Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

£200 for 10 days

69 replies

Itsabitproblematic · 23/12/2023 22:01

Could you manage on that? Petrol etc paid for already, food to last until Tuesday..possibly could stretch to Wednesday/Thursday, then some will need to go on food. We’ve spent a fair amount in food, so will cut right back with simple things after the Christmas
excess. We won’t be paid until the 2nd Jan and just thinking would this be enough for you? We’ve done all the nice outings/activities etc, so will just chill at home/go for walks mainly from now on

OP posts:
Zanatdy · 23/12/2023 22:48

Yes very do-able

GoingDownLikeBHS · 23/12/2023 23:06

Im confused. You mean you're on holiday abroad? Have you got your food for Christmas dinner etc? Do you need to buy petrol or pay any bills from the £200? What am I missing?

Original poster
Itsabitproblematic · 23/12/2023 23:08

@GoingDownLikeBHS No, live abroad, have the equivalent to around £200 left. Have food for Xmas dinner, petrol, bills etc done.

OP posts:
GoingDownLikeBHS · 23/12/2023 23:10

Are you intending to eat out a lot? Is it a very expensive country? If you were in the UK, would you still be asking this question? Because if not then I'm with the "goady" poster. Why on earth would you be worried? Are you not used to budgeting?

Upwiththelark76 · 23/12/2023 23:11

wow that’s more than enough. I probably don’t spend that much more on food for a month! Where do you shop ?

Sugarsun · 23/12/2023 23:12

If this is real then it’s absolute madness!

That’s what most people have to last them every month.

You do not need to worry about having only £200 for food and luxuries for 10 days.

What a world some people live in.

Iwantamarshmallowman · 23/12/2023 23:18

Iouis · 23/12/2023 22:11

How?

Show quote history

becuase it's more than enough, and she's just being provocative for the sake of it

Original poster
Itsabitproblematic · 23/12/2023 23:18

I’m not planning to eat out at all on that! I’d be too worried to in case there wasn’t enough left. Ideally I’d like to be able to last long enough to have enough food and a bonus would be a couple of hot chocolates out.
Definitely not a goady thread as this amount does not last us long at all and yes very very used to budgeting!
Perhaps it is where we are then as looking at similar threads for tips, people were suggesting a loaf of bread for 41p?! Could no way get that where I am

OP posts:
Original poster
Itsabitproblematic · 23/12/2023 23:21

@Iwantamarshmallowman Are you serious?? That’s not the case at all and couldn’t be further from my reason for posting. I don’t see it as being more than enough at all, I see it as being stressful and an amount I’ll have to keep tight control of to ensure there’s enough until pay day and no treats or days out for my Dd, which I was hoping for.

OP posts:
Original poster
Itsabitproblematic · 23/12/2023 23:22

@Sugarsun What luxuries could I possibly get on that for the equivalent of 20 per day

OP posts:
MumblesParty · 23/12/2023 23:22

I’m confused. Petrol is all paid for, and you have enough food till Wednesday 27th December . No trips out planned. So basically you’ll just need 5 days of food before pay day. Is that right? Because surely £200 would be loads?!

Original poster
Itsabitproblematic · 23/12/2023 23:24

@MumblesParty I would ideally like to fit in a couple of nice things but I really don’t think I’d be able to on that as everything is so expensive

OP posts:
nzeire · 23/12/2023 23:24

I’ve got about that until the 9th

teenagers can look after themselves and we have the beach so will survive with a few sausages and some salad ;)

Iwantamarshmallowman · 23/12/2023 23:25

Threads like this and the steeling toys for the food bank thred are simply created to wind people up. seriously, get a life op and bore off.

Sugarsun · 23/12/2023 23:25

What country are you in?

You know that £200 worth of groceries for 10 days is more than enough.

Original poster
Itsabitproblematic · 23/12/2023 23:27

@Sugarsun We nip to the shop nowadays for a ‘Few bits’ and it ends up being close to €30/40 some times, so no I don’t know that as I wouldn’t have posted!
Im in a Southern European country

OP posts:
Original poster
Itsabitproblematic · 23/12/2023 23:28

@Sugarsun And as I said, ideally I’d like to be relaxed enough to know we have enough so we could have the odd hot chocolate out etc, but it never works out that way as it’s all so dear.

OP posts:
WaitingForMojo · 23/12/2023 23:30

Do you have the equivalent of Lidl / Aldi? Because £100 would get me a week’s shopping no problem and I have four teenagers.

WaitingForMojo · 23/12/2023 23:30

Leaving £100 for ‘treats’?

declutteringmymind · 23/12/2023 23:34

It's obviously an adjustment for you but totally doable. I guess you are feeling a little trapped by it. I'd spend wisely though. Just in case something unexpected comes up. We've just spent £200 on a plumber this evening and that hasn't even sorted it. Completely unexpected.

Original poster
Itsabitproblematic · 23/12/2023 23:40

@declutteringmymind Yes, that’s also the thing, if something unexpected ever came up, we’d be screwed. Totally sorting out finances and having some in reserve in 2024, seems impossible though at the mo

OP posts:
maddening · 23/12/2023 23:43

If petrol is paid and you have food to Wednesday then it is £200 for 6 days

Original poster
Itsabitproblematic · 23/12/2023 23:47

@maddening It would be my hope to stretch it until then, but I never know with Dh as he eats a lot, he also buys cigarettes, I don’t know, money just falls away no matter how tightly I try to keep hold of it

OP posts:
MrsSparkington · 23/12/2023 23:48

I think you will be fine but you could try to make the food you have last even longer than to Wednesday by going through your cupboards and freezer and using up anything and everything.

MumblesParty · 24/12/2023 00:04

Itsabitproblematic · 23/12/2023 23:47

@maddening It would be my hope to stretch it until then, but I never know with Dh as he eats a lot, he also buys cigarettes, I don’t know, money just falls away no matter how tightly I try to keep hold of it

OK now I know you’re taking the piss. You’re budgeting for cigarettes and you want us to feel sorry for you?! This has to be a joke!