Really Tight January... help

debtfree2010

Hi All,
From now until 25th Jan, we are on a really tight budget.
The maximum i will have to spend is £150.
We are a family of 4, myself, DH, DS aged 17, DS aged 6.
My boys take packed lunch to school / college.
But I need some ideas on what shopping to buy for evening meals,
I have enough shampoo / toiletries / washing powder to see us through.
I am just really worried i wont manage this as normally our shipping is around £80 a week

Any help is greatly appreciated,

Thanks all

honeybun16

did not want to read and run, what sort of things do you have in your store cupboard? pop over to the OS board there is loads of ideas for really good cheap meals

tessie_bear

hi...have a look at the front page of the grocery challenge for great recipes u could also try
# using up everything u already have in
#try lidl weekend meat offer
# get some mince and do spag bol/chilli/sheps pie/pasta bake
# use leftovers for lunch
# check out aldi super 6 veg

i wouldnt spend all money at once perhaps portion it into weekly amounts

hth good luck

Bluediamond

Hi Debtfree, I know how you feel and I have two of my childrens birthdays in the next fortnight You may have to do what we are doing, have a month of cheap meals and although it may be same stuff week in week out it wont mean that your family will eat unhealthily...I am sure there will be some really good tips coming along shortly but I agree with Tessie Bear and use up what you have, and use Aldi and Lidl. Good Luck and i will be thinking of you xxx

Chris25

have a look on here - the Old Style board - there are loads of hints & tips http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=33 you'll get great ideas there

quintwins

i agree with tessie make a list of what you have in, you might be surpised

shop around for fruit and veg if you can or use frozen (use value mixed veg to bulk out casaroles and mince)

try a rubber chicken

try shop later in the day for whoopsied items

beef shin is cheap and if cooked slowly it makes lovely stew

my budget this year has been £200 a month, next year it's £150 a month so i'm in the same boat but threw choice there are 5 of us it is do able and we eat really well including the odd take away

debtfree2010

Thanks for the replies
I had a good look round the OS board before i went out shopping, today i took hubby with me as he is self employed and hasnt worked for the last two weeks of december I needed him to understand the problem we face with cost of shopping.
So we went to Iceland, i had a £5 voucher so the spend in there was £9.35, i got mince, chicken and beef, so i can make spag bol, chilli / stew / sheperds pie etc
We then went to home bargains spent £7 in there on stuff for kids packed lunch drinks etc for the month!! :)
We then went to Lidl and bought cereal / pasta / rice / few jars of spicy bol sauce, i spent £7.55 :):)
I feel really chuffed with myself and after today i think i will be able to manage ok this month, yes the meals i have planned will be the same ish week on week but we wont starve :T
And i actually think i will continue to shop across these 3 shops for the future as we really need to cut back quite a bit

oldtractor

ok its not the end of the world situation. there is a finish date Jan 25th. I've been where you are,came out the other side,its a good feeling to have coped. So, first things first,use up what is in your cupboards, supplememnted by a few bought items.. Its ok to have bread and butter for breakfast. Only buy very cheap things,a jar of jam for sandwiches,a packet of lentils. GO vegetarian for at least some of the time. Plchards on toast for dinner once a week is ok. Can you make bread? HM is much cheaper than bought. Can you make a pan of veg and chicken soup? its very cheap. No takeaways,no ready-made. No going out. You'll get there,

madvixen

Try lovefoodhatewaste.com for ways of using up your leftovers. I've found some great recipes on here that really helped me reduce costs this month

Dragoncry

Hi, I am in the same boat myself this month....

Having been an avid lurker of this wonderful forum I think I will cope so have a good read and you will get by

I have £20 ish + £5 MrT voucher to last me to 14th Jan...this will cover fresh milk, cat food, nappies I hope. (This is due to a large car repair which was unaccounted for, but no car no wages)

First I have made a full list of what I already have in the storecupboard, fridge and freezers (I have 2 and both are full)
Then I have done a meal planner to use these up and they will last us very nicely. There are 5 of us, 2 adults DD8,DD6 and DD2.5 last is still using nappies but I have added those in, oh plus 2 cats.

If I can do it I am sure you will and if you have any problems this forum is a life saver so just ask and someone will reply with the right answer or compromise you need.

Good luck
DC xx

camNolliesMUMMY

firstly sort you cupboard out, see what you can make out of what you already have/ or fancy if your missing something to make it buy that ingredient and only that, then make a meal plan, buy only whats on your shopping list.
start with breakfast- bread can be frozen and so can milk
lunches- 1kg block of chees in farmfoods for £5 great bargain i get one and it lasts us nearly 3 weeks as well as ham from tesco called ham trim its gorgeous its about £2.20 a tub i put this into a lock tight tub and put in the fridge it keeps longer.
Dinners- ours consist of

spag bol leftovers turned into chilli for next night done in slow cooker
jacket spuds
stews/casserole's done in slow cooker
roast dinner on sundays and leftovers are always used up in something like a chicken and leek pie i make myself, chicken pasta bake made from scratch (chopped toms/herbs/garlic/cheese sauce and pasta)
sausage and mash
sausage casserole
curries made from scratch

just get organised and youl do it, and down grade items for value or sp items and it will go futher.