can u feed 5 adults+pets on £140 pmth?

cattie1

When oh and I lost jobs and only had benefits to live on and were awaiting council to award us benefits(charging us full rent and c/tax:mad: ) we only had £80 a month to live on after paying full rent etc to make sure we had a roof over our kids heads.:rolleyes:
I actually managed to spend £13 a week on shoppin £18 (when I needed nappies)
by buyin everything value/smart price etc. I also did a LOT of baking, there is a place near me where you can buy a massive bag of dried dog food for £8 which lasts 3 months:T
It also helped to buy some things in bulk, I also used my mobile phone all the way round the shop to add everything up!

JillD_2

definitely cook in bulk and freeze portions if you can.
I make alot of casseroley type stewy things, we are veggie and eat lots of chickpeas, kidney beans, soya mince. I usually do a recipe that is supposed to serve 2 and bulk it out with extra tin of tomatoes, and some extra carrots or other veggies and make it serve 4.

I make my own bread which is a bit time consuming but quite cheap. A loaf costs about 15p although it is smaller than a shop loaf. I tried Asda own brand (not value, just regular) bread and it was vile. even my 3 year old wouldn't eat it. So we were stuck with Hovis at £1 a loaf. We get through 2-3 big loaves a week. I make 4 of my loaves a week so thats a saving of about £2 a week on bread alone.

I also make my own pizza dough and pizza toppings, and my own cake which goes in lunchboxes instead of cake bars.

I buy value and do all my shopping at Asda as I find it the cheapest. Many of their Smart Price products are really nice - the fruit and fibre for brekkie is gorgeous and a fraction of kellogs price. It keeps me full til lunchtime where sugary ones leave mke hungry sooner. Also buy their spaghetti hoops and beans for the kids, their fromage frais, their chocolate digestive finger biscuit bar things are gorsgeous and work out at about 6p a bar. Also their malt loaf as a treat - 26p or something and really nice toasted.

As others have said the key is in planning in advance.
Don't shop if you are hungry and take a list.
Freeze any and all leftovers, try not to throw anything away!

Is there anything you can reduce on your soa to give you any more slack ?

Good luck, I am confident you can do it


Just make sure you come back on here and tell us how it goes!

Murtle

How much will your cat and dog food take out of the budget?

If they are on expensive food, now might be the time to wean them on to something different, but cheap isn't always good. We buy burns cat biscuits for our cats, and although they are expensive to buy they are an all in one meal and work out cheap then tinned cat meat.

Then use the remaining money for human food!

Doing things like buying whole chickens instead of single portions can work out cheaper. Then cook the whole bird, or cut it down into your own single portions.

Sausages are cheap and cheerful - as toad in the hole, or bangers and mash

Jacket potatos another cheap and cheerful with beans and cheese!

Good luck

x x

jcr16

would it be better doing a 2 week shp with 60 pounds and then that make 120 for the month and the other 20 u could allow yourself 5 pound a week for bread and milk etc ? hope that makes sence.

but i find sometimes i can do a 2 weekly shop or monthly shop and i buy less but it lasts longer. odd but so true. lol

katieowl_2

I agree with jcr16 - Stay out of the shops! We had a pretty scary £400 :eek: food bill the month before last....and on analysis I think it was because every time we went looking for bread (on a late evening shop) they didn't have any of the cheaper stuff left, so I only bought a couple of loaves, meaning a couple of days later we were back - but everytime I went I stocked up with 'Bargains' - OK I admit my freezer is full to bursting! But we can't afford to spend £400 a month on food (Five of us too - Me, DH, DS14 DD16 and DD20 plus two dogs, two rats and a big ol' catfish).

This month I have got it down to £250. We decided we would online shop (free over £70 midweek at Sainsbury, or £3.99 midweek at Tesco - practically what the bus would cost) that way we shouldn't be tempted. If you make a menu plan and shop to it, you should be able to get some good cheap meals in using the basics stuff. My cheapest meals have to be 1)Those instant noodles (8p a packet - one each) rehydrated then stir fried with some veg, and a protein of some sort, leftover meat, eggs etc. I do them individually for the family "To order" 2) and 'on toast' night....Beans, cheese, eggs, or sardines again to order....and of course the rubber chicken variations, with a soup meal thrown in at the end. The dogs get at least one 'Free' meal out of the meat picked off the soup carcass after its simmered too!

I'm sure there is room to get my bill down further - as we eat VERY well. I was working on an 'emergency budget' with a two week meal plan that could just carry on from day 1 again a few months ago, I'll see if I can find it! Using the online shopping stuff is good too for checking out your cheapest source....I made up a price book and discovered tadah!! that there is no difference between Tesco basics and Sainsbury basics (and that they are both cheaper than Lidl for a lot of things! (can't check Lidl online though))

Regards

Kate

Penny-Pincher!!

Making a meal plan is the best way forward! Our main meals our normally things like:

Roast dinners
Toad In Hole, mash and veg
Leftover chicken-made into a pie with spuds and veg
Spagbol
Chops, spuds and veg
Lasagna & chips/salad
Curries
Stews
Shepards Pie & veg
Bangers and mash
Chilli & rice
HM Fishpie & veg
Egg & chips
HM Pizza

Once a week we have a light meal of something like:

Egg on toast
Beans On toast
Baked Spud and filling
Ommelette
Mac and cheese

These can all be done cheaply. Buy veg that is in season, buy meat/fish/poultry when reduced or on offer....we normally go to local supermarkets quite late and get some brilliant offers for pennies:D Bulk out meals with spuds/rice and veg.

I always make extra portions of meals as I need a hot lunch or snack through the day, if not used I freeze for a later date.

We eat very well for £35 a week for the 3 of us and could cut that in half if needed.

I dont know about the animals Our westie whom we no longer have used to eat standard dog food and a couple times a week had chicken and rice to help his skin shine and gloss up.....this could be done very quickly and DD used to have it for her packed lunch...lol.

Good Luck

PP
xx

Murtle

I find when I shop once a fortnight/monthly is my brain switches to long lasting produce...so the freezer section and the dried section. If I'm there weekly then I'm in the fresh section.....the frozen and dried lasts longer as it doesn't go mouldy as fast

black-saturn

Check my meal planners to find out how I feed 1 adult and 2 children who eat like adults for £42 a month:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=2340412&posted=1#post2340412

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=157526&highlight=black-saturns+menu

Sarahsaver

Basically yes, but it will be a true challenge if you are not used to it! Good luck;)
Personally I would not have pets but I don't know if thats an option for you, I have 2 hens but I would not have anything which didnt pay its way on some way. If I lived on a farm I would have a cat for pest control.

patchwork_cat

Hi
I will be hard work - you will have to make everything from scratch and go for cheaper and value brands. If you bulk out mince with pulses or baked beans - I reckon you could make a shepherds pie for £1.50 with veg. Will this include lunches?Would buying a turkey be a cheaper alternative to say a chicken?