Has anyone managed to live on £300 per month for food, clothes and petrol?

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Hi Everyone

Have recently been made redundant and would love to stay at home and look after ds. Unfortunately, if I don't go back to work we will only have about £300 per month for clothes, food and petrol (can't think of any other expenses other the set things like rent, council tax, etc etc). Just wondering if anyone else has managed to live on this amount or am I being totally unrealistic? Also, where's the best place to shop for groceries on a limited budget? FYI, there is only DH, DS (who's 11mnth) and I. Any tips and advice would be great.

Thanks

I think the main thing that I do that saves money is plan everything.

I plan all our meals in advance and when I go shopping (to asda) I only buy what's on the list. I've written out a big list of all the clothes that ds will need in the next year and am collecting all the items gradually from charity shops and in the sales. I don't really have any other expenses, I don't buy myself any clothes and I don't go out much. Ok, I don't go out at all.

I think £300 should be plenty to live on, it will take a bit of getting used to though.

lol @ nutty doing imaginary shops.

i always spend less online than if i go to the shops.

Might be woeth seeing if anyone has a costco card as well. my parents do and they get dishwasher tabs and big boxes of soap powder cheaper than the supermarkets do sometimes. i sometimes get them to get me some. the big boxes of dishwasher tabs and salt last over a year (i am on my last box now and got them dec 03)

This is all great stuff. Thanks again.

ooh, I get kids stuff too bubblerock! Got the girls white Birkenstock type sandals from Next this summer and currently sporting the child version of the tan Timberland boots - they are identical to the womens and £40 less You honestly cannot tell the difference.

I know Misdee, it is sad isn't it. Funny thing was that then for the rest of the day i kept thinking "ooh i can have so and so to eat", thinking i had actually brought them, when obviously i hadn't.

Roll on the 27th (dp gets paid).

I tried to do a meal planner the other day but got stuck.