Desperate for advice on food shop.

crispycreme_2

Hi Moneysavers,
Just really want some advice & guidance/suggestions re meal planning on no money.
We are in a real tight spot at the min ( Rent & council tax debts mostly) We only have about £15 for next couple of weeks and its v. stressful
I have to feed 4 of us and Im not sure it can be done. Me ( am also 32 wks preg)OH, DS 10yrs & DS 4 yrs.

I also have to do packed lunches for DS's. 5 days per wk for older one and 2 days per wk for little one( nursery) I am going to look into free school dinners for DS1 though.

Any help any one can give I'd be v. grateful for as Im really worrying how /if it can be done.

heavenleigh

First step is to go through your cupboards/fridge/freezer and give us a list of what you already have in.
You may not be able to see many meals but between the hundreds of us i'm sure we can come up with something x
Don't fret, we went a whole week last week spending nothing! i was so worried before hand, but once in the right frame of mind i actually enjoyed not spending.
You're in the right place, do that inventory xxx

hilstep2000

There was a thread about feeding 4 people for £7 a week.
I did find this:https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4342185

which may help. Rice and beans can be used a lot as can potatos.
Good luck!
Aha, just found it!https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4084527

HappyMJ

crispycreme wrote: »

Hi Moneysavers,
Just really want some advice & guidance/suggestions re meal planning on no money.
We are in a real tight spot at the min ( Rent & council tax debts mostly) We only have about £15 for next couple of weeks and its v. stressful
I have to feed 4 of us and Im not sure it can be done. Me ( am also 32 wks preg)OH, DS 10yrs & DS 4 yrs.

I also have to do packed lunches for DS's. 5 days for older one and 2 days for little one( nursery) I am going to look into free school dinners for DS1 though.

Any help any one can give I'd be v. grateful for as Im really worrying how /if it can be done.

To feed 4 of you on £15 for 14 days it can't technically be done and get enough calories and a balanced diet.....the cheapest item for calories in the supermarket is flour and oil and they cost 30p per person per day for 2500 calories so you don't quite have enough just buying the cheapest ingredient....but you must have something in the cupboards/freezer already. Empty them and write everything down and post what you have here and you'll get some ideas on what to use to supplement what you have already.

If you really can't get any more money for food then consider getting a referral to a food bank.

katholicos

As heavenleigh wrote, if you can give us a list of what you have in the cupboards, fridge, freezer then people on here will be only too glad to help you meal plan for the week and offer advice on how to get the most out of the money that you have left to spend on groceries. It can be done, so try to to worry too much. It is easier said than done, i know, but lots of people here have been in your situation and will tell you that it most definitely can be done.

tessie_bear

hi...id echo poster that said do a check of your cupboards/fridge/freezer and see what u have in already and focus on that
the aldi super 6 are good this week...broccoli cabbage onions carrots 39p each as for the packed lunch have a look for reduced bread (or do u make your own) and have u a bottle u could fill up with squash...could u do some baking such as flapjacks or cornflake cakes to go with the sarnies

good luck...keep posting
tess

crispycreme_2

Thankyou for all the quick replys. I will go and check out the links. Here is a list of what we have in:

Freezer:
Peas
Sliced mixed peppers
1 stick of garlic bread
Tub of tomato, lentil & pepper soup

Store Cupboard:
Plain Flour
SR Flour
Brown sugar
Cooking choc
Cocoa powder
3 pks angel delight
Baking powder
Cornflour
Shredded suet
3 pks instant noodles
1 tin of tuna
Tinned pineapples pieces
Half pk egg noodles
Lasagne sheets
Rice
Red onions
Potatoes
Selection of mustards, pickles, dried herbs & spices

tessie_bear

hi....iwould use the soup and noodles for lunches at home

buy some milk to use angel d for puds

use tuna and pineapple in pots to put with packed lunches

buy some mince and use with onions to make a lasagne or 2 and shepherds pie

buy some eggs or search for recipes to use up the baking ingredients to put with packed lunches

do some jacket potatoes for tea buy some cheese which u could use with the lasagne and a sarnie filler

i would now write out on a bit of paper what meals u need eg
mon breakfast
lunch
tea
and fit what u have into them along with suggestions u think u can use

porridge is a cheap breakfast if u all like it..good luck
tess

RAS

tessie_bear wrote: »

hi....iwould use the soup and noodles for lunches at home

the children mainly eat lunch out

RAS

How much do you have of each of the following, roughly

crispycreme wrote: »

Freezer:
Peas

Store Cupboard:
Plain Flour
SR Flour
Brown sugar
Shredded suet
Tinned pineapples pieces
Lasagne sheets
Rice
Red onions
Potatoes

You could have enough bulk for 3 meals or 14 and it is hard to tell.

crispycreme_2

Ok, have been and weighed etc:
Peas; 1/2 average bag
Plain Flour; 1.2k
SR Flour; 1.5k
Brown sugar; 490g
Shredded suet; 100g
Tinned pineapples pieces; 227g
Lasagne sheets; 30
Rice; Medium Kilner jar full
Red onions; 800g
Potatoes; 3.9k