Feel like crying + UPDATE

sammy_kaye18 · 30 January 2007 at 2:39PM

Ok first off since the beginning of the year so far

downsides
* CTC has messed up our benefit and has cut it from £300 a month down to £109 but have told us we are still entitled to £900 this awards year! so fighting to get that sorted.
* Ive been off ill with some dreaded stomach bug so our only income has been cut (ok by about £30 but still alot when you dont have it).
*bf owes a mate money (£95) and he is adamant he wants it back this month.
*our total money for this month is £292.80 and this has to include bills, food, gas/electric etc.
*my washing machine is still broken (has been since before Xmas) and i just simply cannot afford to fix it. It wouldnt drain to begin with then we found out the drain was really blocked so we've unclogged that and now every time i switch it on it like short circuits the house - not lights just the TV,computer etc - any ideas so appreciated!!! theres a new fuse in there too form the last time it broke!

upside
*bens date for his hearing test came through (its tomorrow)
*our healthy start vouchers came through and we get £11.20 a month

apart from that we are up !!!! creek so this is one of my HELP threads again!!!

my wages are due in on february first so thats £212.00 so ive decided to pay

£95 debt (this guy really will not wait)
£65 NTL
£5 rent
£5 council tax

£175.00

which leaves me abotu £50 which ill have to pay out £10 electric/£10 gas so im left with £30 to last us the month or until my child benefit comes in! Then ill pay the water rates.

Anyway £8.40 of that £30 is healthy start tokens so im going to use them in the coop where i work adn get lots of the discounted veg and freeze it becasue i can get like bags of carrots,apples,bananas,cabbages etc for abotu 20p each so one token (£2.80) will do us alot plus my 10% discount.

So ive got £22 to spend in Tescos.
So heres what im going to get

Mince 800g - £2.96 (split in two and frozen for shepherds pies, burgers,spaghetti etc)
Chicken - 2 for £5 (rubber chickens)
cheese - £97
eggs - 99p (this month if i can get away with it i might buy the value eggs and be a bit devious and put them in a free range box)
yoghurts 88p
frosted flakes - £1.05
porridge oats (value) 48p 1kg
sugar 74p
beans - 2 - 34p
spaghetti - 2 - 30p
sausages - 24 - £1.02
fish fingers - 98p - 20
juice - £2.90 for 2
tesco tea bags - 58p
Tesco value nappies - £1.48 (ben almost potty trained now)
dog food - £3.40 - 3kg (he has half a bag left still)

This takes me to £19.07 so ill have a few quid left over (incase we get the washign machine working for washign powder etc) also we have thigns in the cupboards still, 3kg of rice, pasta, flour, tinned sweetcorn, one tin of tinned tomatoes. frozen corn on the cob, frozen green beans, frozen peas in the freezer along with 4 pork chops, some left over sausages, few fish fingers etc fridge looks kind of bare though - half a cucumber, half a bag of carrots, a swede, mixed abg of veg (sprouts, cauliflower,carrots) onion, little bit of left over cheese. Bag of potatoes in the cupboard still too.

we'll get there - with lots of recipe searching. also ive started making banana bread which little one and bf loves so that satisfies the sweet tooths in this house.plus we have rice pudding ,custard powder and some jelly crystals on hand too. Plsu fruit and veg with the vouchers.

anyone know how to do a home made savoury rice??

charlies_mum · 30 January 2007 at 2:42PM

Sorry to hear your year has got off to such a bad start - look on the bright side, if you hadn't found this bhoard, you really would be up **** creek. Any chance of asking for a washing machine on freecycle, you might be lucky. Anyway, good luck with everything.

I sometimes put some curry powder into the water when I am boiling rice - it turns it yellow and gives it some flavour. You could throw in some chopped mushrooms and sultanas.

Cazzdevil · 30 January 2007 at 2:48PM

Hey good going, sounds like you've got it all sussed out, I tip my bonnet to you for being so organised (o:

Savoury rice, hmm, just rice cooked in stock with some frozen veg and maybe a couple of spices in I'd assume. It's how I've done it in the past at least.

r.mac_2 · 30 January 2007 at 2:52PM

hiya sammy. Sorry to hear about your 'bad' start. Don't worry though we are all here to help see you through - please remember that.

On a positive note you sound very organised. My experience is that the more organised you are the better. Keep everything listed on here if it helps you.

Savoury rice - my mum makes a recipe which i think i can remember. I'm not sure where it is from though.

put a couple tablespoons oil in pan and heat. add some curry powder and tumeric (for colour). Stir for a minute or two then add some diced carrots, some sliced leeks and what ever else you have. stir for a few minutes until they start to soften. Add a couple of handfuls of rice (any kind works) and stir until fully coated with spices and veg. Add a pint of water or stock make with a veggie stock cube (or some stock from one of your rubber chickens?) and put lid on. add more water/stock as needed. a few minutes before serving add in a handful of frozen peas. when rice is soft serve.

This would work as a whole meal just by adding a little of your rubber chicken. Yummy.

I hope this helps.

katieowl_2 · 30 January 2007 at 2:53PM

Oh poor you!!! THe tax credits people are a right pain!!!

First off with the washing machine....Number 1, make sure that the 'new' fuse is working, try another one that you know is OK - Number 2) Did you check the plug is wired up OK? If it's one of those moulded on ones, that you can just pop the fuse out of, I might be inclined to get somebody who knows how to change a plug to put a new one on...it might be shorting out in the plug. Failing that I think you should leave it - if it's fusing in the machine it's doing it for a reason - wait until a pro can look at it.

Savoury rice is easy to fix...Fry an onion, throw in the dry rice and toss it about in the oil then add liquid, stock, chopped tinned tomatos, or plain water, use the one cup rice to two of liquid measure. Put in some dried herbs, you can use frozen peas, peppers, corn (tinned or frozen) to pad it out. You can add bacon with the onions too. Cook until the liquid is absorbed. I usually put any cooked meat in right at the end - in a thin layer over the rice to heat up in the steam, covered with a lid, then it doesn't go all mushy in the boiling.

Hope things improve for you soon.....I'm having a bad month myself

Regards

Kate

COOLTRIKERCHICK · 30 January 2007 at 2:56PM

hi.....ctc done it to me.. they cut my weekly money right down to £5 odd and didnt tell me so now cant seem to shift my overdraft....

you could do a veggie bake type thing..... boil veg... and do a either a cheese sauce to go over them or a savoury bake...... exactly the same as the veggie bake but with some bread crumbs over the top and put under the grill...

maybe buy some corned beef..... as you could have 2 meals out of one tin... cornbeef hash....... and a cornedbeef dinner with onion gravy..... not exciting..... but it is quite nice... for a change.....

conniemander · 30 January 2007 at 3:00PM

Have you tried ringing local council (i think its the department that deals with council benefit etc) and asking for a crises loan. you can get up to £500 interest free and their really flexible about repayments. it can be really hard to get through as you cant go on hold so you have to ring every 5 mins and go through all the options, but they were really helpful.

dannahaz · 30 January 2007 at 3:00PM

hi Sammy Kaye

Sorry to hear about your bad start.

I would definitely recommend trying Freecycle for a washing machine. I've seen them offered before on my local group, so its worth a try.

COOLTRIKERCHICK · 30 January 2007 at 3:06PM

with the washing machine..... i know this is a bit vague....

but why dont you find out to see if there is a lets scheme near you..

now if i remember rightly... you pay with your time and exchanging your trades etc...

maybe someone else can help me out here by explaining better....

also another long shot why dont you advetise on the free cycle site for help in fixing your washing machine...
but please..please be carefull if you ask or get offered an electrical item..... as from experience.....my fridge freezer was on its last legs and someone offered a fridge and a freezer... i picked them up.. and plugged the fridge in and within 5 minutes there was smoke and sparks coming out of the back of it

so had to borrow a little fridge all over christmas .. my new one coming tomorrow from mfi via tescos clubcard deals

LizD_2 · 30 January 2007 at 3:08PM

You sound like you're doing pretty well coping. I'm not sure I'd be so organsied in your place! Keep your chin up, remeber there's always someone here for a chat. :grouphug:

sammy_kaye18 · 30 January 2007 at 3:12PM

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote:

also another long shot why dont you advetise on the free cycle site for help in fixing your washing machine...

ooooooooohhhhhhhhh good idea - im off to place an advert - thank you!!!!

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Feel like crying + UPDATE

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