board - loads of ideas for boosting income in small ways which can (and have) made a massive difference!

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 23/02/2020 16:11

What's the x box subscription? Am very ignorant, but DS has an x box and we don't pay any kind of monthly subscription?

jazzandh · 23/02/2020 16:14

With the extra money from the "side hustles" above, I believe that you can earn up to a certain amount without the need to declare, and if you are doing surveys as an example - then you can often be paid in vouchers.

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