Large single Parent Family getting Debt free

Off to start my envelope system today, I have to take out of the ank exactly what we need to spend for the week and then hide my bank card. Rent etc is all paid on 1st of the month. :-) by standing orders/ direct debit and the rest is divided between my envelopes and used to pay for groceries, travel costs, my blow it fund, clothes/ shoes fund, school fund etc

Woke up feeling awful, another thread of mine got quite heated last night and while Iwould love to say it doesn't hurt, its really upset me. I love my kids so much I will overcome this for them.
I feel so blessed, they are smart and intelligent and have really kind hearts.
We don't have a lot of money and now I'm on mat leave its only going to get harder but we will get there.
I'm going to crush this debt, have some proper savings and move forward with my head held high, screw all the haters, they are gonna have a negative view of me no matter what I do, but that just makes me all the more determined to crack on and be successful.

Spendless wrote: »

You know what, I saw it and this one. I was going to comment on your other thread, but in light of your last post instead I'll put my suggestion/s on here.:) Well done on your meal plan. I was going to suggest you reduce your (understandably) large grocery bill. Have a look on the old style board, for cutting costs on meals. I can immediately think of one long term member who is often on there who has a large family. What did you decide re kids lunches? I have only 2 children but I find the cost a lot when added up. If you do go down the packed lunch route, have the kids help out with baked treats for the week. Looking forward to reading your journey.

I'm actually in credit at school with their lunches so this week is their last week of school dinners and then they will be on packed lunches. At £40 a week its just not a cost I can justify, especially when somedays they have a sarnie or wrap for lunch, I can do it wayyyyy cheaper than school and probably healthier too.
From Monday they are all having packed lunches, I'm going to £1 land tomorrow to get some lunch boxes and maybe for Christmas etc if they want a more fancy lunchbox (starwars or MLP etc) they can put that on their list for santa.
I think with proper meal planning I can cut down sooooo much on my shopping costs, once I have the car I will go to Aldi again, sadly as I don't have it at the moment Ive been stuck with sainsburys and TBH its really expensive.
I cant wait to start planning some new and exciting mealsfor us. My greandma used to make everything from scratch and I loved helping her as a child, last night my eldest peeled all the spuds and carrots, my middle girl did the washing up, my boys folded the laundry and we were all in the kitchen/diner together just chatting and laughing, it was really lovely and the internet didn't go on all day!!!. Long may it continue.

I've also gotten 3 meals out of one chicken this week which I have never managed before. I usually get 2 chickens for £4 each from sainsburys/Tesco and that does us for one roast with the amount they shrink and because i've never really thought to make more of it.
This weekend I bought a huge free range chicken from the local food market, It was massive and didn't shrink upon cooking at all, I slow cooker-ed it, had a roast for sunday, stripped it bare for toinights risotto and then threw it back all carcassed into the slow cooker all night with water and some wilted veggies and made some lovely brothy soup for tomorrows lunch.