If you only had £8 to buy food/drink with, What essential food/drink would you buy?

[CatsSleepAnywhere]

As the title says, What types of food would you buy?

Some tips, i hope they help :)

Next time you have some cash get a big bag of dry catfood, it'll save you loads. (You don't have to use it all the time, but it'll make a difference).

Be careful about cancelling DDs. I wanted to and it was too short notice at about 3 days, I forget why. I think it was they'd already sent the DD request and so I'd get charge a fine for it bouncing I think. make sure you check with both the supplier and the bank that you won't incur any fees for cancelling before you do (if you do!)

Child benefit goes in every 4 weeks (not every month) do you know when you got your last lot?

Do you live in London?

If so would you like the details of some focus group companies? They do market research, they pay you between £40 - £100+ for a couple of hours of your time to give your opinion about some product or other (I've done ones on mobile phones, co-op/somerfield when they merged and some cleaning product - I forget what).

They don't come up very often but when they do it's a handy but of extra cash.

If you (or anyone else) is interested, let me know, I'll PM you the details.

Id be interested in that threeleftfeet please!

As would I threeleftfeet.

Where are you OP? If you're near York/Leeds/Harrogate I'll do a shop for you. PM me.

In fact, with internet shopping I could do a shop regardless of where you are. I've had people help me out of tight spots in the past, I'm totally happy to pay it forward.

You are all very kind with your offers and thankyou for that .
I don't want to out myself but I will say I am in the north west.
I don't want anyone to spend any money on me. There are people in other countries and even in this country who are worse off than me. We will be o.k.

Tomorrow I will try and find and check my bank statements to see if I can work out when the child tax credit goes in. I am guessing we will still get it. it's all confusing cause I know some people were going to have it cut or not get it anymore.

Cats, I am in the NW. If I can help you, I will.

I've been there many times in recent years. At the minute we are comfortable, and I would hate to think of others going without. So the offer is there, any time. If I can help, either by sending a tesco delivery, or just getting some bits and bobs of food to help you, then I will.

Please don't be too proud to ask. Like I say, been there, done that, got the tshirt.

Cats I am in Stockport- same goes. I am flipping carless this week ( it's a right pain) or I would bring stuff to you but can drop you an online asda or tesco for essentials. Really - I can spare it. Not saying we are millionaires but i have known tough times myself. Pm me - one day you can do it for someone else! X

Totally understand you not wanting people to spend money on you but the offer's there if you want it. I promise I wouldn't offer if we couldn't afford it. And I really know what it's like to be in need of a helping hand. Hope you get some joy with the child benefit.

Thanks everyone, I will try and keep you updated. I'm off to bed now. x

Yes see how you go but offers are there - don't stress yourself out trying to manage.

pmed you the focus group details Amberleaf and craigslittleangel :)

I did one of those focus groups in Leeds and it was great money for about an hour's chatting!

I've been there, and getting rid of the cat would be a very last resort for me, and the OP's not there. She still has food in her cupboards and some money coming in.

It sounds like this is a bad patch not a permenent state of affairs.

For me the cat was part of the family, and gave us loads of joy. Getting rid of her solely for financial reasons would have been terrible.

Dry catfood is the way forward I reckon!

Surely cats will find food from somewhere if you reduce the food you give them, or cut the cat food with e.g. Oatmeal to pad it out.
Don't cat charities (such as cats' protection league) give free cat food if you're hard up? It seems a bit much to spend 30% of your food bill on cat food, surely there are more economical options. Cats are resourceful, and will find a meal ticket (usually a local cat friendly house). The trick will be getting the cat back once you've been paid, if it's found a better offer.
I would be wary of cancelling direct debits, as you will damage your credit rating, and may end up with the same problem next month.

I wouldn't want to get rid of the cat. She used to be a stray so we done her a favour taking her in.
I think we are struggling recently because the price of everything has gone up so much and the wages haven't much. I know this is the problem for lots of people. I think if I have to get rid of anything it will be the car as that costs more than the cat. MOT is due at the end of the month and road tax so if anything is wrong with it it might have to go!
We are just hoping that the tax credits will turn up in our account soon.

i would NEVER off load a cat just coz times are hard.1/3 porridge oats into wet food does bulk it out then i discovered dry food

its lovelyto see

Not sure that people would be suggesting that OP gets rid of the cat if she weren't spending a disproportionate amount of her tiny budget to feed it!

I would second the suggestion of trying a food bank. Try here maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?oe=UTF-8&hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=111130270486075675880.00048aa53ae68ca28799a&z=6 there maybe others if you Google food bank and your area. They will give you some food to get you over a rough patch- it will help to make your remaining money stretch.

Cats Please swallow any reason you have for not going to a food bank and just go to one. DH has worked at one for the last few years (not an official food bank one but supported by a Very Lovely supermarket) and you are exactly the kind of person they want to help. You will not be the only person like this, DH sees about 300 people a week and they have about 2000 on their books. There is food sitting in a room somewhere waiting for you or someone in your situation to come and get it. It's not a crime or a shame to be poor or skint but there's no need for you or your kids to eat beans every night when there's a support mechinism in place. Please pm me if you want to talk about what they might ask etc x

Actually, if anyone else is reading this because they are thinking 'how the fuck will I make it to payday and feed the kids' and you live in Essex please Pm me, dh's place has lots of food, nappies and formula so if it's nearby to you it's really worth popping in, no one ever puts on their judgey pants!

I've just been reading the thread, it's awful I can't believe people in this country are having to try and feed a family on so little money. People are going without food to feed their children. The sad thing is, I can only see it getting worse.
I hope it gets better for you op & everyone else in this situation!