What would you buy last fiver?

katieowl_2

Kirri wrote: »

It still seems excessive for a small flat. with barely/any heating on if the article was true. I have elec heating although admittedly only fan heater at the mo but even the storage heater only puts it up another tenner when I use it, elec oven, immersion, elec towel rail and mine is less than half hers.

I went back and read some of the other articles on her blog...maybe she's paying arrears in with the bill for the month?? All in all though she's obviously struggling under extremely difficult circumstances...
and a lovely eloquent woman by the sounds of it.

Kate

Kirri

katieowl wrote: »

I went back and read some of the other articles on her blog...maybe she's paying arrears in with the bill for the month?? All in all though she's obviously struggling under extremely difficult circumstances...
and a lovely eloquent woman by the sounds of it.

Kate

It was in the link to the article in the People newspaper I read it, £83 per month, I don't think hats would be needed indoors if that was a normal monthly useage spend.

Also if only £40 month on food, then her £20 spend on toiletries/cleaning products sounds high in comparison given what bargains are available these days if someone wishes to use them.

katieowl_2

Kirri wrote: »

It was in the link to the article in the People newspaper I read it, £83 per month, I don't think hats would be needed indoors if that was a normal monthly useage spend.

Also if only £40 month on food, then her £20 spend on toiletries/cleaning products sounds high in comparison given what bargains are available these days if someone wishes to use them.

Do you have kids??? £5 a week on toiletries/cleaning stuff is probably not excessive. Washing powder, kitchen cleaning stuff, baby wipes/shampoo etc (maybe nappies? She mentions getting them from the food bank) I don't *think* she's trying to slip a few treats in there past the reader? She sold her 21st pressie from her mum and dad!

Like I said....I'm sitting here with a hat on, and I don't HAVE electric heating. My monthly Direct Debit is over £80! It varies enormously depending on where you are in the country!

Kate

Butterfly_Brain

gailey wrote: »

Pay day friday

down to last fiver grocery budget ie only have fiver left.

we have 8pack sausages-might be sick of sausages ......sausage toad, sausage casserole, sausage pasta, sausage risotto
2readymeals reduced in freezer-not very appetising but was reduced bargain will get eaten

1pack reduced smoked salmon.....salmon pasta, salmon risotto

fruit bowl empty
half box frosties
4cartons passata
2tins tuna chunks...Tuna fishcakes, tuna pasta
onions
some frozen veg
rice/dried pasta
flour
jam ...make some jam tarts for treats
sugar
crackers /cheese
herbs and spices

kidn of wish we had eggs or poatoes.

hubbys just ate last of dried fruit unless some raisens hidden

we early out milk again
nearly out coffee
bog roll.

we out of things family likes to eat

crisps
biscuits

sent hubby out shopping to lidls/sainsburys

get milk
basic coffee-hoping its not gone up
value bread i guess as he hates hm stuff.

dont think we can afford eggs

will use wetipes as bog roll and xmas napkins.

trying to meal plan someting that doesnt involve sausage.

we lucky i got so many reductions and storecupboards well stocked up reason december grocery was so high was

topped up all storecupboards that had been low for months.
xmas related stuff wasent actually that high
lots reductions.

I estimate we spent 500 from 1st december to 20th jan so 250 for family of 5 who have milk addiction.

Im not too glum as been worse just no nice snacks.

so main question is

if you had a fiver where would you go and what would you buy to last you 3days?

any ideas based on what i listed?

any idea for desserts that dont involve eggs?

I think we actually have quite a big and could be worse.

If I had £5 I would buy:
4lbs potatoes from the local market £1
10 large eggs Aldi £1.15
Block of Margarine 55p Asda
Packet of soya mince/bolognaise mince 64p in Asda
Tin of evaporated milk 48p
jar coffee 47p
smart price toilet rolls 67p
Total £4.96

You could make jam tarts for treats, that is why I added the margarine.

Have a look at the £7 a week thread it has lots of cheap ideas, but you would have to double it for a family of four plus toddler.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4084527

HTH x
.

pigpen

I think £20 on cleaning stuff is excessive too and there are 10 of us here.. I get a bottle of bleach every few months which cleans almost everything what I don't use bleach for I use washing up liquid, I think I bought 2 bottles last year and have a full bottle left, a pack of baby wipes a week and 4 nappies a day between the 2 babies. Toiletries I buy as and when needed so may go a couple of months with buying none then buy 3 when on offer.

the children get a large quantity of toiletries as christmas presents which saves a chunk I guess. They also use any I get as I am a wee bit picky due to eczema.

gailey_2

Hi guys

despite snow not bad day here

kids had cereal and toasts.

eldests gone to school early and had brekkie club so ate double brekkie and shes having school dinners.

Shes infant so gets free fruit too. and her school transports dinners in so often gets 2nd helpings at lunchtime:)

found 4fromage frais in fridge.

got raisens in cupboard.

have last nights leftovers to warm up for lunch today.

The sainsburys basic coffees ok.

Oh found quid in car got co-op value squash 34p bottle.

Trying to go easy on milk.

made another batch of choc fairy cakes as have lots butter and homebaking supplies. they a hit.

debating whats best use for last 2remaining eggs?

baking or meal?

toddler poorly topday so off preschool so no packed lunch for her today.

The snow started again and trying to stick,

dubious if veg box will turn up but worried about milkman not coming tommorow but have some spare change put aside for milk.

So we doing ok.

random question-I have a pack of stuffing?

any idea what could do with it?

I love stuffing.

Will do another bit batch soup tommorow

As for blog will go check out further detail

£5 a week sound about right.

I use half cloth nappies half sposies as toddler wees through.

but washing powder we buy in bulk so not sure how much works out as .

washing up liquid

soap, value shampoo, conditioner, bubblebath, wipes all adds up.

Im going to try going back hm wipes again this year despite oh moaning.

we have dual fuel here and cost £110 amonth.
we dont have gas fire small elctric fire whihc is on a lot.
drier-only way can dry clothes-do 3washes a day.
we try switch lights/water/heating off.

everyone has their own blanket.

Used to have flat with no gas and night storage heaters.
was also key electric and when you pay as you go you more concious of how much you use.

katieowl_2

£20 = 1 months worth of non food stuff inc cleaning.

All basic from sainsbobs which is where the blog lady shops:


Baby wipes x 2 pkt @ 57p 1.14
6 packs basics nappies 20’s 1.41 8.46
1 pkt soap 3 bars 50p
Baby bath/shampoo 46p
Washing powder basics 30 washes £1.93
1 bottle basics wup liquid 40p
Basics bleach 29p
Basics cleaner 25p
Loo rolls basics 6’s £1.96 X 3 5.88

That lot comes to : £19.31

There's no luxury items there, no sanitary protection, no conditioner, and of course in any given month you may need to buy more of one, and less of another, but averaged out £20 hardly seems excessive for a woman and a baby does it?


Sorry Gailey, not meaning to railroad your thread but this is close to my heart!

Kate

claire1234

have you got any boots points?

in boots and on there website they have toilet rolls,
4 pack of there own brand for £2.35
or andrex 4 pack for £2.49

if anyone is really stuck for toilet rolls and has points boots could be a option.

hth

gailey_2

railroad away kate its good for people to realise

costs are rising with sharp increases in basic products hurting the poorest they all at it sainsburys, asda and tesco.

they either

huge increase in price
out of stock
reducing the value range so people will trade u.

But when on strict low budget as demonstated in £7 little increases can make big difference.


Also when have more than 2adults and kids costs can increase.
if was just me I could live every cheaply felt better off as student in uni than I do now.

Im not sure on boots card probably not much as not shopped there much since everythings self serve and find them pricey for some things.

Thinking trying laundry gloop soon see if theres savings to be had there currently buy lidls formil. tried the value stuff its ok but not the best at stubborn stains.

News here

The milk man despite snow has delivered the veg box.

Thourght point out milkmans monthly paid so kind of like having a tab he will get paid next week.

Box cost £13 and estimate everything individually would cost us 11-12 pound in lidls or aldis. Should help us in short term as im craving something fresh.

The veg box not exiting this week but its what we need right now

fruit we have

bananas
apples
oranges.

we have tomatoes
cucumber
lettuce

fancy nice salmon maybe with reduced smoked salmon have in freezer with lemon dressing.

veg we have broocoli-me and kids like
fine beans-everyone likes miracle.
big bag potatoes-possibilities are endless
sadly no leek but do have onions.
carrots.

thinking veg soup.

Mushrooms-only me who likes this thinking mushrooms on toast, mushroom soup.

I have a sweede:(which knowing my fussy brood no one eat.
thinking mash mixed in with potatoes.

Any other ideas?

wish had more eggs now would have done lovley frittata.

I know hubbys sick of sausages but thourght maybe sausage roast on weekend.


pay day friday can buy eggs bacon and do big fry up brunch too.:)

Cuckooclock

Maybe not now, but a really cheap meal to make with store cupboard/veg box is Pasties.
When we were a young family living Friday to Friday they were a really yummy standby, I like veggie ones best, for my husband & son like some meat. They didn't get much but if you put the ingrediance in raw with a nice bit of white pepper lack of meat was rarely noticed.
Good luck.