What else can I do?

aimme13

hi GW, been following this thread since it started, well done for staying with us, some of the advice and words are a bit tough but as many people have said its 'tough love'......it does take a long time to change your ways but the sooner the better.......i cant give you much advice on how to change as i have always shopped at cheap shops, always looked out for bargins and never had a new car, i guess its all i know. Only advice i can give is
1...teenagers!!!!! different species altogether!!! something strange happens to them when they get to 12/13!!! but dont make excuses for them....i know its like banging your head against the wall but dont let them get away with it, sometimes its easier to make excuses coz its just hard work tackling it (i still havnt mastered it!!) but dont let them be an excuse for you not putting money saving into practice....remember you are the adult.

2. Council tax benefit and JSA yes they are dealt with by different departments but the departments 'should' work together...if you put on your claim for CTB that you are awaiting an outcome for JSA they should contact the jobcentre and they can inform them when its done......With both departments dont assume they will contact you (they should) keep on the phone tracking your claim.

3. Dont give up, keep posting, and positive vibes being sent your way xx

livinginhope

Phew,I would like to be your butcher,added up,that lot would come to around half the price in tesco.Looked at what you have cooked and it is becoming clear you all have big appetites.Did you use the whole chicken again,or just the 1 meal? we have a roast chicken dinner then a chicken stirfry or curry (depending on what is left),then I boil the bones to make a soup and put loads of lentils in it.Just an idea to help food go further.
you have said that you don't eat convenience foods,but pasties and samosas are just that,HM ones are far cheaper and taste so much better.
Do I think you can cut down to 200/month? I think you could,but I don't think you will just yet sorry.
I am so much on your side,I know the misery of having no money believe me,but I just don't think you are ready for this at the moment.

Spendless

Hi- I live in a large market town (runs 3 days a week every week)so all my meat is bought from butchers stalls there. I find the meat far cheaper than the supermarket with the advantage of butchers knowing about the cut etc of meat.
Is there anything like this where you are as you have mentioned buying fruit and veg from market. I know a few people have mentioned oldstyle you could ask on there for tips about how to cut the costs of fruit for the child that eats a lot of it.
good Luck with it all.

aimme13

WOW!!! :eek: ...now i know why my food bill seems low compared to others....its £20 on a good week and £30 on a luxery week. thats for 1 adult one teenager and a child with a big appetite!....we are all vegetarian...glad we are dont think we could afford meat!! didnt realize it was so expensive.

Chortle_2

aimme13 wrote:

WOW!!! :eek: ...now i know why my food bill seems low compared to others....its £20 on a good week and £30 on a luxery week. thats for 1 adult one teenager and a child with a big appetite!....we are all vegetarian...glad we are dont think we could afford meat!! didnt realize it was so expensive.

Its not normally that much!! I haven't picked my jaw up off the floor yet either, and I am a card carrying carnivore!

Greenwellies_2

livinginhope wrote:

Phew,I would like to be your butcher,added up,that lot would come to around half the price in tesco.Looked at what you have cooked and it is becoming clear you all have big appetites.Did you use the whole chicken again,or just the 1 meal? we have a roast chicken dinner then a chicken stirfry or curry (depending on what is left),then I boil the bones to make a soup and put loads of lentils in it.Just an idea to help food go further.
you have said that you don't eat convenience foods,but pasties and samosas are just that,HM ones are far cheaper and taste so much better.
Do I think you can cut down to 200/month? I think you could,but I don't think you will just yet sorry.
I am so much on your side,I know the misery of having no money believe me,but I just don't think you are ready for this at the moment.

I may have brought other bits too, but that was all I could remember at the time. I think when it comes to meat we do have big apetites, I would be happy with one spoon of bolognaise on my pasta but everyone else wants more.
With regard to the chicken, the boys had a leg each, hubby and I had the breast and little one shared my breast. I planned on using it for a soup. But as usual I happened to say "there still some meat on it, so you can pick that later...." Next thing I know there's a space in the fridge! I have never made chicken soup, but I was planning to, I quite fancied chicken and mushroom
The Samosa's and stuff were a one off. I had taken a packed lunch the day before for everyone, but I didn't have enough bread to make sandwiches for everyone (see earlier post re teenage boys!) so I needed to get something, and I saw them

Thanks for the support,

GW

aimme13

:rotfl: thanks chortle.....thought i then had the reason why so many people are in debt!!! was about to start the DFW vegetarian club :rotfl: (think i may have been the only member though :sad:

mom23

Greenwellies wrote:

Shocked!
Wow, I do that in the butchers!
I buy a huge joint and then cook it and slice it. I then wrap in foil, with just enough for one family meal. (that way I can get dinner cooked faster too!)

Last time I went to the butchers I spent £117. That was:
Sausage rolls x 5
Pastie x 3
Samosa x 3
(all the above were brought to feed people at SIL, while she had no kitchen)

Boneless leg of lamb (Should get at least 2 meals out of it)
Lamb steaks x 5
Tray of mince (4 bags - about 1lb each)
Pork chops x 10
2 trays (about 20 in total) boneless chicken breast
1 large whole chicken

This was brought on the Easter Saturday. I have used the whole chicken and 5 of the chicken breasts and 5 of the pork chops. The mince has been used for the Shep Pie tonight and I have 2 meals worth of bolognaise in the freezer.
I guess this will last me another 2 weeks, Hopefully longer

Do you think I could realistically cut down to £200 a month?

Thanks,

GW

ooh eck :eek:
are you sure your not feedin the whole street!!!
And yes if you REALLY want to you could quite easily cut down to 200 a month

Greenwellies_2

Right then
I have about 8 pints of milk - so I need to get some 'soon' I have a bread maker, so I will start making the bread when it's run out ( 5 loaves of bread left), but I have to get milk. Iceland sells it cheapest round here.
I have plenty of meat in the freezer to last me, so I am going to live off my freezer, get F&V from the market and aim to not go 'shopping' until next pay day. the only things I need are oxo (there's a cheap brand on offer in iceland) mouthwash (savers is next to iceland) So I will get those either tomorrow morning or Friday. I better get some bread flour too.

Wish me luck!
If I can do that, then I'll be 'laughing'

I'll update my sig to show my progress.

Thanks

GW

mom23

That's the way to go GW !!!
But to make it easier with what you have in freezer and storecupboard make a menu ,then list what you need and only buy what's on the list!!
Good luck!!!