£58.50/Month Food Bill - Possible?

MasterPJ

Just generally seeking advice.

Bank Account Balance: £15

My Income is: £117/wk (So £468/Month)

My Outcome (All Monthly):
£275 - Rent (Was originally £250 but a letter 6 Months in increased this)
£35 - Council Tax
£43.50 - Energy Bills
£30 - Phone Bill (Contract till February)
£17 Internet
£8.99 - Entertainment

= £409.5

This gives me £58.50 to spend on food which equates to about £2/Day on food. I have cut down to two small meals a day.

I supppose I am just seeking general advice regarding this because this is quite a struggle anyway I look at it.

How much should I keep reserved for food? I've heard stories ranging from £25-100 on food a week. I've looked into changing electricity supplier, maybe going into a £250/Month flat (But the deposit amount I just can't cover).

cleggie

Have you looked into ways that you can boost your Income (evening/2nd jobs etc)?

MasterPJ

I'm sadly am on JSA/House Benefit. I've sent out countless CV's and walked into too many shops to count asking if they need assistance. Registered with every job agency on the planet it feels like.

Out of all of this I decided to undertake volunteer work given my lack of work experience. My intention was to secure two solid references. But I spent too long at my last place as I was having quite alot of fun. Now I am seeking a second volunteer placement whilst also seeking full time work.

ian_h

Do a benefits check and see if you qualify for working tax credits or additional help with council tax/rent.

Can you switch Internet to a cheaper provider (either Primus or because you have a contract mobile?)

Now we are in August you are 6 months from your contract end speak to your mobile provider and see if you can change tariff (some allow this within the last 6 months).

Read your meters (Gas/Electric/Water) monthly and monitor your usage - I did that and then had enough data to get my Energy DD reduced by 40% (and its a great incentive to remember to switch EVERYTHING off).

Apart from that I agree your budget looks tight, its not impossible but you'll learn to love beans on toast etc to keep your food, cleaning and toiletries under £1.85 per day. If you dont already, check out pound shops and Aldi/Lidl as a way of making your money go further.

Not impossible but you'll need to have a goal or something to look forward to, just to keep you motivated and not get disheartened.

Good luck with it though

MasterPJ

I've seperated from my flatmate in everything - just so I can make it cheaper. We never shared food just cleaning / dishes / toiletries.

I wash my dishes with water mostly - use / swipe / replace. As I'm the only one using them I don't see an issue with this. Cleaning - Cheap tesco baby wipes are a god send. Toilertries - We bought LOADS (wholesale) to last us to ages but they dissappeared so quickly I felt the need to seperate from them in regard to this. Maybe tmi but a roll lasts me two/three weeks. When we shared it averaged a roll every few days.

I'm going to change the Internet to someone MUCH cheaper, flatmate will have to curve their downloading (which is what worries me). Changing to npower for electricity (and in my name just so I can monitor it). I don't use an oven for food and due to my very natural hot body temperature I take cold showers and don't use a blanket ever. I shall talk to my phone provider today about changing tariff but this worries me as I've never done it before.

I rarely eat hot meals, but gosh do I love brown rice and brown sauce. Mostly my food choices its just cold straight from the tin.

InsideInsurance

Rice comes in a tin?

As you have access to a wholesaler I would have thought your rice addiction could be more cheaply sated by buying it in bulk dried

MasterPJ

I used to have access to one. But your quite right I could find someone I know who does. Thanks

meg72

What kind of meals do you like to eat, what would you normally buy and do you have a freezer. I think its do able but then Ibuy reduced batch cook and stock up on offers.

76rosie

my Mr M's has a reduced section in the freezer dept and also seconds vegetables including potatoes and onions. if you can investigate your supermarkets you never know your luck. I also womble and collect vouchers. The sanex ones are good at the minute. I did get deoderant for 14p with moc. All these do add up. I may earn more than you but I am saving for a deposit for a flat. It's really hard to keep your patience when times are tough.

Bloomberg

MasterPJ wrote: »

Just generally seeking advice.

Bank Account Balance: £15

My Income is: £117/wk (So £468/Month)

My Outcome (All Monthly):
£275 - Rent (Was originally £250 but a letter 6 Months in increased this)
£35 - Council Tax
£43.50 - Energy Bills
£30 - Phone Bill (Contract till February)
£17 Internet
£8.99 - Entertainment

= £409.5

This gives me £58.50 to spend on food which equates to about £2/Day on food. I have cut down to two small meals a day.

I supppose I am just seeking general advice regarding this because this is quite a struggle anyway I look at it.

How much should I keep reserved for food? I've heard stories ranging from £25-100 on food a week. I've looked into changing electricity supplier, maybe going into a £250/Month flat (But the deposit amount I just can't cover).

Why not try your local McDonald's?, the pay is not great but would dwarf your current income and you could also eat at work which would save money. There might also be the prospect of a managerial career.

It is worth noting that McDonald's have done really well in the recession because the food is relatively cheap. Furthermore I doubt that they have ever made anyone redundant. All the best.

aldredd

Do you honestly need the internet?

If the answer is 'yes', then could you explore the option of using your mobile phone as a wi-fi tethering point?

You would probably need to keep a close eye on your usage if you have a phone download cap, but should suffice. Some carriers I think insist on an extra charge (I think vodafone charge about £5/m) but still less than what you're paying now. I have an o2 contract with unlimited data (before they brought in their caps!), and they don't charge for tethering, so could get free broadband, at comparable speeds to my old broadband line.
Of course, dependent on your handset etc, but is certainly an option for you