Surviving a week on £30...

[LadyOfWaffle]

Dunno how but there is only £90 in the bank, £15 has to stay in for the internet bill, at least £40 needs to be put aside for four days of petrol for DH to get to work , which leaves £30 I can withdraw (cannot take out £5s). First of all it sounded ok, but wrote a list with nappies - £4, wipes - £5, then £1.30 for 4 pints, for 7 days is £9.10... which is leaving about £10 for food! Wipes are non neg., cheaper ones rip poor DSs bum to shreds, obviously I will have to drink less milk but how do I do 7 days (DH, me and DS) for £30? Thanks sooo much if you can suggest anything!

Cotton wool and water instead of wipes.

Could you use cotton wool and water rather than wipes?

xpost

4 pints of milk a day is looooooaaaads! Me and DD get through 4 pints a week - thats with cereal, in drinks, and in cooking.

What do you have in the cupboards/freezer?

Is it cheaper? DS1 is 2.9 so big poops. Would it be Ok to wipe the first bits away with loo roll?

let me go check... I do like plain food which i ood I guess!

i have been converted to fleece wipes. Have you old fleece blankets or an old top/dressing gown or similar? Cut them up! My dd much prefers her bum being wiped with fleece (she's 2.8) as they are so soft. Asda/tesco and similar usually have fleece blankets for a few pounds. With regard to food baked potatoes with cheese/beans/ coleslaw sausages or whatever. Pasta with tomato sauce, spag bol, chilli con carne all really cheap. Good luck LadyofWaffle!

Also, go into bank in person to get the £5 if you need it. I have to do this every now and then. Or spend it on a debit card if you have one.

Yes loo roll is fine and cotton wool is cheaper if you buy it on the roll and rip bits off yourself.

cut up an old tshirt and use that with water. Then just wash them.

x posts Im a slow typer

Buy a dozen eggs and some veg, bag of pasta and small bag of potatoes I guess and improvise. Can you make bread?

Sorry only quick suggestions, need to think more about this one.

MASSIVE bag of pasta, around £3.50 that will last ages
MASSIVE sack of potatoes, around £6.00 a sack, potato bake, jacket potatoes, etc.
don't know about the rest, obviously Value stuff, tinned toms etc, but I don't know how you'd do the veg thing on that budget.

I manage on £30 a week for me and two Dc's...It can be done, but it can be hard too...

Shit I find it difficult on £150.00 a week.
Jesus, I have got to watch this thread and hopefully learn something.

Cut out the milk other than that you need for cereal/tea. Its only short term so should be doable.

Lots of pasta (value brands are fine) with tinned tomatoes, some herbs if you have them in the cupboard and tuna. You might be surprised at what you have in the cupboard. couscous is cheap and filling. Similarly lentils are filling and full of protein.

Value brands on everything. Personally I'd also buy a couple of cheap chickens (sorry jamie). A whole cooked chicken will feed 4 of us and leave enough to add to a pasta bake to bulk it out and add protein for a second meal.

I bought Tescos value nappies yesterday. Last nights one was on too long and leaked(I overslept)she has one on now...I am monitoring it! 20 nappies for £1.47. They are ok, but they aren't Pampers! More plastic than Pampers. But money is tight this week.

Icelands do massive chickens for £4.00 easily last 2 days.

Shinyshoes, it's amazing what you can do when you have no choice!

goodtoknow.co.uk have lots of suggestions for feeding a family of 4 on £40 per week. Might be a good starting point (although I appreciate you only have £30).

Do you have any coupons floating around. I had a round up of all mine last week(they all get stuffed in my handbag but never used), used them all in one go in sainsburys(even for things I hadn't bought as long as they stock the item) and got £12.50 off my shopping bill.

if u must get wipes get ones buy one get one free otherwise cotton wool and water.

what age is your little one?

pasta dishes
home made soup ( small peice of shin & vegs
large chicken £4 make it last a few dinners
make soup with carcuss.

seven days food for £30 is definately dooable

Pasta and tomato sauce ( £1.50 max)
Jacket spuds, cheese and beans ( under 2.50)
Homemade veg soup, bread ( about 1.50)
Sausage mash and peas (About 4.50)
Chicken roast (£7 chick plus pots and veg)
Chicken pie(leftovers, homemade pastry, white sauce, frozen veg with it-(2.50)
Omlette and homemade chips ( about £4)

I take it you have cereal in If not, porride oats- (about70p)
Lunches, sandwiches with, jam, marmite or whatever in cupboard. and piece of fruit)

If you go to the supermarket at about 8pm you can pick up loads of bargains they are reducing and freeze

could you ask family to lend you £50?

Wow, ok, done the cupboards , I have

Fridge :
2 x butter (the ones you bake with)
about 15 loose mushrooms
Dip selection
cheese selection that needs to be eaten today/tomorrow
sausages rapped in bacon
mince that needs eating asap , in date but looking abit worse for wear
a few slices of ham
custard
a jar of beetroot???
a jar of pickled onions (alot of these are christmas left overs, DH bought them, no idea what you do with these)
Jam
1 egg

easy cook rice
coucous
selection of herbs and spices (mainly herbs but have cinammon)
royal game soup
plain & SR flour
caster sugar
super noodles (??!)
One of those packs of dry pasta in a sauce you add milk too
curry paste jar
lasagne sheets
1/2 pack of spaghetti pasta
A few small tins of beans
a few small tins of fruit salad
lentil soup
chicken soup
veg + beef soup
tom. soup
Meatballs in tom. sauce (?!)
tinned pineapple
lamb oxo cubes and beef oxo cubes
some all bran
porridge
icing sugar
some green and blacks blocks of chocolate.