What to do when your budget runs out?

thatcherschild

My food budget has run really short, what can I do to a) ensure that I don't end up like this next month (we've had no excess spending on the budget) and b) get through the rest of the month after this week?

It's not the budgeting that's hard, it's the sticking within it. No wonder we've ended up 1000's in debt, I dread the think what we spent when I wasn't watching what we bought!

D&DD

Hiya,firstly maybe you need to have another look at the way your budget was worked out..is it that much because thats all you have left or have you worked it out on what you think you'll need? It sometimes takes a few 'goes' to get it just right..took me about 3 pads and a dozen tries :o
Secondly there are so many helpful people on here if you can write a list of stuff you have in you'll be amazed how many meals they can suggest from what seems like empty cupboards...

HTH D

P.S love the name :D

southernscouser

No I'm kidding. Been there and done that! :doh:

D&DD

:rotfl:

SS you behave now :hello:

Stephen_Leak

Nice one, SS. These might be a little more appropriate though (but not by much).





Seriously, I am sure the guys and girls on here can get you to the end of the month and to the end of next month with at least 10p in hand.

For a start, post what you have in the cupboard.

If you have a tin of meat, a tin of vegetables and a tin of something else, I can probably make a meal from them.

N9eav

When we used to live in W Africa doing charity work we had some lean times. For a while we lived on £15 a week. For main meals we would buy a sack of potatos and several pounds of cheap beef, local bread daily, peanut butter from the market and other minimum staples.

I guess if you bought a sack of spuds wholesale 25 kilos for £6 and Cheaper meats. Mince, chicken pieces in ASDA frozen £1.35 for 3lbs, Cheap pork chops in Lidl frozen 4 for £1.75 etc. You can make a ton of different meals from the combinations. Throw in some cheap pasta (1kilo of twists for £1 in Tesco) Rice etc You can make a whole load of main meals. 2 chickens (£7) roasted can make roast on Sunday, Cold meat or chicken pie on Monday and chicken and potato soup on Tuesday.

Cheaper milk £1 for 2 litres in Tesco, Look out for the deals. Tesco has apple pies at £1 each in their fresh section. Can't make them for that!

It can be easy if you are inventive. Invent meal plans for the week and stick to them. Don't impulse buy because you are hungry when you go shopping.

cookie9

Check what you have in the storecupboard and freezer before drawing up your shopping list. Find out what time your supermarket puts out its reduced items.

Lentils are great for bulking out meals. Also make good lentil soup and dhal.
Passatta is good for sauces for pasta or when making chili etc
Curry powder and chili powder good for adding flavour - if possible get from an Asian supermerket as will be a lot cheaper.

Cornishpixie_2

I would say meal plan. Know roughly what you would expect to pay and take cash and list shopping. Evening shopping can be good for bargains. Balance out the meat and meat free meals, can always batch cook things like bolognaise and freeze some. Base meals around pots, pasta or some rice, then pick up whatever veg on offer to throw in or buy frozen veg. Look at store cupboard challenge thread, will give you some good ideas if you let people know what you have in. HTH's

tim_n

9p noodles!

katmad99

try using up all your last bits instead of buying more. sites like this one are really handy for ideas: http://www.cookingbynumbers.com/

tomterm8

Personally, in the good times I think you need to get your store cupboard sorted out so you have meals for lean times... with a decent stocked freezer and store cupboards, I've gone for weeks without needing to buy anything except vegetables.