I don’t have enough money for food for the rest of the month

[Tiredasamf]

I know there’s lots of threads about this at the moment. But what the hell is going on. What is the world coming to. I’m stressing out!

we’ve lived quite comfortably for the last few years - not wealthy at all, working class family (total income of around £2,700 a month after tax) but have always been able to afford all bills, food, clothes etc for the kids and always done 1-2 days out a month, and been able to save a little.

with the rising costs of everything we are now in a situation where we’re struggling.

as of today, I don’t have enough money for the food shops for the rest of the month. Bills are all paid and there shouldn’t be any extra expenses this month. It’s just food shops and petrol left

we’re literally going to have to eat beans on toast or other things equally as cheap.

if it’s going to be like this every month I don’t know what we’ll do. How are we going to afford Christmas? No more days out, no more fun things, no treats, no new clothes (kids are young and grow so fast so that’s a necessity that we can’t even afford now)

It’s set to get worse too isn’t it. what the hell? What are you doing to save money or cut costs? Please give me all your advice

So as not to drop feed - DH earns 30k gross, which would obviously be a good income if we both earned that. I’m a SAHM, 30 hours free doesn’t kick in until jan 24, obviously can’t afford to put both in childcare, I’ve looked at every possible scenario and I just wouldn’t earn enough to cover it.

I do a small admin job from home earning 600 per month after tax.

DH does some private jobs when he can which helps but it’s not steady. He’s currently getting a qualification which will give him a pay rise but not until start of ‘24 also. I do some side huddles too but again it’s hit and miss so I haven’t included either of these things in our income.

So we’re stuck in this scenario for the whole of next year, with things set to get worse.

Have you broken down all your income and expenses for the month and seen where you can make savings?

And are you claiming everything that you are entitled to?

Your only options are to earn more, sell stuff or spend less on things you can influence.

If you are genuinely going to struggle to feed your family this month please don't feel like you can't go to a food bank, that's what they are there for.

Can you share exactly waft you've spent this month ?

We donate regularly to a food bank and would be perfectly happy to think of our donations going to a family like yours: please don’t feel like you can’t ask for help because your husband has a good salary. These days a good salary just isn’t enough.

Look for local food banks, community pantries, other support schemes.

Check if you’re getting all the help you can - look at entitledto or turn2us, look for help with utility bills.

There also is a thread somewhere about making £10 a day using online surveys, various side hustles etc, you might get some inspiration there.

are your parents or siblings in a position to help you out?

As well as others saying don't be shy about approaching the Foodbank, how much for the kids do you already buy second hand? Both clothes and toys for Christmas you can save a lot on. For days out, I don't know what you are doing but there are ways to make it cheaper such as vouchers, or you can keep an eye on local events - one of the local churches for example ran family fun sessions with inflatables over the summer, with free entry

Could you look for some evenings shifts at perhaps a local supermarket or similar? That way you don’t need to pay for childcare. Once free hours kick in then I’d be looking for more permanent work as it’s so hard with only one income now

Foodbank in the short term
But can you look at any additional work in the evening or weekend when your DH can look after your DC?

A couple of nights a week in a pub or restaurant, or a daytime shift at the weekend in a shop or cafe would give you an entire extra food budget

There is a desperate shortage of staff in most hospitality and retail businesses at the moment so even if you don’t have experience, you should be able to find something

Christmas: charity shop (marketplace etc) toys are your friend. Already on the look out for age appropriate toys.
Clothes: hand me downs, buying a couple of sizes bigger or bundles on marketplace.
Food: we bulk cook in the slow cooker a lot, eg a chilli with lots of veg and lentils will last us 5 or 6 meals (only one small DS but he eats as much as I do some meals) and costs less than a tenner, we generally freeze some.
Days out: if you’re in a town or city there are museums and churches to explore, lots do trails for children and most are free. When the Queen died someone suggested a post box trail, trying to find older VR and GR ones. In the countryside lots of walks, we take a picnic and shelter in a church if it’s raining.
I guess churches are a top tip, they’re normally open, always something to look at, many have a leaflet on the history and toy corners. Many also have toilets which is good if you’re out all day and don’t want to go to a cafe to buy a drink you don’t need. Others have book exchanges and refreshments (I’m not talking about ones with cafes, but on walking trails some provide squash and biscuits for free).

Go on to MSE. list your expenses. They're brutal but I bet they come up with ideas.

Could kids’ clothes be 2nd hand or hand me downs? Not everything, but given the quantities they go through every bit helps.

Are you generally shopping well? At cheaper supermarkets, to a list? Buying things in season?

See if there’s a community shop, pantry or similar near you, as others have said.

Otherwise I agree with others about a few more hours work here or there for you.

Time to work out budgets and stick to them. Calculate all your outgoings excluding food and fuel then see how much you have left. Each month deduct other committed spends such as haircuts, dentist etc. then you can start to work out budgets for everything else

When mine were that age I worked evenings/ nights at a local supermarket- is this an option? I think with only 1 working parent family life would be difficult at the moment. Definitely look at increasing your income.

We were in a similar position. I’ve just got a temporary evening job 7-10:30 at a supermarket. They are nearly all recruiting festive colleagues at the moment! I have another friend who cleans a dentist for an hour in the evenings.

Make a note of all your outgoings to see if there's anything that can be cut back on.
Do you have anything you can sell on ebay etc?
If you go on a benefits calculator, it can check you're getting all you're entitled to.

Get rid of anything you don’t need, like Netflix, alcohol and gym

I found the Streetbees app really good for getting good chunks of money fairly quickly. Especially if you have a pet - that's what most of my surveys seem to be about. E.g. I get £1.20 straight into my PayPal for answering a few questions about what they're having for a meal.

I have a referral (which goes into a referral box on the personal information) of 73773X but not bothered if you put it in or not - it's the best one I've found for quick decent payouts.

If your DC are only young they do not need expensive things for xmas. Try and get everything second hand - including clothes. Don’t fall for the instagram Xmas. Do free Xmas stuff like walks to look at lights, make snow angels, activities at church. Snuggle up under blankets on the couch at home and watch Xmas movies. Try and put away any money you get from your side hustle to use for Xmas in a separate account. Do you have any nectar points you could use??
Tell your family that you are on a tight budget this year and you would prefer not to do presents for adults.

For food now, go to a food bank. Then start meal planning. Start eating more vegetarian meals. Oats for breakfast - either porridge or overnight oats. Sign up with the Olio app.

With your bills can you get a cheaper phone plan and cheaper insurance??

There are threads on here where people do surveys to earn money. Have a look.

The above is probably not useful long term but might get you £10 to buy some basics E.g. lentils and tinned tomatoes - Dahl is my go to cheap meal.

For this month you're going to have to go to food banks, sell stuff or put it on a credit card.

Start planning next month now. Food comes before bills so do a budget, withdraw food money in cash at the beginning of the month and keep it safe until needed.

Are any of your bills debts? If you can't afford to eat then these are the first ones you stop paying. Once you've got a budget if you can't make ends meet cancel these dds then call the companies and tell them what you can pay them. You can tell them it's temporary, you certainly won't be the only one.

It is appalling that this is happening to you, you both appear to work as you can and I'd expect that to mean you can afford to live a life free from worry about hunger.

Cancel all unnecessary direct debits. I cancelled BT email a spare mobile monthly bill two leisure centre memberships plus a magazine subscription.

One of you may need to get a 2nd job if feasible.

I am also cancelling Sky end of the contract.

Debating whether to sell the car as I work at home.

Walk everywhere if possible.

Good luck.

Practical measures to save money;

Look at your food shop. Cut out any alcohol, vapes, cigarettes. (Good time to get healthy 😕)
Swap brands for supermarket own
change supermarket?

Think about what you cook - I make food go further - lots of home made veggie soup with bread. Cheaper cuts of meat, use a slow cooker rather than the oven.
No pre-prepared stuff. Lots of stews and casseroles.
Can your dh cycle to work rather than drive?
Can you switch gym for parkrun?
Switch phone contracts. I've got mine down to £9 a month.

From January, will you be able to work?

Did you anticipate being this broke this month?

There are lots of part time jobs where I live bit obviously every are is different.
I'd have thought evening work or week end work would be the easiest solution.

Listen you have listed loads that mean long term you and your family are going to be much better off so that's amazing. Short term it sounds hard but take any help you can. Food bank community pantry. Seek out a church see if they have any schemes. Olio app is a good one free food that would go to waste. You could set up as a rep which would help your community and get your family lots of free food.

Does your DH work Mon - Fri? Could you get a weekend job?