My storecupboard nds to last me pls help...

twink

vegetable soup is cheap and easy, sweat an onion in some marg then add some chopped up carrots and potatoes, cover with water and crumble in a stock cube, veg or chicken, simmer till veg is cooked then blend or mash with a potato masher, serve with bread

minestrone bring 1.3/4 pts veg stock to boil, add 1 tin chopped tomatoes and 4oz broken spaghetti, cook 6 mins, add 12oz frozen veg, cook 2 mins
you can sprinkle some grated cheese on top to serve

stovies, sweat a big onion in marg then add sliced raw potatoes and stir round, add water, not much as you want the potatoes to be cooked with not much water left,crumble in a stock cube, cover and simmer till cooked, break in a couple of slices of corn beef or more if you have and stir round, lovely with hp sauce

Queenie

jet77 wrote: »

My children never go without the vitamins/nutrients they need and are well clothed even if some of their clothes are from charity shops - we do have milk but only enough to last until the morning when I will buy the essentials including milk and eggs and on tues I will spend a fiver in the greengrocers. I do struggle but because I'm trying to pay money off my debts as quickly as possible and am setting my personal standards high.

You're doing a great job, Jet, under difficult circumstances :T I'm sure your children do get the vitamins/nutrients they need (I think I read that you are sometimes lucky enough to get fruit and stuff from work too?).

I'll be very honest and say that my personal concerns are that you are so determined to get your debts paid off as quickly as possible that if something happened which delayed those plans, it would prove just so demoralising for you when you are on such a tight budget.

I also understand the circumstances regarding not wanting much involvement from your ex., but I'm sure you already know there are things that could be done to lessen any potential for repeat performances (see a solicitor/CAB). Ultimately though, he is the father of two girls and he has responsibilities towards them; irrespective of the decline in communication between the two of you. I've read that you have a good relationship with his sister, would she be prepared to have a word with him and suggest he gives some practical help such as you've mentioned? Dinner money or maybe he could take them to footie lessons and pay while he's at it?

Wishing you all the best in your debt free challenge - with determination, discipline and keeping focused, I have no doubt you will achieve your ends

jcr16

do u have any family close ?

when we had money probs and had very little cash. we went to my parents and in-laws for lots of meal's. plus my mum used to make me quiches and things's and bring them up to my house. . ( she makes them just the best ever)

also tesco sell a bag of easy cook rice 4kg for £1.71. it amazing how many meals u can make from this.

reguarding the clothes. i fully understand what u mean. we have a local shop instore. i think it also called poundstretcher. anyway i buy my daughters vests ther £2 for 3. and socks 5 pairs for £1.95. ok the quality isn't as good as say next. but then she growing so fast , that she out grows them before they wear out.

well done on your debt. not long and ur be debt free. thats a fantastic achivement,.

jet77

I don't have any family close but my friend and I take it in turns to do a roast every sunday. I'm (secretly....sshhh!!) hoping to be debt free by July as I should have been in receipt of housing benefit from Jan and am hoping to receive back pay as I wasn't mentally capable of claiming at the time. I also cut and scared my leg quite badly last October on a damaged train seat and have claimed compensation. The train co. have admitted liability so fingers crossed.

jet77

Wow - I got thanked 700 times on my 700th post!! spooky!!

oops_a_daisy

Hi Jet77

I have read through a few of the replies but may have missed some so if I have repeated some of the advice i apologise now

re your DD's dancing. Does your dance school offer a second hand sale ? my DD's has a sale every now and then and 10% of the proceeds go into the childrens fund for shows. Do you have a noticeboard at your dance school ? again it is a way of raising funds for the dance school / childrens fund while helping move stuff on. You can sell old stuff and buy 'new' stuff for a fraction of the cost - they just put a rail up and Mums put a price on what they are selling, costumes, leotards, shoes, everything at my DD's school. Try freecycle and Ebay for dancing stuff too. As far as the comps are concerned some of the adjudicators ( spelling ? ) are really not bothered about constumes - I know it can be difficult when others are in £200+ costumes but my DD has certainly never had a costume that cost more than £30 and she still gets 1st place. Learn how to sew on sequins to jazz up even the most basic dance outfit. I bought a catsuit from a high street chain and added sequins, some long gloves and a feather head dress once for my DD. Use fabric paints and glitter too - they only wear the costumes for about a hour and then grow out of them by the next competition so washing is not normally a problem speak to the dance teacher and ask of you can borrow an outfit from one of their shows for the comps ( Ive done that before too ). Try freecycle for the sequins and fabric paints too.

I hope you are managing alright

All the best - OOPS

edited to say - re the football, would your DD's like a day out in the park or on a beach with their mum kicking a football about as a trade off ? bit of excercise for you and your kids hopefully get it out of their system for a while ? best of all its free and quality time with the kids

meanmarie

Jet,

I think that you are doing a wonderful job, congratulations! I can remember the days when my children were young and money was very scarce for many reasons.

Maybe you are being a little hard on yourself trying to pay back so much of you debt every week...I have done this too and really got myself frazzled. If you lessen your payments by even £5 you might find it a little easier to manage as I found that if I tried to pay too much off debts I frequently had to go 'cap in hand' to ask if a payment could be lessened now and then when I didn't actually have any money.

Is there no way that you can ensure that the children's father pays at least their dinner money? Obviously I am not aware of your particular situation but feel that it is unfair if all he contributes to their upbringing is promises that he expects you to carry through.

Hugs and keep your chin up...there is a light up ahead in the distance.

Marie

jcr16

wow debt free by july , thats fantastic. having that £100 a week spare will be amazing. bet u can't wait. that is prob what is driving u on to want to clear ur debt's. it would me.

jet77

The hundred pounds a week is me aiming for the stars and hoping I nearly make it!! But when I get a decision (hopefully end this week) about the housing benefit then maybe I will have that much free a week!! I will have to start overpaying the mortgage then lol

Re: Football - Wow! why didn't I think of that? I'm going to take the football out with them later and we can have a good kick about!!

Thx! Jx

jet77

I would rather muddle through on my own than ask there Dad for anything. This is more about the situation with him http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=333246

and this is more about my quest to be debt free!! http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=3563548#post3563548