A little help please!!

motherkitty

Hi everyone.
My husband is going into hospital for an operation next week and will then be off work for around 4 to 6 weeks.
His company only pays for 5 sick days a year, of which he has two left, so will basically not get paid for a month at least.
He is starting to panic a bit as my pay will pay the mortgage but won't cover much else. I have said to him he musn't worry (easier said than done!) and not even think of going back to work before he is ready, and that we wil manage somehow.
I know everyone on here is very supportive and full of good ideas and advice.
So does anyone have any advice, especially on how to feed him (and two teenagers) well without breaking the bank.
Any help would be welcome.
Thanks
MK

elsien

Won't he be able to claim statutory sick pay? Not a huge amount, but still a bit extra on top of your wages.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Illorinjured/DG_10018786

motherkitty

Yes, I have already looked into that and think we will be able to get it. Will help a little if we can.

Draagonfly

Even if his company scheme only pays 5 days I believe he should be entitle to claim Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) which should be paid by his employer which comes in at about £80 a week...not a fortune but at least something.

Check out the Directgov website for info on entitlement & how to claim...I'm sure someone who has way more knowledge than me will be along but at least you have a starting point.

Hope your hubby makes a quick recovery.

ETA: cross posted

Mrs_Veg_Plot

Mince dishes can be bulked out with veg, lentils and porridge oats. Chicken can be padded out to make at least two meals and a soup made from the bones.
Home made soup and a pudding + meat free but filling meal.

I am sure there wil be lots more ideas along soon.

taxsaver

Might be a good time to clear out 'clutter' that we all accumulate.... it's amazing how much you can get for things on e-bay!!!

Tiddlywinks

taxsaver wrote: »

Might be a good time to clear out 'clutter' that we all accumulate.... it's amazing how much you can get for things on e-bay!!!

That's a good idea... Also, could you cut anything down, like Sky tv or anything like that?

As to food, what have you got in your cupboards and freezer - it's time to do a stocktake.

Is your OH's mum or other family close by? You could ask them to keep an eye on him during the days and see if they could do him some lunches...they might make them at home and bring them over and that might save some money.

Go veggie for most meals - use lots of beans and pulses in casseroles and make lots of pasta bakes.

Do you live near a Morrisons? They've just brought out a new value range - easily spotted on the shelves as it's bright yellow. These are really, really affordable - I live a 2 minute walk away from a store and love to try the new ones as they come in and most are more than edible.

My mum and I were a bit sad and did a price comparison with Lidl, Aldi and Tesco and the Morrison's "yellows" were definitely cheaper.

Good luck - you'll manage, really you will.... you know why? Because you're a mum and you just will do it!

maryb

He should also get a bit in his pay packet because his tax will have been deducted assuming he uses his personal allowance in 12 equal instalments. If he's not getting any pay in a month, or only SSP, then the tax recalculates and he will get a mini refund that month. It's because he is still on the payroll, just off sick for a month, and therefore it will calculate automatically - you won't have to claim a tax rebate

Butterfly_Brain

I don't want to sound scathing, but you must have known that this was coming for a while. Hospitals give at least a month's notice of surgery unless it is an emergency, so if you had come to us earlier we could have given more advice, such as putting money by and stocking up your freezers/cupboards.

Starting this week, make a list of everything that you have in the freezers and cupboards including things like soap-powder etc.
Then you can see where you are and we will always help you making up recipes etc if we know what you have.
Look into what sort of benefits you are entitled too by calling the benefits helpline 0800 882 200 and do it as soon as you can, because it takes time for payments to be sorted.

Aldi have good prices on everything, but you are restricted, and may have to top up at Asda or Morrisons.

Go to the market just as they are closing to pick up stuff that they sell off in the last hour or so.

Do you have a local butcher near to you, he can give you lots of ideas on cheap cuts of meat and how to cook them.

FairyPrincessk

It would help to know what you're working with. Do you have an estimated weekly budget for food? Will household items be included in this (i.e. toilet roll, shampoo)? What sorts of things do you already have in your pantry/freezer? If you have any loyalty card points (club card, nectar card etc.) saved up, now might be the time to use them, although I think some other members might have better advice for how to get the most out of those.

Lentils and beans are a great starting point-look for a tasty dahl recipe on BBC good food, and perhaps a cuban black bean recipe as well (I make mine with a rasher or two of bacon, serve over rice and then use the leftovers to make bean and cheese burritos). Consider having at least 2 nights a week without meat, so soup and bread, perhaps with some cheese for the teens, jacket potatoes, veggie chilli etc.

If your husband is going to be unable to help much while he is home, I would definitely suggest you cook a few things for the freezer this weekend. There are threads devoted to freezer cooking and you can find lots of thrifty recipes that freeze well.

I'd also suggest that when people ask what they can do to help, you tell them honestly that you're struggling. Some people love making up an extra shepherd's pie, lasagne or the like.

FairyPrincessk

Also, if you can do so without adding a lot of stress to their lives, get your teens involved! Being able to budget and feed a family in tough times is a great life skill and it might surprise you how creative they can be. Being honest with them might also garner a bit more flexibility as you bring in meals they aren't used to.