in thinking this very tight budget is doable for one week?

[Henrylj]

Name changed cause my previous posts are imaybe identifying and it’s a bit embarrassing!
not a begging thread, I’m just looking for advice!

I had to switch from income support to universal credit, I did take out the advance but it was mostly taken up by the rent so had £300 left for the 5 weeks.
I messed up by forgetting that my phone bill comes out this week so I’ve ended up with £7 left for the week (until Tuesday) it’s the last week so I think do-able. We are at my parents for dinner on Sunday so don’t need anything for that day and they will get Easter eggs etc from family so won’t miss out on that

It’s just me and two primary aged dc(one very fussy so going with the things he would at least eat)

I have a few things in but not a lot

Bread
Jam
Porridge oats
Butter
Grated cheese
Pasta
Pasta sauce

I’m thinking if I buy

More bread 60p
Couple tins of beans £1
Couple tins of soup £1
Milk £1.20
Cheap biscuits 50p
Cheap apples £1
Frozen mixed veg £1

I could do them

Tuesday- Pasta and sauce/cheese with mixed veg
Wednesday- pasta and sauce/cheese again (with the leftover sauce) with mixed veg
Thursday- beans on toast
Friday- soup and bread
Saturday- super noodles with mixed veg mixed in
Sunday- at parents
Monday- beans on toast

Breakfast would be porridge and lunch jam sandwhiches, biscuits and apples for snacks

I know it isn’t healthy, but is it ok as a plan?
I will buy them all the fruit and veg in the world next week to make up for it from a health point of view!

Absolutely ok. Make sure you eat too.

Of course that's fine for a little while!

I survived 3 years at uni on pasta and sauce, beans on toast, and ramen noodles. Not the healthiest way to live for long periods but fine for a short time.

Absolutely but could your parents lend you a few quid and get just a bit more?

Don’t forget travel costs xxx

Do you have any sugar and syrup? Could make flapjacks for snacks (if you have enough oats) and upgrade a tin of beans for sausage and beans with the biscuit money - if the kids like it.

Is that £300 just for food? Any other bills to come out of that?

It sounds fine but also this is what food banks are for and I'm sure you would get things like pasta, beans, tinned veg in a food bank parcel which would leave you a couple of pounds for fresh fruit or veg.

That sounds perfectly fine, I was a fussy child and so beans on toast and pasta with sauce was a regular feature! Tesco have beans at 35p (or 4 for £1.20) for the reduced salt and sugar ones and apples for 79p if you can get to one.

It's a bit low on protein but perfectly do-able, for a week.

Can you not get some food from your parents? I would have thought if you are going for Easter lunch there would be a fair amount of leftovers at least.

It's doable but could you ask your parents for some food shopping? I know I would much rather help my kids then let them struggle.

CoastalWave- no it was for everything other than rent not just food, but UC comes through next week so just about managed

It'll be a tight week, especially with DC and the week that is in it.

I'm absolutely broke lately too, I was living nicely for a few years, back to major budgeting, feeding the DC first, watching the electric and teabags.

I can survive anything once I have a cup of tea.

I hope things improve once you get money coming in, it's going to be tight on income support.

Might be worth downloading the Olio app, you might be able to pick up some free fruit/veg/bread from there.

I’d scrap the soup, biscuits and apples and buy some cheap veg, potatoes, chickpeas/lentils. Soup and bread isn’t enough for meal unless the soup fortified with lentils/beans/meat. You could buy some onions, lentils, rice, carrots and potatoes for the price of the bag of apples, soup and biscuits

I think that looks fine, only thing I would do different is freeze portions of bread because you’re relying on it quite heavily and I wouldn’t want to risk it starting to mould.

Whilst it’s fine it does look tight (as in it wouldn’t take much to throw it off course). I would consider a food bank referral if I were you because you’ll get some of the things on your list and be able to keep a couple of quid back for emergencies.

I think it’s doable for a short period but as others have said what about a food bank? Or do you have a local food pantry? In our village you pay a fiver a week and can then go and pick your groceries, usually getting about 3 or 4 times that for your fiver. Years ago I often managed to survive on similar rations for a week or two but it is pretty miserable but doable short term

Sign up to 'Free my meal' on Facebook, people offer spare food/meals they have in your local area and you can also request food.

Autumn42- thanks that’s a good idea and I know that is healthier, but one my my dc just wouldn’t even entertain the idea of eating that stuff. He seems to think onions are the devils food and wouldn’t even try lentils or chickpeas (and I think without the snacks they will be very grumpy with me.. it’s half term and they are snack monsters)
So I’m trying to just get things he will eat so atleast he isn’t going to go hungry

Forgot about Olio. Download that. Usually good for bread fruit and veg and cakes x

If you are struggling to feed your children go to/get a referral for a food bank.

@Autumn42

I’d scrap the soup, biscuits and apples and buy some cheap veg, potatoes, chickpeas/lentils. Soup and bread isn’t enough for meal unless the soup fortified with lentils/beans/meat. You could buy some onions, lentils, rice, carrots and potatoes for the price of the bag of apples, soup and biscuits

I assume the list is based on what the OP's children will actually eat. DS won't even try chickpeas and lentils, and the mixed veg wouldn't work for us as the only veg he'll eat apart from potatoes is carrots.

I second the suggestion of olio, always free food available round me if you’re quick enough and it’s often baked goods which are filling/ good for treats

We have a community food larder/pantry near us. No referrals needed, I get quite a lot because I like saving food from the bin. It's mostly stuff that is on its use by date (that the supermarkets have given via fair share). You don't even have to put a donation into ours, but I normally put a pound or two in the jar (Although I have arrived without my purse by accident and nobody minded). You could have a look and see if you have one of those close by… You could get a big bag of shopping for a pound or two. They also have tinned items and pasta, it's not all perishable.

So how much for food per week? Easier to advise if we know the budget.

Basically you need potatoes, vegetables. Get stuff on yellow sticker when cheap and freeze. Cook lots and then freeze. Slow cooker (keep an eye open on free sites, they always pop up)

Ration everything - lock up the snacks/ Biscuits in Aldi are like £30p a pack (some cheaper) so you can have snacks for the kids, you just need to make sure they don't polish them off.

@CoastalWave

So how much for food per week? Easier to advise if we know the budget.

Basically you need potatoes, vegetables. Get stuff on yellow sticker when cheap and freeze. Cook lots and then freeze. Slow cooker (keep an eye open on free sites, they always pop up)

Ration everything - lock up the snacks/ Biscuits in Aldi are like £30p a pack (some cheaper) so you can have snacks for the kids, you just need to make sure they don't polish them off.

She said in the op £7 for the week