LP with 1yr old, how much should weekly shoping be?

[ohsleepyone]

hello, i have been a LP since the words "i'm pregnant" and ex disappeared into thin air!

i worked up til week before i was due so i could save as much money as poss before going on leave and pittance maternity pay.

i have now gone back to work but part time for time being (not ready to leave DS for 40 hours a week yet!)

but basically i have been back few months now and and constantly struggling to stay on top of finances even tho i quite regulary review my budget and spend no money on myself except for food (sucks!) so the point i'm trying to get to is how much should my weekly shopping be for me and DS, he is one next week and try to only give jars on days he's at nursery and home cooked meals the other 4 days a week.

i seriously need help!!

thanks xx

Not sure TBH. I spend about £60 a week on me and 2 toddlers, but that includes nappies / cleaning products GU puds choc bics--.

Some meals are cheaper to make and freeze than others. I tend to make veggie lasagnes or cottage pies and freeze them in little portions.

Is he having jars for breakfast, wouldn't oatibix / weetabix and some banana be cheaper?

Food wise, you can get away with doing a weekly shop for about £30 (not including toiletries/cleaning products etc) and still have decent healthy meals.

I'm a fussy eater but cook loads for my DD. Pasta is cheap - 99p a bag in tesco, jar of pasta sauce - 35p, some cooked chicken - £1.40 and some frozen veg ie sweetcorn. Works out about 40p per meal.

Money wise, as a single parent working part time, you shouldn't be struggling! Are you getting everything you're entitled to?

Child tax credits, plus 80% childcare paid, plus working tax credits, plus in work credit, plus housing benefit?

All that plus my wages means I get around 2K per month for working 20 hours a week.

thank you for input, yeah he has weetabix/toast/porridge for breakfast, just jars for lunch whilst he is at nursery (mainly so they cant laugh at the state of my cooking!) shh!

i keep doing budgets but it never seems to be enough when nappies, wipes and cleaning products etc are needed too!

thanks xx

this is an old thread that might give you some more ideas.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/good_housekeeping/506699-how-to-run-a-household-on-a-very-limited-budget

Do you have a freezer? You can get lots of reduced stuff (bread / herbs) and freeze it for another day. Mine is often crammed with reduced pitta bread / croissants / bread etc.

Are you claiming tax credits? I wouldn't be able to manage without mine as my wages are only about £500 a month

thank you for your ideas, i do claim tax creds as my wages are 500 a month too, and my rent is 510 so its pants!!

that link is really helpful!! xxx

Yikes, you should be able to get help with your rent.

Mine is £245 a month, but I checked out this site here and it looks like im entitled to about £80 a month towards mine, so maybe worth checking out.

Sainsburys (and I think all the big supermarkets) do huge 1/2 price / 1/3 off nappies and wipes every few months. I buy loads of them in one go, come to think of it I haven't bought any wipes for about 2 months as I stocked up so much last time.

All depends on how much you can afford to shell out in one go and where you can store the bloomin' stuff (I have been known to stick the nappies in the loft) but it saves a few quid.