I know this is not about bc but it may soon be

Scarlett.1974

Hi D,

Just another little thought - you'll (well, not YOU personally ) be able to get vet treatment from the PDSA once you're receiving housing benefit.

Your positive attitude through all this is fabulous you know, and a lesson to us all

S xx

LilyBart

Morning Dalip,

What a rotten time you're having! I have some recipes for lentils and other dried pulses (which are dirt cheap), which keep us going for up to three days, ie, once as accompaniment to meat, second time sprinkled (cold) over salad, third time whizzed up with stock and turned into soup. I'll PM them or this'll end up turning into the bc kitchen thread.

In addition to getting the water meter - and putting a brick in the toilet cistern (Merry, please no jokes about logs) - you should check the local council's policy about solar power. Some councils are offering grants to people who put in solar panels. Or perhaps your HA does? It can make a big difference to fuel bills.

Do the dogs preclude a couple of hens in the back garden? I suppose they might. Nothing else to say than I'm really sorry for you and Mr Dalip, and that I hope you get new jobs asap. Will send recipes whenever you like.

Lily x

get_me_out

If at all possible keep the pet insurance, try looking at cheaper ones. OK not great long term as most low ones only payout for the illness for 12 months. Likes of Sainsbury and Tesco etc.

BUT having been there cancelled mine after 10 years of not claiming and needed to cut back. During divorce back in 2000. My wee doggie got sick and cost me hundreds of pounds.

RAS

LilyBart wrote: »

In addition to getting the water meter - you should check the local council's policy about solar power. Some councils are offering grants to people who put in solar panels. Or perhaps your HA does? It can make a big difference to fuel bills.

dalip

Morning - do try Lidl. was in there last night and some stuff is really cheap. Other stuff not so, probably better off own brand in the better stores. And it is not always the same so you need to keep your eyes open.

Also check out the situation re what used to be warmfront. You should be entitled to free loft insulation (270mm) and cavity wall insulation if you do not have it already. I would expect your landlord would be happy to see the improvement. Also they may replace the boiler if it is not condensing. ACEY on DFW got about £2500 worth of improvements this spring, although that was on a private house.

And following the bones posts previously, I have a good local butcher, who will keep aside carcases or bones for those who want to make stock. Costs nothing - he saves on disposal costs.

Except, there is quite a lot of meat on the chicken carcases. In winter they do not even take off the wings as they do not sell! So two carcases yields 4 wings, about 6-8oz of decent meat, mainly breast, particularly near the wishbone and the carcases proper for stock and a couple of ounces of scraps. I do not have to do this for money but love proper chicken soups. And end up with enough meat for a couple of meals for one. I actually use some of the decent meat on the soups as it is too much for a stirfry for one. Certainly, there is enough for a chicken and veg pie, curry, or stirfry for two.

dalip

Ras
DH is a butcher so he has said he's going out late one night;) .

Yes we find a chicken will last about 4 meals. Roast,cold with chips,cassarole and then the bones to make a thick hearty soup. CLUCK CLUCK.
Anybody got any chicken feed:rotfl: feeling peckish:D go it:rotfl: :rotfl:
Sorry moment of hystrical stupitidy:o .

Tesco do 2 chickens for £6 so £3 = 4 meals,and the dogs get the nasty bits:p

Really enjoying this thread. Cheers:beer: everybody.


by the way managed 4 lamb chops,a bag of new spuds,a bottle of squash and some dog treats from dads:rolleyes:

december

Hi Dalip,
Sorry to hear you're going through a rough time at the moment
Keeping my fingers crossed something comes up soon for you and your husband. This is probably going to be things you've already done but thought I would list the things I do to try and keep our expenditure down. In terms of keeping your food bills down (as if you're anything like me it's the only item in my monthly outgoings which I have any control over and as such it's the area which I try to economise on the most), I found the old style board to be a gem. I now often make things like toad in the hole with Aldi sausages (actually very nice and 90p per packet), the batter costs very little to make and it's very filling. (works out about 60p to make without the gas/electricity) Unfortunately my cooking skills tend to lean more towards the winter months than the summer ones so still plenty of stews and pies going on here! Our cats (who always used to have Iams and who are very picky) have the Aldi own brand food and hoover it up. It's only 80p for a kilo and in comparison to the other cheap cat food we tried it seems to be of a better quality.

I always used to shop at Asda and Sainsburys but now have been going to Aldi for more and more of their shopping as I find things like their loo roll are much cheaper than the branded stuff but just as good, and their fabric softener is brilliant at 1.05 for 50 washes. (sorry I'm starting to sound like I work for Aldi..... lol) For me the things I won't economise on are baked beans and heinz/daddys ketchup Also Morrisons and Asda are doing 10 things for 50p each at the moment and include veggies, bread and cooked/uncooked meats. If you have the time it's worth a look.

I also look on the freebies board here every day for things like free cinema tickets so I feel like I have a bit of a social life and also free samples as every bit helps. As someone has already suggested, surveys are a way of making money though it can take some time. I've earned £5 in a month with lightspeed through taking 5 surveys, it's never going to make me a millionare but it all adds up. I also do daily clicks on pigsback at 5p a time and other surveys whenever they crop up.

Also if you have anything that you no longer use/need how about doing a car boot sale?

All of this has probably been of very little use but on the off chance I thought I would post. Take care

December

dalip

December no way was it not useful. We have been thinking for a few wks of changing from tesco to either aldi or lidl's. So we are off there this wk.


Instead of a last supper of f&c today we bought salad and some belly pork which came to £8......£2 cheaper that our treat and enough for tomrrow as well:j . So we are getting there.

Thankyou every little helps. Hope all is well with you.Dx

MammaCas

Hi dalip

lol @ your goodies from your dads that's great.

I actually went to Aldi last week and their iceberg lettuce is 20p cheaper than Asda and is SO much nicer, it actually tastes of lettuce..... plus they had the most fantastic chocolate cake for £1. Like RAS said some stuff is not as cheap as own brand asda stuff, but if you do have the time to shop around I bet the savings would be significant. That is, of course, as long as you don't have to be running around in the car for miles and miles...

xx

Francesanne

dalip wrote: »

Just asked on the benefits forum about what sort amount we would get on benefits ect.


OMG:eek: All we will get is £95 BETWEEN US:eek:

So here is my SOA:D per week

INCOME £95 JSA

OUTGOINGS

Rent £20
Gas £5
Elect £5
Tv lic £3
Phone £7
Water £10
Car ins £5


Total outgoings £55
That leaves £40 a wk for food,toiletries,dogs,petrol,house maintainance.:eek: for 2 people. Please tell me this is not right


Before you go slating me for posting here,i did o cause i consider you all to be friends:o .

I have had enough now,anybody got a long length of rope,some tablets,a pillow,a knife,some money for petrol,directions to the nearest train station. Sorry but it's just one thing after another in this house!!!!!

Think you're amazing for managing on such a low income. You must be worried sick by all cost of living going up and the price of gas & electric.
I get so sick and tired of people moaning because they've had to give up going out for meals and not having 2 holidays a year. These people should count themelves fortunate and not have to struggle like you do. Really hope your fortunes soon change for the better. Good luck at the JobCentre.

dalip

Thankyou fran love your avatar is that your dog??

Mamma(here goes that song again!!!!)no aldi is on the way to dads if we take the long route,so may be worth it. Will let you know;) .Dx