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!

Olio is a good shout so long as you can get to places.

Also check out your local churches, because it’s school holidays lots of them have things in place. My local church do community lunches during the holidays and also run a weekly community shop like a pp described where anyone can stock up for a small fee or free if they can’t afford it no questions asked.

Also there are some supermarkets which offer free kids meals during the holidays

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/free-meals-kids-easter-26665601.amp

It’s fine.
They won’t be hungry.
Lots of people eat worse than that by far, as a matter of choice and do it for months or years.
It shows what you can do if you have to.
And re all the suggestions of alternative flapjack baking etc, now probably isn’t the time to be launching out trying something new or pushing new foods on the kids…just getting through and having full tummies is the key isnt it.

You’re doing great.

You could try the food bank if you want, but it looks like you’ll manage. If this happens again, make sure you’ve got the details and info about how you go about it, just so you can. There’s no shame….and unfortunately when things are so tight, it’s likely to happen again and it’s always good to have a back-up plan.

Sorry you’re facing this Op, but you’ve got a plan and you’re doing great.

Please use a local food bank, this is the exact situation they are intended for.
I refer people to them at work and you would be able to get toiletries ect as well.
Keep your £7 for emergencies

It's doable. On Income Support in the 80's, a family shop would be, porridge, jam, bread, lard, butter, a sack of potatoes, tins of peas/beans and eggs. Anything else was a treat.
Could you be honest with your parents? If not, then coupled with Easter eggs, that's fine.

Sorry, just read through that link and it seems the adult meal you would have to buy would wipe out your budget - I’m not sure about Asda though.

4 pints milk - 1.25
1kg chicken drumsticks - 1.73
1kg carrots - 39p (19p if you have a Clubcard)
Large white loaf - 60p
1kg baby potatoes - 79p
15 eggs - 1.18
6 bananas - 71p

Total cost £6.45

With the stuff you already have in plus the above you can make roast chicken, omelettes or boiled eggs etc.

I'm assuming you have access to Tesco though.

The op said she was deliberately picking things her kids would eat?

Have a look at the Too Good To Go app. I get Morrisons boxes for £3.09 and they are full of veggies, fruit and baked goods. They're all on the best before date but I batch cook when I collect mine and freeze whatever is left.

Also try your local church or the Salvation Army. Near me, the door is open and there are pallets of food just inside the door and you can help yourself.

Cornetto, eating out in any form just isn’t an option!

Free kids meals always involve some expense and the adult buying something. Of course that’s beyond the reach of OP at the moment. The price of the adult meal to achieve a free kids meal, would feed the family for almost a week wouldn’t it. Yes, a feee kids meal is a good deal….but it’s for people who are able to afford to eat at home and then some. It’s still a luxury. Op won’t be eating out or even having a coffee out this week. The family Easter meal will be the big treat.

Yes of course. Carrots are very cheap and cabbage so you could easily have fresh veg. I’ve been in the same boat myself and make pasta and veg soups and stews which can last two days each. Eggs can be substantial omelettes etc. Good luck 👍

Sounds very do-able to me. You've got this.

Do you have butter in? If you do that mixed through the pasta with cheese can be very tasty too. But I think bulk up on the carbs so the kids aren't hungry. They can have fresh fruit/ veg next week. You have the frozen ones.

As many pps have said look up food banks. That is their purpose.

Please do look up food banks and community larders. They’d really help your budget stretch much further.

That said your plan looks very doable for one week

For one week that would be absolutely fine to eat.

Though I’d shave a £1 off your budget and go when things get yellow stickered (6pm ish) and see what nice things you can get for that. You might be able to get a good mix of fruit for your DCs and things like berries can be frozen and added to porridge.

Do you get healthy start vouchers? They can be super helpful if you don’t already get them.

Also if you live near a lidl you might be lucky to get their £1.50 fruit and veg boxes too.

If you can’t, for one week, that food would be absolutely fine. Dull but fine

Could your parents make up an extra portion of dinner for you to bring home to have Monday?

Mine are fussy & would eat pancakes which are fairly cheap to make.

Hopefully the kids will scoff Easter eggs & not be bothered by any other treats!

We have a community fridge so maybe look into that. Ours has lovely stuff but I'm usually at work when it's open.

@Ponoka7

It's doable. On Income Support in the 80's, a family shop would be, porridge, jam, bread, lard, butter, a sack of potatoes, tins of peas/beans and eggs. Anything else was a treat. Could you be honest with your parents? If not, then coupled with Easter eggs, that's fine.

Very true

@WombatChocolate point taken, I’d remembered it as a scheme by some supermarkets literally offering free meals to kids without needing to purchase anything from the cafe (though you might need to buy something from the shop itself). I’d misremembered and did post acknowledging that.

Definitely fine for a week. Just focus on stodge to fill everyone up.

Could you maybe borrow a tenner off parents though? Its do-able but a few extra quid could make it far more pleasant - could add some pudding rice, extra fruit & veg and a bag of cheap mince to get the most from pasta sauce.

I know it might be difficult to discuss, but surely as a one off you could ask your parents for even £20 quid and a few bits from their freezer/cupboard to tide you over. Using up your time and energy trying to eke out an existence on 7 quid is unnecessary. Most people especially parents would bend over backwards to help their children and grandchildren.

Try it and see. Don't be proud be practical.

Is there any way you can ask your parents for food/money? If they have some spare money, £20 would help you hugely.

Otherwise, as others have said, please look into food banks.

Have a look on Facebook there are loads of free holiday club offering free childrens meals daily also local cafes. And get a food bank referral that food isn’t adequate.

I'd go eggs rather than soup, more substantial. Or even more beans. Soup isn't very calorific so won't keep them going as long.

It’s doable, but others have said, do have a look in to food banks (need a referral) or community fridge/community larder to give yourself some flexibility. Our “fridge” is brilliant - no referral necessary, it aims to reduce food waste and people attend for all sorts of reasons. Lots of good food which would otherwise go to waste - lots from supermarkets but also big venues donate excess food from functions. They frequently have several hundred individually wrapped sandwiches available.

What hassletassie said about communit fridges or larders.
I went to one yesterday and you could take up to 10 tins or other things with a long shelf life, and as much as you could use of the things that were about to go off.
They had tangerines, peppers, onions, potatoes.
Ready meal type stuff and filled wraps.
Bread type things.

If you can't find anything in your local area with Google, try Facebook.

Too Good To Go can be a bit of a gamble but olio is really good. Things are often listed with olio around 9pm as evening collections are 8.30pm.

*community fridges

The children will be fine for a week, but in your shoes I'd visit mum a couple more times and "let" her give us all lunch. In your mums shoes, I would absolutely want my DD to do that.