Single person, London, living on £80.00 per month - possible?

Popperwell

Many know that my situation changed when Mum passed away in April. I f things stay as they are I can manage but we know the austere measures coming in whether we work/are ill/unemployed but there is not enough information in the public domain probably because of the reaction it will cause...

Even the media with odd exceptions is ignoring what's coming but we have had a few documentaries recently...

BBC2 and Channel4 showed the skewed tests being done to assess if you are ill/disabled, ITV did one on the food banks springing up everywhere(and no not all using them are unemployed/poor)but people working...

I keep getting told that I will not be homeless in the future and i will be taken care of but I do worry...too many unknowns...but with no friends or family to step in...I can be frugal and avoid using the CH and cut back on electric and food but some things are out of my hands...

And yes if I had to I can give up the phone and internet but I need some entertainment to stop becoming bored and it is there for for emergncies and it's my way of staying connected to the world. What else could you do for around 4p an hour?

I don't smoke, rarely drink. Haven't had a holiday in approx 18 years...I deserve some "Fun" what would it cost if I went out somewhere? I probably have to buy a drink, travel there and back. This has to work out cheaper...

I can access knowledge, entertainment, tv and radio, books and people via the net. Recipes and ideas for being frugle and thrifty, sometimes buy things more cheaper than in the shops...

I'm not asking for that much...

I'm thinking of making my own bread again...

annie123

That's more than enough, my son and his GF lived in £20 pw for a year when he lost his job and in London too.

A few thoughts;
It may work out cheaper to get a delivery due to bus fares plus, that stops temptation to buy anything not on the list.

Forage blackberries, apples etc now and freeze, they are all over the place in London.

Find local fruit and veg market and go around an hour before closing, they sell stuff off cheaper. Last year I got 6 butternut squashes for £1!!!!!!! they keep for months.

Buy a pkt of mixed salad leaves and grow on a window sill

Find a turkish shop, great savings to be had on seeds, nuts, herbs, vinegar for cleaning etc

Is there a wing yip or other chinese food shop near you? also great for savings.

Make wholemeal wraps, expensive to buy cheap to make and freeze really well http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/1864/flour-tortilla-wraps.aspx

Buy pkt of soda crystal £1, stardrops £1 and with the vinegar (£3 for 5 ltrs in my local Turkish shop) thats cleaning sorted for at least 6 months.

Where is London are you?

ms_london

Hi gettingready...

As you suggested, batch cooking is the answer, at least you have a home cooked meal every night when you get in after your long day!

I am single so just me to cook for and I do this, also have a slow cooker. I don't make my own bread, but just keep it in the freezer for as and when I need it. I love aldi and lidl and get so excited at how cheap things are (I'm so sad!), but Tesco value range are also good..

For a pasta sauce, either use tinned tomatoes or Tesco passata in a carton which is around 30p... I have a stash of these, also I use Quorn mince as I can use straight from freezer....

Toiletries I would say £1 shop but sometimes items may be cheaper elsewhere... I like Tesco value shower gel, it's a shame it's a lurid blue colour but it smells nice and does the job.

Xx

Popperwell

ms_london,

Tesco's seem to have the most items in the value range compared to others and no most of it is as good as more expensive brands...look out the baby shampoo and baby lotion very cheap and if ok for babies it will be fine for adults(costs pennies!)Something like 9p or 18p a bottle...

At present they have cans of plum and chopped tomatoes 25p, cheaper than their own everyday brand and tuna chunks 4 cans for £3 in brine, spring water or sunflower oil...

I understand your interest in Aldi...and my food store has become an important part of my life now and if I don't have the space to hide it, I don't care if its on show...there's only me.

I have no one calling and if it saves me money and I can eat reasonably well that's more important.

It also hopefully frees some money up to keep my internet going or perhaps stay warm longer or keep the electric on longer...possibly avoid going out so much and paying taxi and bus fares. May give me some money to go towards the rent, CT or BT increases that are coming...

ms_london

Popperwell wrote: »

I have no one calling and if it saves me money and I can eat reasonably well that's more important.

It also hopefully frees some money up to keep my internet going or perhaps stay warm longer or keep the electric on longer...possibly avoid going out so much and paying taxi and bus fares. May give me some money to go towards the rent, CT or BT increases that are coming...

.

Hi popperwell

I feel sad reading your post, I'm sorry things are such a struggle, but if shopping at aldi means you can still eat well and keep your Internet, then good or you. Some people are too snobby when it comes to food, though I usually find from being on here that it's the husbands that refuse to move from the brands

There should be more financial support for those living on their own!!

Hopefully we'll have a mild winter so that things aren't too tight for you and the rest of people struggling.

Oh and great tip re baby shampoo, might try that!

Xx

gettingready

OMG - so much friendly and helpful response, thanks a lot for that.

Pets - already buy in bulk and cheap so no worries there. Same with bills etc - after ALL my bills I have £80 left for me.

Toiletries - buy in £ shop, 99 p store actually.

Closest shop to get to - Tesco but as I said I do not drive so heavy shopping (tinns etc) is awkward. That is why I use Asda home delivery 99% of the time. Also, Tesco accepts my card in store but not for online shopping (Co-Operative basic account card) Asda does so not much I can do here.

Closest market (vegs) again by bus. I have travelcard as I buy it monthly for work - it is the time really, no way on weekdays as rushing home to take the dog out.

I live in East London, between Wanstead Park and Wansted Flats - beautiful area, green quiet and lovely but - no shops.....within walking distance to pop in and get some bargains.

Question - where would be the best place to get some containers for freezing things? I am thinking the few take away size like boxes from a 99p shop?

Thanks again

gettingready

Popperwell - really sad to read your postsbut I know exactly how you feel. Was on JSA for over a year and it was absolutely awful, especially in the winter....

ms_london

Question - where would be the best place to get some containers for freezing things? I am thinking the few take away size like boxes from a 99p shop?

Yes the plastic takeaway type containers are ace, or use food bags for individual portions of say chicken breast xx

PipneyJane

gettingready wrote: »

Hello everyone,

I normally stay on Pet Section of the forums but was pointed to here when realised that after paying all my bills and gettign stuff for my pets - I am left with £80.00 per months for myself.

That is £80.00 per month for food/toiletries/cleaning stuff etc.

I have a slow cooker, I have a bread maker, 4 drawers freezer, cooker, oven, microwave.

Right now empty cupboards - just enough to make do till pay day (28th).

So - need to make a plan. And stick to it.

No shop whotsoever near by - have to take a bus to nearest Tesco/Asda. No shop on the way to/from work.

I work full time , leave home around 7 (get up before 6 to take the dog out) and come back home just before 7. By the time I take the dog out/lat the cats out, clean litter boxes, bring the cats back in, feed the lot - it is usually 9pm. So not much time to cook on weekdays.

Looking at cooking for the whole week at the weekends, freezing portions etc.

I do not really eat breakfast ( no time and not hungry in the mornings) but would like to take lunch from home to have at work.

I am trying to avoid bread and potatoes as need to lose some kg (lost 12kg since December, need to lose another 10kg).

Normaly order food for delivery from Asda.

I guess I am hoping someone can maybe help me to do a shopping list and a meal planner? Hope I am not being cheeky here but a bit lost to be honest....

I see a lot of posts saying that home made bread is cheaper - mhow? When I was making it at home (got a bread maker too) it was working out quite expensive - perhaps plain bread woyld be cheaper but I was only making one with seeds and dark and this flour was a bit expensive. I do not like white bread at all - if I have bread it is only dark with seeds.. hmmmmm


Slow cooker - I am worried about leaving one on for what would have to be 12 hours. Leaving home at 7 and coming back around 7..hmmmm

Any pointers appreciated.

Thanks a lot

Hi. I work long hours too. I find the one thing that is absolutely crucial is to not sit down when I get home from work. I get changed and immediately start cooking dinner. (The other thing is to not have dirty dishes hanging around. Either wash them up immediately after eating or do them in the morning before work. If you don't wash up until you're about to cook your next meal, it takes up valuable time.)

Since there is only one of you, and most recipes are for four people, batch cooking should be easy. Just cook something for four and portion up the meal when you are serving your dinner. Put two portions into lunch-sized boxes (go for water and air tight) and one into a fast-food-style box for the freezer.

Home made bread can be cheaper but the big cost is flour. You can get chappati flour for £3/10kg in Mr T's at the moment but you will need air-tight/bug-proof containers in which to store it. Using chappati flour in my bread maker, a loaf of bread costs me approximately 25p.

gettingready

PipneyJane wrote: »

Hi. I work long hours too. I find the one thing that is absolutely crucial is to not sit down when I get home from work. I get changed and immediately start cooking dinner. (The other thing is to not have dirty dishes hanging around. Either wash them up immediately after eating or do them in the morning before work. If you don't wash up until you're about to cook your next meal, it takes up valuable time.)

... I do not even change - let the cats out, take the dog out, let the cats back in, feed the lot of them, change the water, change the cat litter and... it is 9 pm..

I try to go to bed before 11 as need to get up around 5.30... sigh...

Morning before work - take the dog out, top up food/water for dog/cats, clean the liter boxes....

Time is really something I do not have much of - only weekends really....

As I said - I am not bread lover anyway, 1 loaf would probably last me 2 weeks (I freeze and only take 1-2 slices at a time when/as needed).

Thanks a lot for posting