Money saving family challenge £25 per week

cherrybudgetH

Hi All,

I am new to the site, so will introduce myself first.

I am a mother in my mid twenties, my family consists of me, my partner, our toddler, 2 dogs & two cats.

I work a part time day job & I run a small business from home.

Running a small business obviously means there are going to be some months I am not going to be making much money, so I have decided to challenge myself to feed & wash my family on just £25 a week (animals included). I could up the budget to a more reasonable amount but the aim is to save money & make healthy, filling, easy meals for us all.

If anyone would like to follow me you can go to my contact details & click on the blog link, I started the challenge today, but started blogging on friday. I am also on FB if you search for cherry budget hogan & like the page, I also opened up a group on friday for people to share tips on reducing there outgoings called "fill my family on a budget" this has over 1000 members in just a few days.

I hope to see some of you interested, maybe even pop over to the group to share your ideas

Many Thanks

Claire x

kerri_dfw

Do you have freezer space? I find freezer space is essential for bulk cooking and obviously freezing. We made a HUGE veggie cottage pie last night, I think it probably came to pence per portion and made 12 portions. BBCgoodfood is an awesome site for finding recipes and they normally make 6-12 portions per meal.

This time of year you want to find your local pick your own/nursery and grab a HUGE bag of potatos, they also tend to have huge bags of carrots, onions, etc that you can keep somewhere dark and use over winter. I paid £20 for a huge mound of veg that'll last us weeks.


You'll also want to buy a few staples in bulk, buy them a little at a time so say one week buy a big bag of rice, the next a big bag of lentils etc until you have a store cupboard built up that just needs "topping up" when the offers come around.


Depending on how old your toddler is, ditch the jars of food and make your own from the meals you make each day. If they're old enough to have proper meals then feed them a smaller portion of yours, otherwise get the blender out and puree up the food for them into the same size they would have from a jar


You may also like to look over on the Old Style Moneysaving board as there's loads of recipes and information on there.

warmhands.coldheart

I'm not meaning to sound nasty though I'm sure many will take it the wrong way but. if you are in a position that money is tight and you want to save money, first thing I's suggest is get rid of the animals! 2 Dogs & 2 Cats can't be cheap to look after between food, insurances, vets bills, vaccines, etc. etc. etc.

cherrybudgetH

warmhands.coldheart wrote: »

I'm not meaning to sound nasty though I'm sure many will take it the wrong way but. if you are in a position that money is tight and you want to save money, first thing I's suggest is get rid of the animals! 2 Dogs & 2 Cats can't be cheap to look after between food, insurances, vets bills, vaccines, etc. etc. etc.

Hello, I am not in a position that money is that tight I could easily stretch to 40-50, but this is a challenge to prove to myself & to others that we can cut down, & live below our means without going without. My animals are just as much my children, although I appreciate to some people they are just animals. Actually the dogs cost a few pence under £12 per month And I have just this week figured a way to get the cats food down to the same. If you would like to see the blog just to have more of an understanding then feel free. I wasn't here for a woe is me post, simply thought some others may be interested in cutting down, or even to prove that those who ARE on a very tight budget because they have no other choice CAN still eat healthy fulfilling meals, & are less likely to have to use a food bank. Which personally I would like to see less of.

Thanks for your input x

xmaslolly76

http://www.cheap-family-recipes.org.uk this is an excellent site and is full lovely recipes xx

camNolliesMUMMY

Well done you! My best advise would be to take a visit to the old style forum for hundreds and thousands of tips.
My big ones are......
Washing only fill the machine, no half filling. Use a smaller scoop, I use hubby's protein shake tub to empty the powder into (stops clumping in a plastic tub)and use the scoop which is only 50 ml. I have an 11kg a++ energy saving washer and it still gets it all clean! I use comfort conditioner but I water it down as it tends to clog abit.
Some on the os board use vinegar. I've used this method and it does smell whilst wet but once dry the smell disappears and it also gets rid of nasty smells n bacteria lime scale in the washer, and in clothes.
Hm anti bac spray for work tops. Antiseptic disinfectant, washing up liquid in a spray bottle mixed with water= brilliant used it for 4 years saves a fortune.
Turn everything off when not in use
Buy a slow cooker.... Invaluable! I use mine 6-7 times a week including cooking the whole Sunday roast chicken in there and only turning the oven on to brown it up and put the roasties on etc.
I have two one 3.5l and one. 5.5l I think it is. This Xmas a leg of lamb (£7.95 a leg farmfoods) is going in the small one and the turkey crown (£9.95 1.5k farmfoods) in the big one to make sure they are both moist and I can enjoy Xmas and not have to worry about basting continuousl. This way it will be perfectly cooked and I can play with my two boys and entertain guests and relax with hubby.
Will be making leftover meats into other meals such as pies,curries,wraps and for cold buffet if their is enough.
When the kids go go bed heating is turned down to 17-18c they wear fleecy pjs and so do we or onsies so really warm.
Stock up on rice 40p a kilo tesco value I have 5 kilos stored in hubbies empty protein tub as well as value pasta.
Hb for tins of beans tomatoes 4 for £1 and various sauces for curries etc.
I go to an Asian market and buy chicken breast, normally 2kilos for £6.99 I buy 6 kilos and individually freeze each breast.
Shower and don't use the bath. Even my 24 month old has a shower now lol and he loves it.

WE EAT LOTS OF CHICKEN!!!!
Freeze all leftovers! I even freeze leftover roasties, mash and gravy made from stock.
Hope what I've posted helps a little?

Just realised this is an old post some I'm sure your well on your way :z will check out your blog!!

Kayalana99

Didn't realise this was old till I read end of your post

I have to admit I think this was more an advertising post then a request for help tho... no offense intended.

£25 a week with cats and dogs? Bloody hell. I spend £400 ish a month between the four of us (although our baby is free so he doesn't really count) I think I could live on £25 a week easily if I was single but not with a family!

Sparecashherewecome

I manage to feed us all on £200 a month including nappies and toiletries so it can be done!!!!

Kayalana99

Sparecashherewecome wrote: »

I manage to feed us all on £200 a month including nappies and toiletries so it can be done!!!!

Could you half it again though?

Ladyluck1

We manage on £25 food only a week.
This includes a big shop of £50 once in the month sometimes though for offers and £12 off £60 at tesco.
I shop for reduced meat a lot. We eat veggie a lot too.
My freezer is the key to eating well and cheaply, I can freeze all my reduced meat, veg, bread. Anything!
I mostly shop at lidl as it's cheap as just 5 min walk away so use no petrol getting there.
It is only me, DH, 3 year old and a baby though.