Food Budget for Single Parent and 1 x Under 5- advise pls

desperate+determined

Hi,

I'm single parent with under 5 yr old, struggling but thanks to MSE finding solutions. Posted SOA on debt free wanna be and one thing stood out is my food bills. Currently around the £180 mark, I NEED to dramatically reduce this.

Whats the average people spend on feeding 1 adult and 1 child. - Any help really greatful.

Thanks D&D x

Katie-Kat-Kins

Hey D&D, not stalking you I promise, but I'm a bit of a lurker on here so I thought I'd say Hi and bump your thread!

I'm sure someone will be a long to help soon but in the meantime why not put up a typical weeks meals and shopping list so they know where you are starting from!

kaz2004

Dear D & D

I am in the same boat. I completely got myself hung up on buying "Finest" and "taste the difference" ranges believing they were better. When I discovered my overdraft was 4 figures:eek: decided I needed to do something!

This is a great thread all OS people are so knowledgable and friendly. I have lurked for months now and just have the confidence to post.

Try a thread by mbaz called feed a family of 4 for £20 it's so inspirational.

Another great one is Feeding a family of 5 started by D&DD. I am sorry I don't know how to add links, but they are must reads!

Good luck

K

Katie-Kat-Kins

kaz2004 wrote: »

Dear D & D

Try a thread by mbaz called feed a family of 4 for £20 it's so inspirational.

Yep I'd recommend that one, full of ideas and inspiration! Made me feel quite ashamed about my shopping budget and I think I've been banging on about it ever since!!! :rotfl:

Hopefully someone will come along who knows how to post a link soon, but be warned it is a compelling read, I read the lot in one day and got NOTHING done!!!

emmwri

Hello, I'm new but I've been having a look around myself and thought this might be useful for you -
Post #163 on this thread has links to lots of cheap, healthy recipes:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=13615863#post13615863

I am a lone parent to 2 under 3's and it is really difficult balancing healthy but cheap. There is another thread on bulking out meals. I can't find it at the min but it's another good one because it's bulking more expensive meals out with cheap but healthy pulses and oats etc. HTH

Good luck!

got-it-spend-it

kaz2004 wrote: »

Dear D & D

I am in the same boat. I completely got myself hung up on buying "Finest" and "taste the difference" ranges believing they were better. When I discovered my overdraft was 4 figures:eek: decided I needed to do something!

This is a great thread all OS people are so knowledgable and friendly. I have lurked for months now and just have the confidence to post.

Try a thread by mbaz called feed a family of 4 for £20 it's so inspirational.

Another great one is Feeding a family of 5 started by D&DD. I am sorry I don't know how to add links, but they are must reads!

Good luck

K

I third checking out Mbaz's thread- it is very inspirational. Also check out the grocery challenge, which is always at the top of the page. The first page of that has some great recipes.

Do you have a lot in your store cupboard and/or freezer? Could you try and plan some meals based around what you have?

I think the biggest moneysaver for us is planning what we're going to have, writing a list and sticking to it. This really helps to reduce food waste. I personally find that shopping online saves money as I'm not tempted by impulse buys. I also try the value version of most things, at least once. If it's horrid, I won't buy it again but most of the time it's fine!

lupyloo

Here is the link to mbazz's thread, I only read this yesterday

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1129333&highlight=feed+family+four+for

Also this one has loads of links, but it will take some reading. Really useful though hth everyone

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=346932

LilacPixie

i am currently £220 ish for 2 adults, 2 toddlers including nappies and we are not overly frugal

elf06

I am a single mum and DS is going to be 3 in October. I take part in the grocery challenge and last month spent approx £135 on all our shopping. This month I am trying to keep it under my £100 budget. I find planning meals really helps x

desperate+determined

Thanks for the advice. What do you do when you have a fussy child, mine refuses to eat most meats. He loves fresh veg, but the prices are stupid.

I haven't really shopped for 3 weeks as totally skint. So need to use what I have til pay day.

I have in at the moment:

Fridge: Lettuce, Pepper, Jam, Cheese, Marg, 6 eggs and Milk (rather empty)

Freezer: Rather full so could use and live from this for a while but don't want to keep giving son frozen foods.

Cupboards: Pasta, Soups, Pancake Mix, Jelly, Tin Tuna

Any meal suggestions greatful x

When paid again think i'm going to aim to budget £100 for month, and start using the no frills variety.


On a steep learning curve about food, cooking and budgeting

juliapenguin

desperate+determined wrote: »

Freezer: Rather full so could use and live from this for a while but don't want to keep giving son frozen foods.


Don't worry about feeding your lad frozen food as such - it just depends what the food is as to whether or not it's healthy for him! Lots of frozen food is just as good as fresh - in fact, a lot of people here do so much batch cooking that a lot of their food will come from the freezer and they are all thriving on it!

Good luck, though!