Aibu to ask what you eat when you are broke?

[NCsobroke]

I don’t mean feed your family for £10, I mean dinners like baked potato and beans that cost a couple of quid. None of us are v picky and no dietary issues.

The kids mostly eat a v healthy balanced diet, lots of whole foods and tons of fruit and veg, maybe frozen pizza on a Saturday, don’t really have takeaways often etc. I hate the thought of them living off cheap freezer food not enough fruit snd veg.

Also needs to include lunches as we don’t qualify for FSM despite being on UC as husband works FT.

We are so broke. We usually receive universal credit which we live off as DH wages all go on bills and rent. We won’t receive any at all this month and can’t do anything about it.

2 adults, 2 children. £110 to last for the next 3 weeks (plus toiletries and cleaning stuff and petrol for DH 2 hour commute )

You got lots of excellent advice here, OP, so I'll just add - write to your MP with the same question, listing your income and outgoings, and ask him or her to pass on your enquiry to Johnson.

The w*nkers in government have no idea how people live, Johnson "does not believe" people will have problems after UC gets cut, and right-wingers on social media deny the need for food banks, because "if anyone needs a foodbank in the UK, it means they are just greedy". Mind boggles and many people like you struggle.

Best of luck

Apologies if already mentioned as im ib the middle of a reacue mission to fetch my parents from their caravan holiday as they have tested positive for covid mid holiday and now too ill to drive the 180 miles home so im exhausted and cant RTFT. Anyway what i want to say is you are exactly who the foodbank is for, im a food bank partner (so i can issue vouchers for people local to me and i volunteer with homeless and vulnerable people). and they are exactly the people to help you right now. You can get up to 3 parcels, usually 2 weeks apart but if you are in genunie need this can be taken in to account and they may let you have weekly. They will offer you a friendly face and listening ear, no judgement whatsoever and a genuine interest in helping. If you google where you local one is (often in churches, village halls etc).and give them a call, they will be able to issue you a voucher. They say they give 3 days food but honestly most of the time you can easily make it last a week. Please dont be too proud to ask them for help, they are there for people in your situation, you arent alone i promise, so many people struggling at the moment.

As some PP have suggested, look for a 'social supermarket' near you. We have one in West Yorkshire that is pay as you feel. You can load up boxes full and just pay a small amount. They do have some short date food from supermarkets but also a lot of surplus stock that still has long shelf life.

Otherwise try Indian/African stores if you have any nearby - they often have large bulk bags of lentils, pasta etc which is cheaper than supermarkets.

Baked potatoes and pasta, basically (not together). With a sauce made from tinned tomatoes. Fruit/veg in season from the market - the fruit doesn't last but it's OK if you puree it, then add to yoghurt. Cheap fresh fish.

It's shit though, isn't it? I'm lucky now that I can afford to buy nicer stuff, but I remember well the grind of the same boring things day, after day, and standing in the Co-op, wondering if I could afford to buy two tins of tomatoes at once.

Pasta, tin of tomatoes, bit of Worcester sauce, dried Italian herbs, spoonful of gravy granules to thicken and add sweetcorn, frozen diced onions and frozen spinach, grated cheese on top.... A whole chicken goes a long way as well... Try to maximise the use of the oven being on and bake some potatoes/ carrots/ parsnips at the same time, you can always reheat later if not wanting them at the same time x

Bananas and custard for pudding

bit of jam in plain yoghurt

my mother used to add food dye to our porridge ..might cheer your little one/s up ?

semolina can be tasty ....

If dh has Covid he more than likely will have to have a few extra days past isolation as won't be ready for work. I am recovering from Covid and would not have the energy to go to work. So save petrol stay at home an extra few days!!!

Pesto and peas pasta

Is there a local food bank you could join?

Hi OP, I have been there.

This spicy lentil tomato soup is fantastic-
www.myrecipes.com/recipe/brees-lentil-tomato-soup

An easy egg fried rice, sometimes I add a little minced pork to it-
seonkyounglongest.com/easy-egg-fried-rice/

Veg soup

Ramen noodles over chopped stir fried cabbage.
I usually cook the ramen noodles in the sauce packet then dump the liquid.

Pasta with homemade sauce with tinned tomatoes, a stock cube, onions and garlic, herbs. Sometimes I add minced beef and/or more veg.

Bread dough spread with the pasta sauce and cheese, sometimes more, as homemade pizza.

Porridge cooked with water, with a spoon or two of full fat milk.

For snack, popping corn with salt and oil (cheaper than butter).

Chicken leg/thigh tray bake is nice. You just add the whatever chicken is cheapest with a stock cube, browned onion and carrots. Cook for about I hr in the oven. Serve with a baked potato and frozen peas Oddly a few tinned/dried prunes added to the mix before it goes into in the oven really enhances the flavour.

I really like making a nice cauliflower cheese - topped with garlic bread croutons - served it had frozen veg.

Ok - Bachelor’s savoury golden rice - is great boiled until ready then finished I a frying pan with fried onions/bacon pieces/chicken/tinned tuna fir a cheap paella.

If you can get to the supermarket about 6 pm there are loads of yellow ticket items selling at a fraction of the normal price.

Supermarket own brand pesto and big bag of value pasta. Feeds 4 for less than £1.20 and most importantly it tastes great. Hugs OP

How about a cheese souffle with salad?

Download the Oleo app. It's a free food distribution app. Also, if you get really deperate your GP or health visitor can issue you with food bank vouchers.

If you are getting benefits you need to declare what you make selling stuff. People forget that...It is like those who sell stuff on ebay or vinted then do not declare this income to the tax man... It is income. Needs to be declared or yoy are bring dishonest.

Dahl… lentils are cheap and this is a tasty meal

Some brilliant advice and pointers here. Just want to say how sorry I am that you are in this situation and that you have nothing to be embarrassed about. The people who should be are the ones who don't pay a living wage or block you getting benefits. Citizens Advice can help. Been in your situation and completely empathise. Hugs xx

Jack munroes 9p burgers are fab .
And can freeze extra.
Dhal is cheap with some rice and chutney.
Buy all rhe super 6 in aldi and work.round that.
We make our own hummus from cheap tin chick.peas.
Wd recommed makimg falafal.. v cheap, but feels treat like..

Haven't RTFT sorry but the

Too Good To Go

app is amazing for cheap food. You get a boxful from Morissions for a few quid. It's stuff they would otherwise be binning so might have yellow labels but any time me or my sister get it there is loads of fresh stuff which lasts like potatoes veg and even bread can be frozen.

Tinned potatoes are very inexpensive and great for Spanish omelettes, frittata, curry and soups.

@Mirw It's surely not income if you're selling stuff for less than you bought it for, which is true of most second-hand items on eBay.

By the same logic, if you purchase an item, return it and get it refunded it's also income?

Hi OP

I'd second many of the suggestions above.

Protein in all its edible forms is expensive, so definitely do the yellow sticker trawl. There are sometimes amazing bargains.

Your thing is to avoid anything prepared if possible; although quick and easy it is always more expensive than the sum of its parts and never very healthy. Bulk out your protein with carbs, and yes, the fabled Mumsnet chicken really is an economical option. Every single scrap can be eaten or used to make soup or stock.

Don't be fazed. The bulk buying options are a good idea going forward. I would also suggest going to local markets if you have them. Veg is generally cheaper there.

The go to guide in my day was Jocasta Innés Paupers Cookbook. I learned the basics from that, and gave me the confidence too.

Hope this is helpful. All the best.

One thing I have done is buy a sack of potatoes from a farm or market stall. About £6-7. Lasts ages of kept in a shed or garage.
Jackets, boiled, mash, cubed small and roasted ( so use less fuel in the oven) etc.

I help out at a community food bank OP. There’s no shame in needing a bit of help, lots of other people are in the same boat this month.

Please ask for help, the ‘referral’ doesn’t have to be too formal at the one I’m involved with, we would help you without a referral for up to six weeks in the circumstances you’ve described - hit by COVID, new job and loss of UC.

There’s no judgement at all, we try to help people retain their dignity, you go round with a little trolley choosing what you want from the food bank shelves.

When we first went on UC I used to do these meals

Tuna sweetcorn pasta
Pizza pasta ( tinned tomatoes, oregano, garlic, salt, pepper & pinch of sugar cooked down to make a sauce )
Tesco value breaded fish 89p & value chips 90p add beans, peas etc
Sausage & mash ( packet mash if really short ) add beans or veg
Chick pea & spinach curry
Special fried rice ( cold rice, bacon, cooked chicken, frozen prawns, bean sprouts , scrambled egg with soy sauce
Minced beef & onion with potatoes & Yorkshire pudding
Bacon & cheese frittata
Jacket Potato
Corned beef hash
Curry with a jar of sauce

Also bulk dinners up with value yorkies 45p garlic bread 19p etc

I would have value Frozen cooked chicken, peas, sweetcorn, broccoli in my freezer at all times & bacon & eggs in the fridge. You can always make something with those things.

You can also add a pudding to help fill people up too. 45 flour & baking block instead of butter 55p then add ingredients to make a nice sponge. You could make a Victoria sponge cake, marble cake or just sponge cake & custard. Makes for a nice treat, plus it makes sure bellies are full.

Have a look & see if you have local surplus charities around you. Mine take the food from Tesco that is past it's date, but is still perfectly fine & you can go & collect it from them. It's not a foof bank & anyone is allowed use it regardless of their circumstances.

( I say value in my post but they are now the equivalent such as hearty foods & miss molly. )

if budget was really tight, then a bag of chips from the chippy each day for around $2 but usually its reduced items from the supermarkets, or sometimes light meals eg fried eggs, beans, bread, pasta rice ect, in general i get to taste some lovely tasty foods for a cheap price via reduced, yes its a mix of timing and availability, but its food and energy in my tummy to keep me going.