£80 for 2 weeks

[Blushingm]

This is all I have. Is it doable?

All my bills are paid. My car has a full tank of fuel (I use it for work as I do home visits).

The cupboard and freezer have some stuff. Is this doable?

Has anyone else managed on this?

It's me at home. DS who us 22 and DD is 17

I think so - do a full cupboard, fridge and freezer audit, make a list of everything and see where you can make meals, or buy a few things to make meals.

It is just about doable yes. Like a PP said, do an audit then a meal plan.

Have you got any tesco/nectar points you could use too?

Sure, unless you buy food at Fortnum and Mason’s. Many times in the past, I’ve done two weeks on £20.

How much do you usually spend in two weeks? Do the kids contribute financially if they are earning?

That sounds doable to me, unless you have loads of extra expenses other than food?

Yes absolutely. Buy the Asda essentials and Sainsbury’s Stamford street range. You can get a pack of frozen sausages for less than £2 in both shops. Dried pasta, sauce, bread, milk and butter and you’ve got toast for breakfast and a few dinners.

Tight but doable. It might be worth checking your local stores for "Too Good to Go" parcels.

You might have some strange combinations of food by day 10, but you won't starve.

So your two kids are at home? Forget what I said earlier, but yes it’s doable even for three people.

Does your 22 year old contribute?
Just about do able.

Very doable but plan it.

Start with what's in the cupboards and freezer and look at the meals you eat most often and figure out which are best value.

Are the others on board? It's a danger if you've got a careful plan and they raid the fridge.

Definitely doable. Big veggie broths with root veg and a couple of chicken thighs, basic bread. Pasta dishes, lentil dishes. Steer clear of ready meals and expensive meat cuts and do a robust meal plan. Porridge for breakfast with chopped apple, that sort of thing.

I've had to make that last a month before. That's loads

Easy. Presumably both kids have jobs and could contribute too.

Feeding three adults?

Not fun, but doable

Why assume the 17 year old has a job?

"Why assume the 17 year old has a job?"

Why not? Isn't it the norm to start looking for something as soon as your NI number lands? Always was when I was a teen and certainly is amongst my friends kids and wider family.

If your mum has only £40 a week spare then surely you need to be working by 17?

Start by checking all the food you have and working out what you need to buy to make as many meals as possible. You may have more on your cupboards etc than you think.
Meals such as egg and chips and pasta are fairly cheap.

It's not just £80 though. The OP says she has some food in, so a couple of cheapish top up shops and they'll be fine.

Plus we appear to have yet more working adults spending their wages on whatever they like while their parents are robbing Peter to pay Paul to feed and house them.

Since when did this become a normal situation?

DS contributes when he can but it's pub work and February has been very quiet so not many shifts

DD is in full time school. She's looking for a part time job but we live quite rurally with only a bus every 90 mins but she's trying

I've made a list for Lidl - basics like pasta, cheap meat, bread, milk etc

I'm feeling more hopeful so thank you - it's just all getting me down

Yes it is doable but will need careful planning.

I'd bake my own bread, eat porridge, lots of budget pasta with tomato sauce. It'll be boring but ok for a short period.

For only two weeks don't worry about not having your full quota of fruit and veg, just get through it.

I wouldn't bother with any meat at all, vegetarian is so much cheaper.

Do you have any money on Top Cas Back of supermarket points you could spend. Also Check old handbags and coat pockets. I found £40 in an old handbag only last week. I often find pound coins or change in coat pockets or the car. Also if you do run out could you use a credit card for a bit of shopping?

This isn't going to get any better until everyone starts pulling their weight. Your son in particular needs to go and get a job.

In the meantime he can get listing things on marketplace. Should manage to bring in at least £20 or so that way. Too good to go and similar apps might help too.

Also you could take advantage of some account switching offers, check money saving expert.

Absolutely doable.

Make things like soups or stews with a tomato base, a big pot of bolognese that you can put in separate packs for the freezer and defrost daily with some pasta.

Stretch out the top up of basics like bread and milk every 5 days.

Good luck 😊

Really your children should be doing better and getting a JOB