How to live cheaply - very newly single and never really had to budget.

[jellyjelly]

Have split up with dh2b in 2 weeks and now dont have any moeny coming in but will be going to cit advice tomorrow to get advice about what i can get.

I am going to get rid of sky as i dont need it, can live with normal tv but ds who is 3.5 will miss it.

How do i budget, i know it sounds silly but i dont know, dont know how to make cheap food. Used to spent 80pw on food and now maybe have that once a month. We buy at markets for the veg anyway so know about that. What else, all tips are welcome.

bump anyone?

Hi jellyjelly - don't have any great advice because I am dreadful with money but there's a great money saving website - I think it's called moneyexpert.com but I'm just going to check that for you. They have lots of forums with everyone trying to out do each other on how much money can be saved - if you are at all competitive (or just looking for tips) it might be worth a look. I'll post the proper address for you in a second.

Sounds obvious, but:
Draw up a kind of table (or spreadsheet on the pc) - on 1 side write what money you have coming in each month, and on the other write down the money that you will spend on average, and what on - bills, food etc. Then make sure the out column does not exceed the in column.
Another way is to write everything down in a book - so write at top of page starting monthly amount, then write down amount each time you spend anything (noting what on) and then at the bottom of each page, tot up how much is left. This will give you an idea of average monthly spending.

With regard to cheap living - it is far cheaper to make all your own food - so buy some forzen mince and make bulk batches of lasagne, shepherds pie, chilli, bolognese and so on - freeze what you don't eat that night.

It's amazing what us women can do when up against it!

Jacket Potatoes - very cheap and good for you too. As is pasta!

Also, register for reduced Council Tax, inform Family tax credit people, you may get help with childcare, house bills and so on.

Hope this helps?

Brownie

i used to spend £80 pw on food for 2 adults. now i spend about 40 and still feeding 2 adults. Cheap food is easy to make.

spag bol
shepherd's pie
stew
tuna pasta bake
tuna pasta - cold
all feature on my menu
can all be made into bigger quantities for more than one meal.

biggest tip: change the supermkt you shop at.
when you see beef etc already diced, don't buy it. it is cheaper to buy a cut of meat and dice it yourself.

go to butcher's and ask for xlbs of stewing steak or 'brisket.'

the leanest mince (most expensive) is not the most flavourful. if you do go to butcher's ask for brisket and have it minced.

Stewing steak / brisket is the same quality as a decent steak, it is just diced or minced because the shape is not the 'right' shape for selling as 'steak' iyswim.

shop at Lidl for cleaning products, laundry products, nappies, wipes, tinned toms, mayo, jam, deli meats etc. they are all cheaper than major supermakets and equal or better quality.

Okay - I'm rubbish at links but this is the website. You'll find good general advice there plus money saving chat forums. Several of the chat topics are ostensibly about reducing debt but they've got really good advice on them, and there's a nice feel of solidarity! Can't do links but this is the address: forums.moneysavingexpert.com

I've got a feeling that there are some budget print out things as well. Do give it a look.

I'm self employed so in this household we swing from being financially okay to completely and utterly skint (on a regular basis). But I have to say, on the few occasions in my life when I have sat down and properly budgeted, cut corners and saved cash I have felt incredibly empowered and happy. I know that might be cold comfort at the moment but being in control of your finances (no matter how limited they are) is a fantastic feeling and can be quite enjoyable. In times of chaos it's one area you can take positive control of and you will get a real sense of achievement from getting to grips with the money side of things. Good, good luck. You can do it. If I think of anything else, I'll post.

ps: Asian shops sell most spices in larger quantities at a fraction of the price you pay for diddy quantities in supermarkets.

blackpepper for instance is a steal.

if you venture into making your own curry, buy the 'Madras' curry powder in lger quantities there and experiment with amts. over a few cooking you will get the quantities right.

Lidl is a steal for batteries.

PS: you lo won't miss Sky for very long. It is my big one who I can't wean off Sky.

everything that has been said already

change your phone, gas and elec
do menu planning and just buy what is on the list

aldi is also good for cleaning stuff and some basics
if you have a mobile - get a free o2 pay and go sim....loads of free texts with just topping up with 10 quid a month

i am a single mum and because of lack of childcare (am a nurse so shifts are all over the place and i have no family locally) i can only work two days a week.... family tax and working tax credits make about £60 difference to my weekly income and are definately worth claiming!!!

buy a cheap freeview box (asda does one for £25 I think) - you can get Cbeebies and CBBC on freeview.

Buy basics own brand at cheap supermarkets, they're cheap and fine - rice, pasta, tinned toms and passata and buy in bulk if you have a car. Buy in bulk all special offers and either store or freeze them.

Check out the ethnic products of big supermarkets, many of the products are much cheaper than UK brands - eg jif lemons are about three times as expensive as the cypriot brand.

I have even got used to the supermarket own brand of baked beans so anything is possible!

add lentils to anything you would normally put mince into (and stews/soups etc.) - it adds good protein and fibre and is much less expensive. If you have a freezer buy only the whoopsie/reduced meat items. I wouldn't buy fish like this but most meat is fine if you freeze it or cook it up into a big batch and freeze once frozen. Go to car boots for kids clothes and toys. Make soup for lunch - odd bits of brocolli stalks etc. make great soup and very filling. If you have room, grow some of your own stuff - tomatoes v. expensive but a tomato plant gives loads of fresh tomatoes, no chemicals. Herbs are easy to grow too and lettuce. Oh, and be really mean about water if you are on a meter and electricity. I used DS's bathwater to water the garden and turn off every light whenever I leave the room. Local pound shops if you have them are great for toiletries.

suggest you have a look on moneysavingexpert.com, loads of tips on how to save on the shopping bill, insurance, credit cards etc
HTH

lOOK AT moneysaving anyway and find them really good but worried about the bills or food bills each month and how to eat and get lots of meal out of not alot of money.

I have thought so far.

8p noodles with extra veg
100 cheap chickens from tesco and then each breast is 50p rather than £1 at the butchers, boil the carcuss and make soup so another meal.

Boiling ham then take for lunch which could last maybe a couple of days and couple of evenings with other stuff and they cost abotu £3.

Value soup with some chicken and rice.

Veggie soup for evening meals.

What lentils do i buy that can just be out in without precooking?

lentils don't need pre-cooking just bung them in the pot, same with mung beans - the bigger the lentil the longer the cooking time they need though. You def do need to soak and pre-cook dried kidney beans and some other dried pulses. If you have any spare cash at all you could invest in a slow cooker. they use hardly any electricity and you can buy bulk bags of lentils / cheap meat etc. cook it over night then put it into individual bags in the freezer as an instant ad in. Also, much cheaper to cook bulk amounts of chilli/bolognese/stew etc. in slow cooker (and pretty much impossible to burn!!!).

Have a slow cooker and used it often when it was two of us, i know they use less electricity than a lightbulb.

I already know about chickpeas and kidney but what lentils dont need to be preboiled?

I never pre boil any lentils or split peas for that matter, and I've not poisoned anyone yet - just bung them in the bolognese/chilli/stew whatever. They def. need to be cooked though unless you want a big dentist bill !

You can put red lentils straight into stock, stew, soup, whatever and simmer for about 20 mins, they're done. Green lentils take longer IIRC (haven't done any for a while).
We grow our own basil in pots - they've grown really well and simple pasta, touch of butter, basil and grated cheese is a lovely meal.
dh uses water he's used for cooking stuff to water the plants.
Energy saving lightbulbs are a bit of an outlay at first but they really do cut down your electricity bill.
Flannels and water instead of wipes.
You can actually clean floors with a shot of vinegar essence in hot water - pongs a bit at first, but gets them clean and disinfects.
The bigger the packet, bottle, whatever, the cheaper (generally but not always true).

Meat is expensive so try and serve less meat and more veggie meals - if planned carefully, it doesn't have to lead to nutrient deficiency.

I can make a small chicken do 3 meals for 2 adults and 1 preschooler.

day 1 - roast - eat the breasts
day 2 - curry or pasta thing with the legs and thighs

Boil the carcass up that night with all the left over veg from the roast - bingo!

day 3 - chicken and veg soup! serve with buttered toast, yum!

And I am quite greedy! The trick is to never put much expensive food on your plate. Fill your plate with cheap things like veg, tatties, pasta, rice, bread, beans, etc, and use the expensive stuff as a flavoring!

IIRC a portion of meat should be the same size as the palm of your hand - that is not even a whole chiken breast! Would only be about 4 - 6 oz of meat.

Chicken idea is good. I do the same, although we're not that short of money really. Other things, often bought children's clothes in Oxfam.
Main thing is to write down every single category of expenses and then income so you have a budget and set aside money in advance for things so bills aren't a shock. May be pay for electric etc with a card/key cash in advance. Losing sky will do your 3 year old no end of good. Make sure you take her to the library twice a week which is completely free unless the transport is a problem. Old bike with child seat behind can be fun.