Help! £40 to feed family for the month

glitterkitty

i bring home £1000 exactly a month, and live with my mum. After bills, board, petrol (i am as economical with petrol as possible) i only have about £40 left for food and luxuries for the month. I am just say managing with that. Often I buy food for me and BF and vice versa, can't imagine how hard it is to have children to feed aswell at the moment.
I have already done all i can to reduce my bills and make them easier to manage. Now i'm just working at getting them paid off.
Some people really are that hard up and dont spend their money on 'other things' as you put it.
Yes i have a nice car. It's a necessity as I have to drive so far every day to and from work, i can't rely on an older car. I did that for 7 years but it cost me far too much in repairs to be able to manage. I can't use public transport as it would take 2 hours and cost about £8 just to get to work and the same back home again. It only takes 40 min and costs £30 a week (sometimes less) in my car.

mum=money_under_mattress

Absolutely brilliant. Thank you to everyone. We are tightening our budgets and i didn't really know where to start. I have found some brilliant ideas from this thread and i'm not feeling quite so scared now.

Some of our budget meals include :-
corned beef hash
cheesy potato pie
sausage and onion casserole type thingy.

thanks.

mbaz

dazza32 wrote: »

i dont belive anybody is that hard up ,, im on benifits with loads of debt and i eat better than that ,,, you must be spending money on other things too,,,,,

yes I am spening money on lots of other things: rent, council tax, gas, electricity, water, childcare...Oh and tax and national insurance to pay for things like other people's benefits - and I end up with £20 to feed my family for a month, doesnt make any sense to me either to be honest

phizzimum

mbaz wrote: »

ooo good idea. Thry sauce is very liquid at the moment due to lack of meat. I have added 2 onions and of course lentils (goes without saying now!!) but I may add the mango too. TY!

glad you thought it was a good idea...after I'd posted it I worried you might think it sounded gross! I love sweet and spicy food - I pretend its a caribbean style curry but really it's a case of bunging in whatever's in the cupboard.

Bunnie1982

I've not posted before on this thread but have followed with interest. Mbaz, I think you are doing amazingly well and truly an inspiration.

I have been given loads of ideas from this thread

laineyc_2

I think you have done an amazing job on such a tight budget. I agree you are an inspiration.

jackk_2

dazza32 wrote: »

i dont belive anybody is that hard up ,, im on benifits with loads of debt and i eat better than that ,,, you must be spending money on other things too,,,,,

Sometimes those on benefits are far better of than those that are working at or just above the breadline. My ex oh worked in an industry that was very hit and miss hours wise, so some weeks (especially in winter) we only recieved his basic 38 hr wage, this was quite a bit lower than what we would have recieved in benefits. During weeks months like this we were often left with stupid amounts for food. At least on benefits (as i am now) my income cannot get any lower, i know in adavnce what i have all the time. So yes people are that hard up sometimes.

Jackie x

gsysezz

jackk wrote: »

Sometimes those on benefits are far better of than those that are working at or just above the breadline.

I totally agree with this. I have just returned to work after 3 years on benefits as a single parent with a disabled child (but not eligible for disability benefits due to the islands out of date laws). In 3 months of working I've accumulated a huge doctors bill (for an ongoing unavoidable medical condition), had to buy school uniform and shoes, pay for childcare, prescriptions etc. My rent has increased 75%....... it's endless.

I am leaping through hoops in order to work.

Allegra

mbaz wrote: »

yes I am spening money on lots of other things: rent, council tax, gas, electricity, water, childcare...Oh and tax and national insurance to pay for things like other people's benefits - and I end up with £20 to feed my family for a month, doesnt make any sense to me either to be honest

What a fabulous reply. Amd what a fabulous month, food-wise. Well done you.

mbaz

gsysezz wrote: »

I totally agree with this. I have just returned to work after 3 years on benefits as a single parent with a disabled child (but not eligible for disability benefits due to the islands out of date laws). In 3 months of working I've accumulated a huge doctors bill (for an ongoing unavoidable medical condition), had to buy school uniform and shoes, pay for childcare, prescriptions etc. My rent has increased 75%....... it's endless.

I am leaping through hoops in order to work.

Sorry to hear you're having so much trouble and please dont think that I'm anti-benefits or anything. I am just annoyed that someone on benefits is critising me for wasting money when they are obviously better off than me on benefits. It just doesnt seem fair. :mad: