I have £50 per week for food in February

[Lovelybitofsquirrel3]

After 2 big unexpected bills in a few days since getting paid, I have £60 a week for February for food for myself and 1 child, dog food and toiletries not included. I usually spend about £80-130 a week. I usually batch cook so that’s fine. Will eat a lot of things. The first week of the month I don’t need to buy anything as I’ve got enough in. I feel really overwhelmed.

I didn’t know this is a thing. Thanks I’m going to try it 👍

I think £60 for one adult and one six year old is totally fine.

I am more surprised you usually spend £80-£130?

If you don’t like something you can replay and ask it to replace the item with something else. You can also print the shopping list!!!

I'm more surprised at the normal weekly spend than doing if for £60. What are you spending up to £130 a week on for 2 people

Is that what's making you think £60 isnt enough?

Hi OP, I know you said you use Tesco for delivery but have you tried using a new customer deal with another supermarket? Ocado have 25% off your first shop so if you have £60 a week for 3 weeks that’s £180 you have so you would get £45 off an £180 shop of or could use the £45 to get extra groceries .£45 would get you a good 5/6 days meals . Or you could use the £45 for dog food for the month and toiletries that way you’re not going into your food budget. Sainsbury’s have 15% off your first order and Iceland have £5 off a £45 spend . Also Ocado do price promise against 10000 products that are matched with Tesco inc price match and club card prices . If anything is cheaper at Tesco’s you get a voucher for the difference xx

I'd look to sell old toys, household stuff etc online to generate more cash for the shopping budget. What you've budgeted is doable but do consider selling off old stuff to help with the cash flow.

Again missing the point completely. It’s not having the pet that’s the issue, it’s ringfencing the exact sum of money for the exact same food for the pet over the three week period at the expense of the child that I’m highlighting.

Had the OP said I’ve got £85 per week to feed me, a 6 year old and a dog that would have been a different thing entirely. The first post though showed where her priorities lie - and I’d point out that changing the child’s diet radically for 3 weeks is as likely to cause the child some digestive discomfort as changing the dog’s diet over the same period will give the dog an upset tummy.

Go through everything in your freezer and cupboards & create a meal plan for 3 weeks. Your shopping list should only be household goods & the missing ingredients from your meal plan.

I’m disabled so a lot of ready made stuff or things that are easier for me to just get. When I batch cook I use nice fish, and a lot of meat and dairy as I know it’s healthy. I really don’t like cheaper versions so now I’m feeling a bit panicky

Food bank? She has a perfectly normal budget that plenty of families spend every week. And if she usually spends £130 a week on food for 1 adult and one 6 year old, I doubt she needs benefits.

OP has said she uses Tesco because they deliver and she is disabled. Lidl and Aldi don't deliver as far as I know.

Don’t panic. Feb is a shorter month so it’s better than this happening e.g in March. Plan out your meals - see what you have already in the freezer and run it all down. Not sure if you/your DC will like dahl etc but pulses are a really cheap and healthy way to eat - pair with rice. Try to front load the “filler” meals (pasta, fried rice etc) so they are mixed in with more exciting meals, that way you won’t be stuck with the most miserable part at the end.

Ffs

I am on benefits

You may not be able to eat very healthily every day for the next month but at least if you try to eat healthily every second day I don’t see that it would do you that much harm

You’re on benefits and can afford £130 per week on food for 1.5 people? Crikey

Depends what you define as afford

You’ll be fine OP. I’ve had to do my far share of stretching a budget on food in my time. Although I’m not as hard up anymore I still regularly eat my favourite fairly cheap meals:-

Sardines on toast
Mackerel on toast (if slightly less poor)
Mackerel salad
Jacket potatoes (tuna mayo, beans or cheese)
Frittata with leeks and peas
Vegetable soup
Bean chilli
Cauliflower Dahl
Roast chicken as an epic treat on Sunday.

I tend to skip breakfast though and survive on coffee (the aldi barista stuff is really good) until lunchtime.

Totally agree with you.
Also, dogs are sensitive to a change in their diet and it has be phased in over a period of 4 to 5 days, otherwise it can cause diarrhoea.

Your normal budget is what I spent for 3 and a cat.
I think if you are used to batch cooking you’ll be fine. Tescos is good for big bags of pasta etc. you might need to be a bit repetitive but you’ll be fine and I find meat makes the difference to how much I spend.
we’ve had homemade tomato/pepper soup and grilled cheese sandwiches tonight. I’m stuffed. It wasn’t expensive to make. Leftover soup for lunch tomorrow.

Op I tend to spend around £55 a week for myself, my daughter and the dog and that includes toiletries. We don't go short of treats either- there are crisps and biscuits in the cupboard. You just need to meal plan, shop around and go for own brand, especially for stuff like laundry detergent, pasta, cereal etc.

When I'm on a tight budget (also just me plus 1 child) these are my go to cheap meals and snacks for 1 week . . . .

Breakfasts: porridge or toast or crumpets (1 bag porridge will last a month)

Lunches: soup or dhal (1 bag red lentils will make about 6 litres of dhal)

Teas: egg & chips / jacket & tuna / spag bol / lasagne / sausage & mash / mac & cheese / quiche&pots&peas (rotate)

Snacks - bananas / satsumas / apples / 12 bags plain crisps / 9 wispas

I will say again this budget doesn’t include dog food or toiletries.
I also want to say, and I should’ve mentioned it before, that I’m not fond of lentils. I’d say that due to my disability, half or less than half the week is home cooked food and the rest is ready made.

Beans on toast is very underrated.

What would you normally buy/eat?