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A £15 Challenge?
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Quickbrew_2
Posts: 48 Forumite
Hi everyone, I was wondering if you clever people might be able to advise me. Due to difficult circumstances at the moment, I have had to revise my budget. After all essentials are paid - I am left with £15 per week to cover all food/toiletries and household stuff for two people (and every other weekend that two becomes 5 people as we have children stay). Is this do-able and if so - where do I start - I really tried last week but came in at £22 - any help/advice would really be appreciated. Thanks in advance. xx
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welcome to os quickbrew, you have come to the right place for advice, but you did well on twenty two pounds, everyone is very helpful here so just hang on0
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Have you done an inventory of your cupboards and fridge/freezer? You could start there to see what you already have so that you could maybe start meal planning, and then only shop for what you need. The recipe index on here should give you some really good ideas!!!!0
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I'm sure people will be along to help you with this shortly, but have you looked at your other outgoings first to see if there's a way on cutting back on some of those? Maybe you could post them. The debt free wannabe board is a good place to do that kind of budget.
I apologise if you've done that already.
do you have a netto/aldi near you? A market?May all your dots fall silently to the ground.0 -
Hi Quickbrew,
Like you I am trying very hard to get my shopping bill very low.
I have picked up some good ideas lately on here.
I have picked up 2 medium size chickens from asda for £4 and each chicken will do 3 meals.....roast/curry and chicken salad.
I have also been making flapjacks for the kids, which are very filling healthyand cheap.0 -
Thanks guys - I will do in inventory - that's a good idea and then do a plan around that. I have been meal planning kind of - but no where near as organised as you guys. I have done a full budget and cut everything to the very minimum and am doing two jobs - I just have always found managing the household budget really difficult. Thanks everyone.0
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How long is "at the moment" likely to be? I ask because it is easier to really cut back for a short period of say, a month or so, than to sustain over a long term.
There are a number of threads on OS about living on a limited budget. Black Saturn's menu plans come to mind, or one about feeding a family of 5 for £1.62.
Menu planning is probably one of the most effective ways of keeping day to day expenditure down, as you only buy what you absolutely need, bearing in mind the things you already have in store. This includes toiletries etc, as well as your food store.0 -
Well I can't really see the situation improving until after Christmas - if then - so it will be quite a long haul.
Usually try to shop a Tesco as no Aldi near where I live - but the market might be an idea - just have to try to get there as I work all weekend as well as during the week.
I have tried quite a few of the recipes I have found on here (especially Black Saturns :T ) - some really good ideas.0 -
Make good use of the market, especially near the end of the day when they are eager to get home and want to sell things off, do the storecupboard thing, and don't do all your shopping on one day. Steer clear of any processed food.
As for managing the budget put the £15 in a separate purse and that's that! Easy!?
Good staple items are tinned tuna, tinned tomatoes, whole chickens - use the bones for stock. IN the winter buy potatoes by the sack for about £4 and you will save loads. It CAN be done. You WILL do it, you have come to the right place;)Member no.1 of the 'I'm not in a clique' group :rotfl:
I have done reading too!
To avoid all evil, to do good,
to purify the mind- that is the
teaching of the Buddhas.0 -
Thanks Sarah - I suppose I could look for something reduced and build a couple of meals around that - until it is used up and then do the same again - that way I won't have any waste. If I buy a sack of spuds - how do I stop them sprouting before I have got them used up?0
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you can still use spuds if they have sprouted - I do anyway! Best thing to do is buy them late summer, they generally won't sprout till nearer spring, giving you more time to use them.Use lentils and soya mince for cheap sources of protein for things like bolognise and lasagne. Lentils are great in soups and morrocan style veggie stews.Do not feel you need meat or fish every day - it is relatively expensive.Try looking at the hillbillyhousewife site for ideas.http://hillbillyhousewife.com/0
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